GRAPHIC DESIGN
Church designers, pray first
So often we’re given a project and we jump straight into our design software and start designing. But if we do this we miss a great opportunity. How wonderful would it be to begin every design project in prayer.
I’m as guilty of this as anyone. I’d love to say that I start every project in prayer but if I’m honest I rarely do. And so I’m writing this article as much for me as for you! So here are 5 things we can be praying for as we start any new design project.
For the people you're serving
Any design you make has an audience. A person or group of people who will see your design and respond to it. And these are the people your design is trying to serve. Before you start designing, why not pray for these people. This will orient you in the right mindset for church design. It will help you think about your audience as real people who you want to serve.
Pray for their spiritual life
Pray your design would serve them
Pray for your relationship with them
For the ministry you're promoting
Often when we design for church we’re promoting an event or ministry. Perhaps it’s a booklet about baptism. Maybe it’s a flyer for a children’s holiday club. It might be a social media post about small groups. This is a great opportunity to pray for the growth of that ministry.
Pray your design would support the ministry
Pray that the ministry would bear fruit
Pray for the people involved in that ministry
For wisdom
Wisdom is needed throughout the design process. From navigating relationships as our design is sent back and forth to navigating tricky design problems. Why not ask God for wisdom? Sometimes we avoid going to him because our problems seem so small, but He cares about our work and He loves it when we come to him.
Pray for wisdom in relationships
Pray you’ll make wise design decisions
Pray for wisdom when you face problems
For your own motivation
It can be easy to work with the wrong motivations. Perhaps you’re tempted to design with the hopes you will impress people. Perhaps you feel resentful for having this extra project to do at late notice. Maybe you feel the pressure of other people’s opinions. In any of these circumstances we can ask God to change our hearts and our motivations.
Pray you’ll work with all your heart, as for the Lord
Pray for godly motivation
Pray for a right perspective
For God to be glorified
At the start of a project, we can pray that God would be glorified in the way that we work and in the work that we do.
Pray your designs will lead people to Jesus
Pray that God would be glorified in your work
Pray your designs will communicate the gospel beautifully
I hope this article has encouraged you to pray. Will this make your designs better? While it’s possible, it’s not guaranteed. But it will do you good. It’s good for your heart to bring all things to the Lord, big or small.
Abby Chilton
Graphic Designer at Greater Worth
The Church Graphic Design Training Programme
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