The Artist

Driven to make a difference for the cause of Christ, inspirational speaker, Joyce Girgenti uses her paintings to teach life-lessons. Inspired by a dream, Joyce also drives Air Force and Marine troops to and from Indianapolis. The troops receive a small copy of “A Soldier’s Prayer” and “The Great Commission”. They're also given a mid-size print of their choice to leave with their families.

Compared to Thomas Kinkade and Norman Rockwell, Joyce’s art work is more than meets the eye. While it’s not uncommon for paintings to tell stories or have hidden objects or letters to signify someone’s name, Joyce has tapped into a unique way of bringing up the subject of JESUS. She creatively incorporates His name and biblical principals by placing these treasures into the brush strokes of her paintings. Every message is created with a motive to drive the viewers into the loving embrace of the one who ultimately laid down His life for our sins. This sends her viewers on a treasure hunt. People are drawn like magnets to find JESUS. He is the greatest treasure available to every human being. His gift of salvation is a free gift to everyone who calls upon His name.

Sometimes after the paint is dry, Joyce says more appears on the canvas than she intended. Every manifestation found is not only divine in its revelation, but are things created by God. Such as a white lamb, an empty tomb, an angel, a broken heart, a dove, a fish and faces. Even when planning to just paint a colorful and tranquil landscape, profound themes and life lessons are revealed.

The artist confesses, “My heart-felt passion is accelerated by a desire to teach valuable lessons I wish I’d known in the years of my youth.” As she transports and spiritually coaches the troops, Joyce finds the most misunderstood thing about faith is what took her years to recognize in herself; Faith is not about a religion; it’s about a relationship - an intimate connection with Jesus Christ.

Joyce is driven to offer hope with five main goals that;
          1)     The lost will realize their need of a Savior
          2)   The bondage of sin and past hurts are broken
          3)      A hunger for spiritual knowledge and growth is developed
          4)      Wise counsel is sought and given from Christian mentors
          5)      More believers answer their calling to tell their story to disciple others

"It's great when someone is inspired by my work, or a word of hope that God give me to share," stresses the artist, "but being inspired is not enough. It's time to move from being INSPIRED to being TRANSFORMED. Ask God what He wants to teach or change in you. With expectation of transformation by the leading of the Holy Spirit, the two essential keys to grow in knowledge; Prayer and Bible Study."

Joyce acknowledges her struggle as a child and young adult to comprehend what she read. Therefore; trying to read a King James Version Bible was frustrating. “My family didn’t encourage the value of reading nor did I realize that I was given the power of the Holy Spirit to teach and to guide me when I was saved. A huge burden was lifted when I discovered I didn’t have to depend on my own intelligence to understand the scriptures,” she said. Joyce strongly encourages Study-Bibles. Highlight and write in them as you study privately and with groups. Ask the Lord to manifest Himself as you look into His inspired Word as a mirror to reflect His will. Then, put on your walking shoes, put one foot in front of the other and walk worthy of the calling in which you’ve been called.

This labor of love is an invitation for artists to use their talent to make an impact on the lives of people all over the world who desperately need God and the knowledge of His Word. Joyce says, “Artists have an advantage with their visual skills to reach someone who might not enter the doors of a church. Think about why God uniquely created you. Artist or not, God has a purpose for every surrendered instrument. If you wait until you feel “wise enough” or “comfortable enough” to share the Gospel of Christ, you’ll never do it. We are not called to be “People-Pleasers” or “Couch-Potatoes” afraid of what someone might say when we step out of our comfort zone. The fear of rejection was a huge struggle for me before I got serious about my relationship with Jesus,” admits the artist. “So let’s get off our duffs and encourage one another to place our trust in God who requires His kids to produce good fruit.”

The stories Joyce tells about living in bondage with a spirit of rejection, fear and anger and her lack of knowledge about the Holy Spirit are told to extend a hand to others who suffer with similar problems. “I don’t believe it’s coincidental that my viewers see themselves and their own stories in my paintings as if looking into a mirror,” declares the artist, though the original paintings are inspired by her own experiences or commissioned works for her patrons.

So what’s your story? Nothing has happened to you that went unnoticed by God. You are a designer’s original, beloved. Every crack in your vessel is an opportunity to allow the light of Christ to show Himself through your story. You are valuable to Him. Be encouraged to find forgiveness, healing and deliverance from your brokenness and insecurities. Have mercy on those around you the same way God poured His mercy on you. Be willing to share you testimony to help others wanting to live a productive life free from the control of our enemy (the devil and his buddies). Our greatest weapon is God’s Word. You can’t apply His Word unless you know it. You can’t stand firm if you’re not equipped with God’s Armor.

