2024 Grounds for Hope - Grace Mercy Peace Art Competition

Your Donations Determine our Winner!

Introduction:

This year’s Grounds for Hope event has a theme of “Grace, Mercy and Peace”. These three words, in various combinations, are used in the opening of most of the New Testament letters in the Bible. We asked art contest participants to consider the meaning of these words and depict that meaning in art. Below are the top 5 finalists in this competition. Help us determine this year’s winner by voting with your donations to Grounds for Hope. At the bottom is a link to the donation page. When you make a donation, make a comment and use the hashtag associated with your choice for winner and each dollar donated will count as one vote. All donations will go to the Grounds for Hope Outreach of the Year Finalists and winner. The Entries Below are in no particular order.

Cami Doering

Living Water

Donation CODE TO VOTE FOR THIS ART: #CAMI

All donations through this link using hashtag #CAMI as a comment, will go toward our Grounds for Hope Finalists and Winner and they will count as votes for this artwork

This acrylic painting is inspired by the record of Jesus and the woman of Samaria in John 4. The words "Mercy is not giving us what we deserve, and grace is giving us the life we don't deserve" are something thing I feel sum up the biblical meanings of grace and mercy. Jesus standing in between us and the "bad stuff", with His back covered in lashes and head crowned with thorns. I chose a storm to represent the bad stuff, and speaking from history, Jesus is way more powerful than any storm. He took all of that so we wouldn't have to. That's mercy. And the moving across the painting, He's robed in white, with a golden crown replacing the thorns. He died for us, but then He rose and lives, offering everyone the gift of salvation. There's NO WAY a sinful human could ever earn that, no amount of service or good grades or approval could get us to Heaven. But God still loves us so much that He offers eternal life to those who admit to Him that they're sinners, believe in Jesus and confess their faith. All we have to do is open our hands and accept the living water that Jesus paid for and gives us. That's grace.

Chad Camp

Lion and the lamb

Donation CODE TO VOTE FOR THIS ART: #CHAD

All donations through this link using hashtag #CHAD as a comment, will go toward our Grounds for Hope Finalists and Winner and they will count as votes for this artwork

I painted this piece about a year ago. I was excited to see this art competition because I find it wonderfully appropriate for the subject. I intended it to reflect the Holy Trinity, In fact there are trinities all around us. Grace, Mercy, and peace are fruits produced within us as gifts from our God. This work shows the trinitarian relationship between the Father, Christ, and ourselves. To me there is such a comfort in the image. The innocents of the child finding comfort in the lamb and the mighty Father residing in strength over them. For me , in my life I draw strength in the Grace, Peace, and mercy I find in my relationship with our beautiful Trinitarian God.

Ally Richardson

Come Thou Fount

DONATION CODE TO VOTE FOR THIS ART: #Ally

All donations through this link using hashtag #ALLY as a comment, will go toward our Grounds for Hope Finalists and Winner and they will count as votes for this artwork

A sermon titled "Tune Your Heart to Truth" inspired my artwork. The sermon explores the concept of the heart as depicted in Scripture versus societal notions. While society encourages following one's heart, Scripture warns that the heart is deceitful and shouldn't be obeyed blindly. Instead, it should be guarded and set on God. The heart is likened to an instrument that needs tuning to align with His truth and avoid being swayed by temptations. The key is to let Jesus tune the heart and guide its strings towards praise and faith rather than pettiness and fear. The sermon ended with the hymn "Come Thou Fount". The second and third lines of this hymn reflect the plea that has been placed on my heart recently. "Tune my heart to sing Thy grace, Streams of mercy never ceasing". I constantly pray that God will take control of my life and be the source of all blessings as he tunes my heart to align with His will. Faith is depicted as the tuning mechanism for the heart, aligning it with God's truth and will. Mercy is highlighted as the grace extended by God to re-tune our hearts, even when we stray from His light. Peace is portrayed as the result of having a heart attuned to God, leading to inner harmony and far from the turmoil caused by being out of tune with His truth and will.

Lisa Stalvey

My Savior's Grace

DONATION CODE TO VOTE FOR THIS ART: #LISA

All donations through this link using hashtag #LISA as a comment, will go toward our Grounds for Hope Finalists and Winner and they will count as votes for this artwork

Since coming to God and Jesus 13 years ago, I've wanted to paint Jesus, but it wasn't time until I began this past Easter. I wanted to show His fearlessness, kindness, sadness and pain all in one painting. I think I accomplished this.

Arabella Parsons

“In the Deficit, I am Found.”

DONATION CODE TO VOTE FOR THIS ART: #ARABELLA

All donations through this link using hashtag #ARABELLA as a comment, will go toward our Grounds for Hope Finalists and Winner and they will count as votes for this artwork

This piece depicts a young boy who is crying tears in a war-torn environment around him. Inside the tears are happy things such as sunsets, stargazing, flowers, dancing, and embracing others. Jesus’s hand is on the boy’s shoulder, and the boy’s expression reads wonder and amazement, as he has found something so bewilderingly important that all going on around him is suddenly unimportant. And for me, that is what Jesus’s peace, mercy, and grace does in my life. All my struggles seem so big, but when I ask God for help, His peace surrounds me and I am reminded of his constant Grace and Mercy.

“In the Deficit, I am Found.”