As Europe Director of Ministries, Dianne works with the artistic servants of God that are serving in Europe through Artists in Christian Testimony International.  She is A.C.T. Intl.'s representative at the Europe-wide leadership level of the Evangelical community.  Especially exciting is her work with European artists of faith as they seek to do their art to the glory of God and serve God in a missional way.  

Dianne's personal ministry as an Arts Advocate is called Montage International.  "Magnify the Image" is its purpose. "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) is the foundation. Montage International is a department of Artists in Christian Testimony International.  Dianne is an Arts Advocate who seeks to disciple, mentor and encourage artists of faith around the world.

The "Rest of the Story"

While not considering herself an artist, Dianne Collard knows the significance of visual art in her personal spiritual experience. Though not being exposed to art as a child, she realized her enjoyment of the arts in young adulthood. But Dianne had no idea of the depth of that need for beauty until the year following the murder of her eldest son in 1992.

It was in the dark days of grief and pain that Dianne found solace and peace within the art museums of Vienna, Austria, where she lived as a missionary. God’s healing grace touched her and began the healing process as she would lose herself in the beauty and creativity hung on the walls of the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Fine Arts Museum). Dianne testifies that art can reach into the deepest recesses of a person's soul, in ways that words cannot. She experienced God’s Word coming alive through the evidences of the Creator God in the created works of art. Her spirit was renewed through presentations of His goodness, beauty, and truth demonstrated through line, form and color. The knowledge of God’s Word, her relationship as God’s child, and the power of the visual produced a deep experience of worship. She will never be the same.

Because of this profound experience, Dianne designed her research for her doctoral dissertation around the role of visual art in the worship in the evangelical churches of two of Europe’s leading countries. From this vital investigation came a commitment to encouraging churches throughout Europe and the United States to re-embrace visual art and the artists within the ministry of the Church. Dianne’s seminars will challenge the members of your church and assist them in this vital, but forgotten, aspect of worship and Christian service.

POSSIBLE TOPICS

Forgiveness and Reconciliation Required

Five hundred years of theological teachings concerning the role of the "image" in Christian worship has resulted in a "visual anorexia" of the church and feelings of alienation by the artist from the institutional church.  This message seeks to bridge that gap by seeking forgiveness from the artist and calling the church to active reconciliation.

Finding Your Worship Temperament

Worship styles can be a battleground in a contemporary church. Discover through this seminar why people differ in their expression of worship and how the church can provide a meaningful worship experience for the whole person within the whole family of God.

God's Plan of Worship

This seminar provides a Biblical framework for worship as the life-long pursuit of bringing glory to the Triune God.

Visual Art from God's Perspective

Explore the Word together to discover God's plan and purpose for visual art.

Spiritual Challenge to the Artists of Faith

God calls artists of faith to live holy, purposeful lives to His glory.  This interactive message discusses the artists' "calling" and encourages personal spiritual assessment and commitment.

(Painting from the series on Spiritual Transformation by Charlotte Zweber Chavis)