Ivan Guaderrama Testimonial

As artists, we are notoriously self-absorbed. Our creativity is centered around ourselves, and in the beginning, I was no different. I belonged to the world, it?s material mentality, and seek to only glorify myself.

As time passed on, I began to feel a longing for something more. No matter my success, or how many people surrounded me I felt a deep loneliness and emptiness. My art felt uninspired, and I began to understand that something was missing. I began to seek different options, trends that others swore by and while some temporary made me feel better nothing could truly heal my soul and keep me from falling into the ways of the world.

Eventually, a friend of mine began to discuss the word of Christ with me. After the number of methods I tried, I couldn?t see how it would hurt to try this, especially after seeing the vast difference it made in his life. I began to study the Bible, read books, watch videos, whatever I could to understand Jesus Christ and his teachings. My life began to heal peace by peace, but I wasn?t fully healed yet.

My wife (then girlfriend) and I attended a major Christian conference, which had a powerful worship ceremony. Something in me shifted at that moment. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in a way I will never forget. If you are not a follower of Jesus or a believer, let me take this moment to tell you there is no drug, no human relationship, no material purchase that could ever bring such an overwhelming peace. I opened my heart there and then, and my belief moved from a mental state to an emotional and spiritual state.

Since that day Jesus has overflowed out of my life, into my heart and into my work. My paintings are just another way I worship Him, serve Him and spread his message. He is my creator, and he has blessed me with the power to create, and through that, I celebrate him every day.