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The SPARK that Ignited a Revolution
The year was 1988. The people of Estonia had endured decades of terror from their communist oppressors. The nation was simmering with unrest. Thousands gathered in a field outside the capital. With one voice, they began to sing… and they didn’t stop for six straight days. They sang ancient songs long forbidden by the Soviet Empire. And their songs sparked The Singing Revolution. Soon, their entire nation was free.
What is the role of the arts in sparking revolution? Can a song overpower terror? Can a dance inspire hope? Can a documentary unleash freedom?
In a world filled with tragedy, loss, and pain, we believe that art in all its forms can be the SPARK that restores beauty, life, and joy.
The SPARK that Freed the Slaves
The year was 1787. The slave trade had uprooted millions of people and transported them across the Atlantic in horrific conditions. One former slave described the voyage as “so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself… This produced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died.”
Equiano’s book awakened the conscience of a nation. William Wilberforce picked up the cry for abolition in British parliament. Artists and poets advanced the cause in public opinion. Potter Josiah Wedgewood designed a porcelain hair piece picturing a slave in chains together with the words “Am I Not a Man and a Brother?” This medallion became fashionable across England and helped end the slave trade.
What happens when there is a marriage of the arts? If poets, writers and potters helped free the slaves, what will happen in our day as musicians, photographers, and painters unite their gifts for the cause of freedom?
The SPARK that Created the World and Resides in Each of Us
In the beginning, the earth was formless, empty and dark. God stepped into the darkness. His Spirit hovered over the waters. And His voice sparked a new world — “Let there be light.”
God placed the jewel of creation in the middle of His beautiful garden. He placed His creative spark in the center of each jewel. The jewel is us. His spark is our ability to create as He creates. He made us like Him in His image, so that we might commune with Him and spread His beauty to every corner of our world.
Some chose to use the spark to bring pain instead of joy, darkness instead of light. But we choose to unite our hands with His and bring beauty from the ashes. Join a generation of artists who are combining their talents with God’s Spirit and Truth to restore the light of the world.
The Heart Behind SPARK DTS
Over the years, we’ve worked with many hurting people around the world in refugee camps, brothels, orphanages, and slums. We’ve seen the power of the arts to heal those who are hurting. From art camps for AIDS victims, to murals in orphanages, to dancing and filming on the streets, we’ve seen the arts bring hope to the hurting by engaging their hearts and drawing emotions to the surface that have long been suppressed.
This year, we are pioneering the Spark DTS to formalize ways we’ve used the arts in past DTSes. Our heart is to draw together a wide range of artists with various gifts and passions — musicians, painters, dancers, photographers, writers, and film makers. Our hope is to provide you with an outlet to use your God-given talents and interests on the mission field to bring help to the hurting.
We are expecting a wide range of experience levels to apply for this DTS. Some will have just picked up a paint brush or guitar while others may have been dancing or singing for years. All experience levels are welcome to apply!
The Spark DTS seeks to build a community of artists who invest in one another’s lives. Training and inspiration will come from one another and from God Himself as we seek His heart. The primary role of the staff is to facilitate discussion and the creative process, not to provide in-depth art training. Our hope is to blend the various gifts and talents represented in our community to create beautiful artistic pieces that bring healing to the nations.
What does the SPARK DTS look like?
In addition to the DTS curriculum, every week will offer a Creative elective night to hone your creative spark. Some elective nights may offer limited training within your art interest track to further develop your skills and learn new methods to spread beauty to the world. Other elective nights will focus on projects that blend the various art tracks to create something together.
Spark Art Tracks may include: photography, fine arts, handmade arts, graphic design, writing, journalism, performing arts, dance, music, and video. Each art track offers limited training and collaboration with other artists. Within the context of a DTS, there is not time to do in depth training in any of these areas. However, YWAM’s University of the Nations offers many arts focused schools for you to continue your training after DTS.
The Role of the Elective in DTS
The Spark elective is an important part of DTS. We make special effort to customize the DTS so that you receive training related to your elective as you go through DTS. We also weave the elective into the type of ministry we do on outreach. But, the elective is not the primary point of DTS. The primary role of DTS is to disciple us to look like Jesus. DTS is designed to grow our understanding of God and His world, to deepen our walk with Him, and to share His love with the world through evangelism and mercy ministry. You should expect the DTS to stretch your comfort zones beyond your areas of gifting and the types of ministry you typically enjoy.
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