Like a good marriage, being a servant of the Lord takes work but it’s worth every drop of sweat, blood and tears. This is where character is built. If you’re thinking it’s too hard for you to be a witness for Christ, you’re right. We can’t do it in our strength or knowledge. We are to place our dependence upon the Holy Spirit to supply our strength, needs and opportunities.

Satan never gives up trying to put a stop to our testimony. He will do anything he can to drive a wedge between our relationship with God and with each other. Once we realize who our enemy is (not God and not our loved ones) we can know how to respond the next time we’re attacked. Keep in mind that God will fight our battles for us. We have the freedom to let Him, or to try to fight in our own strength and knowledge. Joyce bears witness to the fact that it is impossible to win with human strength and understanding. We must let go and let God have complete control over every area of our lives.

Originally from Southern Illinois, Joyce met and married her high school sweetheart 31 years ago. They live in NW Indiana where Ralph is Director of Technology for Lake Station Schools. The couple shares the greatest thrill of their lives raising Kristina, who is now married and lives in Augusta, GA.

Joyce’s work has taken quite a turn from her humble start 16 years ago with Memphis cityscapes. She was chosen to letter and pin-stripe Memphis’ first six 19^th century Main Street Trolleys while managing the Covington Sign Shop. From this work she conceived the idea for her first published painting which grew into a Four Season Series and other landmarks like the Pink Palace and Graceland. This Art-Ministry would not be possible, had it not been for the gracious support of Memphis patrons from the beginning. Until 4 years ago, Joyce exhibited her work in several US Art Shows. Due to overwhelming expenses and the strain on her body caused by fibromyalga, Joyce had to quit the “show” business. Thanks to the online gallery, commissions, speaking engagements, and exhibitions that do not require her presence, this ministry has been kept afloat. Your prayers and support are gratefully appreciated.

Divine Intervention
The proof is in the painting. Circled above is the unintentional white lamb and an empty tomb that was found in “The Legend of the Dogwood”.

God uses Faith-Based paintings as Visual Reminders to make His will known. He gives hope to the hopeless, He brings healing to the physically, mentally, and spiritually sick, and He encourages us to count our blessings instead of giving into fears and disappointments. Divinely placed images in artist' paintings are evidence that GOD has not taken His hand off us.

The first unintentional manifestations found in my paintings is what appears to be an empty tomb and a little lamb looking toward the tomb (above). Other findings have been the five unintentional faces with eyes closed in "The Great Commission”. “Momma's Little Man” has an image of an Angel in the folds of the pillowcase; "Raising Faith" has a broken heart in the middle of Jesus' name in the eagle’s outstretched wing.

Some artists believe their art has been "magically" touched when images such as these are found, while others explain it as "coincidental". Please give credit where credit is due, friends. Before I understood who God is and how His power works, I believed that luck could change a situation.

There was a grown man I knew that was so superstitious he would find another route, or go back home, if a black cat crossed the road in front of him. He didn't know any better since no one shared the truth with him.

The truth is found in the Bible, but this hard working farmer never learned how to read. The man I'm telling you about was my father. His father was injured on the farm, so he had to fill his daddy's shoes by working the farm to provide for his family. There was no time for school. Praise be to God Daddy accepted Jesus in his heart a year before he died. He told me on his death bed, "My only regret is never learning how to read." How different our lives might have been had he been given this privilege.

Satan is real and has power to corrupt people with lies, lack of knowledge, and every type of sin. So, let's serve the miracle worker and give Him credit where credit is due. Miracles are performed by the hand that created you. Magic has absolutely nothing to do with miracles. Don't take this lightly. Who are we serving when we give "magic" the glory over a miracle? Are we serving the God of the universe or are we serving the prince of the earth? Give this some thought and and ask God to help you line up your life and the way you think and speak with His will. Think about why God created you. Seek wise counsel from a Christian mentor or a pastor who can answer any questions you might have.

A heed of warning to artist's with treasures (miracles) such as these mentioned. Be careful! Some of Satan's favorite weapons are pride and confusion. He uses them to get our focus off of God. Our vessel is used by God (by living in obedience as a follower of Christ) or by the evil forces of this world.

All the glory belongs to God, alone, when miracles take place. Webster's Dictionary says that a MIRACLE is an event or action that contradicts scientific laws and is thought to be due to supernatural causes, especially to an act of God. How many MIRACLES do we miss in a single day because we are so focused on our own agenda instead of God's agenda. We are witness to the work of the MASTER CREATOR when we open our spiritual eyes are hearts to His leading.

Give GOD the glory where credit is due. Tell the truth about your miracle; JESUS is alive and actively performing miracles, still today. A Moody Radio pastor recently said, "GOD uses us in spite of us, not because of us." God doesn't need us but for some reason He chooses to use us.

To schedule a talk or to support this ministry in some way, contact the artist at (219) 841-9743.