Mission, Principles and Community Guidelines
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”- Ephesians 2:10
Masterpiece Mission
Our mission is to help young people discover and develop their gifts in the arts and to encourage them to become wholehearted followers of Jesus Christ.
Our Five Key Principles
Cultivate: We believe God’s good gifts should be cared for and cultivated. Masterpiece is committed to developing these gifts. We teach, challenge and encourage students to grow (in) them, to stretch their artistic ability, to experiment with new art forms and to take creative risks. We affirm student’s gifts, encourage hard work and creative effort.
Connect: God, the original creator, has endowed every one of his children with an ability to create. We believe that through his gifts of intellect and energy, each of his children is called upon to reflect his glory and creativity in their lives. Furthermore, the usefulness and beauty of these gifts are a reflection of God’s absolute love for us and we should take every opportunity to connect them to their source.
Creator: Our gifts, and what we make, were never meant to be an end in themselves. Like all of creation - they should point to the greater goodness, beauty and creativity of our maker. We are always looking for ways to show how our gifts, and artistic products glorify our creator and his Kingdom.
Community: Promoting the transforming power and advantages of growing together, creating together, and sharing together is a key component of Masterpiece. We believe that our creative process and art is best experienced and expressed in community. As a result, we embrace and encourage collaborative work as a key stepping stone to fully embracing God’s call to artists.
Christ: We encourage great commitment and passion for one’s art. But we are quick to recognize that we ourselves are not our art, and so we lovingly look for opportunities to help each student understand that their identity is to be found in Jesus Christ and in a growing relationship with him. Our value is not based on whether we achieve great notoriety, progress in significant ways, or create our art for personal satisfaction, Instead, it is based in the greater, deeper truth that we are made in God’s image for an eternal relationship with him.
Community Guidelines: Honoring God and Community
Be kind in your words:
Use appropriate and respectful language at all times.
Honor each other as made in the image of God and deserving of dignity and respect.
Be aware we are also legally accountable for what we say and what we do.
If you have a challenging or difficult exchange with someone during the week please report it to Sherrie Rogers, 615.438.8217 or sherrie.masterpiece@gmail.com.
Be encouraging in your words (and expressions):
Encourage and support each other in work and ideas.
Be encouraging and empathic as you represent Christ to the students and their families.
Seek the best encouraging and empathic language.
Look for opportunities to affirm each other’s gifts and commitment to grow in art and faith.
Remember your visual appearance counts as much as your words, in person and online.
Being on time encourages and shows your respect for the ministry and the student’s experience.
Be wise in your words:
Think about how your words can help support one another and the calling of God for your lives.
Be wise in what you do and don’t share as a part of your presentations and studio instruction.
Use humor in tasteful and thoughtful ways that encourage and edify the spirit of our students and staff.
Be respectful of boundaries:
Create and nurture a respectful environment.
Do not allow verbally abusive language, swearing, or using the name of the Lord in vain.
Be thoughtful and discerning about sharing personal contact info with students.
If you have a concern about a student crossing any boundaries, please report it to Sherrie Rogers, 615.438.8217 or sherrie.masterpiece@gmail.com.