How Faith Inspires BIPOC Creatives to Shine in a World That Tries to Dim Their Light

Photo by Ben Vaughn on Unsplash

Peace,

The first thing God ever did, after forming the heavens and earth, was create light. 

Before, the earth was described as “formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2 NIV).

The act was both physical and creative. It set a precedent for today: to bring clarity, warmth and healing into dark places.

Created in His Image: The Divine Power to Create

Similarly, God has extended humanity a beautiful gift: the ability to create. 

Every work that a creator produces has a purpose: to entertain, to educate, to inspire, to serve. Sometimes a mix of a few. For many BIPOC creatives, art isn’t a luxury; it’s survival. It’s a lifeline in a world that often silences or overlooks us. 

We live in a world that likes to push us out of spaces we were never meant to be excluded from. They hate to see minorities succeed, but even more, they hate to see us unite and uplift one another. 

Yet, in that resistance, our light grows brighter. Creation is not only an act of defiance — it’s an act of faith.  Through art, we process the weight of the world and turn injustice into beauty. That transformation is holy in itself.

Photo by Mikaala Shackelford on Unsplash

When Creation Becomes Faith in Action

BIPOC creators carry two major responsibilities:

To keep the light inside them shining,

and to bring others toward that light.

When we lack the resources or support to overcome life’s struggles, to whom do we turn? God, the source and the sustainer of our light.

Faith, Art and the Ministry of Light

Art, when created under His purpose, becomes a form of ministry. It heals. It speaks to hearts that words alone can’t reach. As we, His children, create to heal and to serve, our audiences become illuminated by that same light — and in turn, they carry it forward. 

It’s a divine cycle of giving and healing, a creative echo of Ephesians 5:13:

"Everything that is illuminated becomes a light" (Ephesians 5:13 NIV)

Because what do we have without light?

Darkness. Hiddenness. A world detached from the glory revealed through Christ.

Living as Children of Light

God calls us out of that darkness.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

“He reveals what is hidden and makes known what dwells in the shadows”. (Daniel 2:22)

 Through creativity, He brings His truth into view.

We create to connect and to remind others (and ourselves) that, even in pain, purpose remains. 

Being called to this purpose, or any for that matter, isn’t a fleeting feeling; it’s a fundamental mission that shapes who we are. And truthfully, creating when you don’t feel called is hard. Trust me, I’m learning that too. Yet I’m learning that the mission is bigger than me. And even when I feel empty, the truth remains: God is good, regardless of how I feel or what life looks like. His light will always shine.

A Space Where Faith and Creativity Meet

My hope is that this space — Through Light, We Create — becomes one that cannot be hidden. A place where BIPOC creatives are seen in their full brilliance, where art becomes testimony, and where faith and creativity intertwine. As you read through this blog, you’ll find a myriad of representations of faith-driven art that impact communities in ways big and small.

Ministry isn’t limited to pulpits, missionary trips or gospel choirs. It’s happening on film sets, in recording studios, during dance rehearsals and at photography shoots too. A new generation of BIPOC creatives is shaping culture and carrying Christ’s light to illuminate the world.

So, where does the light lead you?