Laniakea at the CREA Partners' Dinner 2019

We have been friends, supporters and partners of CRU for many years, and especially cherish the ministry of those of its members who are in the creative arts. So it was a pleasure for Namiko to present a hula dance "I Can Only Imagine" and Aaron to give the keynote address at the partners' dinner. This dance was taught to Namiko by the hula master Kumu Leihi'ilani Kirkpatrick during our very first visit to Kaua'i. At that time Namiko was in search of a mentor, and God brought them both together in a miraculous way.

Aaron's keynote was titled "Hearts Awakened, Culture Renewed", and both Scripture and culture were exegeted, yielding insights into the vocation and calling of artists and an exhortation to authenticity, excellence, and a posture of stewardship. Aaron shared about Schaeffer's staircase, the Japanese traditional art of Kintsgui, the world famous 1986 photo of the 'Afghan Girl' on the cover of National Geographic, and powerful artworks by Jacob Epstein, Yuichi Ikehata, Lee Wanxiang and Marie Toh. Whether we make art as worship or witness, let the Master Creator be our raison d'être. May His mission be our mission always.
CREA's ministry to artists and culture stewards is important and truly worthy of our support and co-labour.

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“Many of the streams that feed the river of culture are polluted, and the soil this river should be watering is thus parched and fragmented.” ...

Effective stewardship leads to generative work and a generative culture. We turn wheat into bread—and bread into community.”

(from Makoto Fujimura's 'Culture Care' 2014)

Photo credits: Daniel Ho