Call me crazy, but I LOVE to push through impossibilities when it comes to partnering with God’s compassionate nature.  As Kevin and I headed to the beach on January 1st after a huge storm had hit Southern California, we were elated because Sunday held a break in the rain and it was “suppose” to be sunny in Huntington Beach, where we were doing our Artreach at the base of the pier. But as we got closer, we saw gale winds almost bowing the palm trees to the ground and traffic lights bobbing, which reminded me of buoys bobbing in the water.  

Kevin was thinking about cancelling the artreach because I would be putting up easels with canvases (you don’t want to get hit by a flying easel) and we had tables to be set up stations for animal balloons, face-painting, creating art, free photos, and people painting.

As we got there and I stood at the base of the HB pier, I was almost swept off the pier by the winds force.  My art team began to gather around me and as I looked around, I saw people 500 feet away with signs on the street corner condemning people to hell. Something rose up within me and I thought if they could hold up signs and be out there in the freezing wind, then I can set up easels with hundreds of bungee cords attached to the pier railing and roll out the “happy Jesus” team who wanted to celebrate each person.  Game on!

I now want to share some photos and testimonies from the team that came to help from Harvest Rock Irvine, along with some of my Bethel, BSSM, & Create Academy alumni creatives

The Star Led The Way To The Manger

I created a sign that said, “what do you want to see in 2023?” (above), then Kevin and the team invited people over to write what they wanted to see happen. After they did, the team prophesied and prayed over them for that to happen. It was incredible! This sign was like the star that brought people to Jesus’ birth.

As the wind whipped around us, people painted, gave away balloons, face-painted and reached out to many- here are some testimonies I wanted to share with you from some of the people who came to celebrate with us through creativity.

Kevin’s Fav 

There was a young girl who wrote on our 2023 board about how she wanted to be able to love herself.  She was so beautiful and I began to prophecy about how God was going to show her how much He loved her and that was where she was going to get her sense of identity and approval.  Then I saw this woman wandering around and introduced her to Avon-and this is where the story goes to a WHOLE other level.

Avon’s Testimony Built On Kevin’s (Student In My Create Academy)

“Being an introvert, I was very hesitant when invited to the “Out of the Box Reach” at Huntington Beach pier with Kevin & Theresa Dedmon and Harvest Rock OC by my friend; however, I also knew that this would be an amazing opportunity that I wouldn’t want to miss. After many days gathering up the courage and praying (that shows how scared I was,) I’ve decided to just go and “do it afraid!” 

On the day of, without many outreaching experience, I had no idea what to expect or how to help. Theresa instructed me to go ahead and start to paint. Sitting in front of and staring at the blank canvas, I felt like I was suppose to draw an apple but was afraid that it would not be “impressive” enough. However, seeing how the kids sitting next to me were able to start to paint without much hesitation, I also went ahead and painted out the apple while still wondering if God could really use this “boring drawing” to bless anyone. 

After finishing the painting unsure about my next step, I went to see my friend, Daphne, who was painting a few feet away from me; to my surprise, she was also painting a big red apple! “I just felt like I’m suppose to draw an apple,” she told me. Realizing that I was not the only one with an apple painting, I was able to gain a little more confidence thinking that maybe I’ve heard God right after all!

Not long after, Theresa then guided me to use my apple painting to bless a lady standing nearby; I was able to share with her about God’s love towards her and that she is the apple of His eye! The lady felt very blessed and shared with us on how she has actually just put down that she was going to love herself more in 2023 a few minutes ago— on a board that Theresa has prepared for people to write on! It was amazing to see how I got to partner with God even when I didn’t feel like I had enough, and I was so glad that
I have decided to do it even though
I was afraid instead of running away!”

Daphne’s Testimony

Daphne braved her canvas being buffeted in the wind as she painted live at the pier.  After she was done, Avon and I went looking for the couple that needed encouragement in their marriage.  We found this couple and Daphne prophesied and blessed their marriage. The couple was over joyed and very touched as Daphne gave them her apple painting. 

Allison Elliott Calls Out The Identity In Children!

My favorite one was when I got to do face painting on Sophia. She wanted a butterfly and I told her God sees her as a beautiful butterfly. I got to ask her about school and I asked her if there was anything she wanted to tell me about it and she said “I know that I’m a girl!”  I said yes you are!!!  And I got to tell her she gets her true identity from God who made her and knew her in her mommy’s stomach. She was happy and said she loved me.  So amazing!

Moses Doesn’t Give Up – Balloons Lead The Way

A highlight for me was a young girl and her mom who were walking down the pier. At first seemed stand-offish when I offered them a free animal balloon but I could tell they were intrigued so I didn’t let up and kept pushing them to come participate. Sure enough they let their guard down and allowed me to lead them to the art station. 30min later I looked over at the station and they were still there drawing. I was told the mom didn’t want to paint at first but little by little her walls came down. She finally said she wanted to paint something. When I walked over there she was painting a sign that said “Goodbye 2022 and hello 2023.”

 From her own painting I felt the Lord encourage me to prophesy to her to be set free from all the burdens of 2022 and that God was bringing freedom into her 2023. The daughter was so shocked at how accurate the prayer was that before they walked away I offered to pray for the daughter and she was so hungry for it and expressed how much she loved the gospel we were sharing with her. I was most amazed at how step-by-step God brought the walls down.

Brave The Storms

Each day we have an opportunity to bring joy and encourage others through what we create and declare over them!   God wants to ignite your passion, He wants to take you farther than what you ever thought possible- don’t let gale winds stop you from finding the one!