Friday, March 11, 2011

Jesus in Alabama on display

Click on photo to enlarge

Some of my photos are on display through Lent at St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church in Cullman, Alabama. To see them go to the church office and you'll be directed to the atrium.

If you can't make it or want to see the the pictures included in the show, check out my Smugmug site here.

Here's the introductory message:

Jesus in Alabama
Some of us burn with a mission to share Jesus with the world in unconventional ways. The purpose of "Jesus in Alabama" is to bring those obscure messages to a wider audience.

The project started when I saw red letters spelling out the name JESUS written on U.S. 31 near Lacon. I liked the idea that the name appeared just as the road narrows from four to two lanes, alluding to the narrow road that leads to life. Soon, I found it everywhere. There was a man carrying a sign he said God had told him to write "Look Unto Jesus" on. And a tattoo artist looking for just right place on his personal canvas to ink the name. I met a lot of interesting people -- or found their messages after they left them.

Eventually, I intended to compile all of the pictures into a book. Two publishers turned it down. Still, one encouraged me to seek other publishers, and to call back in a year if I was unsuccessful. I got a full-time job and bought a house within that year, so I dropped the book idea out of time constraints, but I continue shooting pictures whenever I see the name of Jesus in Alabama.

*Special thanks to the Rev. John Richter of St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church, John Sachs of The Arts Center, and Steve and Stacie Carter of The Shops at 3rd Street Promenade.