About Art in Ministry
History
Art in Ministry is a passion project that has finally come into maturity after over ten years.
In 2012, Holly Wels enrolled at Martin Luther College (MLC) to learn to teach in Lutheran schools. She was disappointed in the lack of art classes, since she had dreamed of being an art teacher.
Dozens of students felt the same way, and in 2013 they founded the Student Art Advocacy Group (SAAG) to push for an art education major at MLC. Following their initial meeting, they collected nearly 300 signatures pleading for an expanded course offering in art. Then the organizers either graduated or left to student teach, and traction died.
In 2016, Holly helped to resurrect the MLC art club using the name Art In Ministry (AIM), to refer to their focus as future pastors and teachers who wanted to learn how to use art in their ministries. They envisioned workshops to teach each other skills, and, eventually, building up to an art education major. [While a few introductory studio art classes have been added, there is still no official art education emphasis, minor, or major at Martin Luther College as of artinministry.com‘s launching in 2024.]
After a few years of teaching, Holly went back to school to Bethany Lutheran College to study Graphic Design. She decided to use her capstone project in April 2024 as an excuse to make her vision for Art in Ministry come true as an online resource, so that other creative Lutherans have a place to share and learn from each other as they glorify God in their vocations.
Mission
The goal of Art in Ministry is to promote a rich artistic environment within confessional Lutheran churches and schools.
AIM is a growing resource for WELS/ELS churches and schools to use in art education and advocacy. We aim to bring art into the spotlight so that we can have beautiful worship spaces, fulfilled careers, and deeper study and connection to God’s Word.