In October, Poiema Visual Arts introduced Sketch It! Sunday, a new program that partnered with multiple local churches to connect with members of the community via visual learning techniques. The organization invited churches across Pennsylvania to participate by providing the churches with drawing paper and writing utensils and encouraging them to invite members of their congregations to sketch and take notes during the service.

"We wanted to share a tool to reach visual learners," said Jeremy Miller, founder and CEO of Poiema Visual Arts. "The activity has the potential to greatly impact creatives. For the analytical, they can take written notes, and those who don't want to participate have nothing to worry about, as the services haven't changed at all." Some churches elected to participate on one specific Sunday that aligned with their schedules in October, and others participated every Sunday of the month.

Poiema Visual Arts began by sending over 200 letters that invited churches to participate, and seven churches across four different counties stepped forward to use the technique. Miller noted that one participating church expressed a desire to integrate Sketch It! Sundays more frequently and asked about other creatively guided opportunities for its congregants. A member of Poiema's board of directors, who is a pastor at a church that utilized the program, said she was pleasantly surprised at the number of church members who participated and were excited to share their artwork after the service.

"I'm a pastor myself, and we like it when people look up at us during the service, but when that person leaves with that enthusiasm and realizes that this is an option for them to continue learning, what we've done is create a disciple of Christ," said Miller. Miller has a background in the arts and Christian education, and for several years he struggled to combine his passion for art with his Christian faith.

Over two decades ago, Miller taught at Lancaster Bible College and first began to dream of creating a place for visual artists to engage with Scripture. He started laying the foundation for what he called "biblical creative theology," as his life took him down many different paths. Miller spent time teaching overseas, attended seminary in Virginia and briefly lived in Texas before returning to Lancaster County. As his sons grew older, Miller realized that he needed a new direction, as he would no longer need to homeschool them. "(God) gave me permission to take that box of metaphorical dreams off of the shelf and go through them," said Miller.

Poiema Visual Arts was officially incorporated and opened its membership program in October 2021. The organization is currently based in Strasburg but is involved with churches across the county and beyond, including areas such as Hempfield, Manheim Township and York.

For more information, visit http://www.poiemavisualarts.org.