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University Baptist Church member and artist Kandra Wynne Bellanca discusses the meaning of a piece of artwork with church summer interns Dayna Eng and Tom Burns. Carla Wynn Davis photo
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BALTIMORE – Photographs documenting an immigrant’s journey, masquerade masks and paintings stretching the edge of imagination – all are part of supporting the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s HIV/AIDS ministry in Africa and reaching out to a transitioning Baltimore community.
Hosted by University Baptist Church in Baltimore, "Art Under the Dome" ran June 22-July 6, with participating artists donating 20 percent of the proceeds to the Fellowship’s HIV/AIDS ministry in Africa. More than 250 people attended the opening.
The church was already planning to host an art show when members studied Affect, the Fellowship’s missions education resource for adults. Church members learned about Ana Marie and Scott Houser, CBF Global Missions field personnel who work among HIV/AIDS caregivers in South Africa.
"Our church is extremely interested in missions," said Robin Anderson, associate pastor of education and outreach. Through Affect, "the church got excited about AIDS ministry. The art gallery was a separate idea. Then the idea became, ‘Let’s connect the two.’"
The event also supported the ministry of Fran and Lonnie Turner, CBF Global Missions field personnel who minister to those living with HIV/AIDS in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.
The art show was more than a ministry to those affected by HIV/AIDS, it represented an outreach to local artists and to the surrounding neighborhood. By providing an affordable setting to display and sell their work, the show met a felt need of many local artists.
"University Baptist Church seeks to care for our community by valuing the expression of our local artists," Anderson said. "Through ‘Art Under the Dome,’ we hope to bring our community together by celebrating our artists, listening to their voices and working together to help others."
Church members hope the show creates a common ground for communication with artists and the local community.
"If [our church] can provide a comfortable environment, it can help us become a part of the local [art] community, and there are things the church can learn from the artist," said church member and exhibiting artist Kandra Wynne Bellanca.
To learn about the Fellowship’s work with HIV/AIDS, go to www.thefellowship.info/AIDS. To learn about partnership opportunities through CBF Global Missions, contact Karen Gilbert at kgilbert@thefellowship.info or (800) 352-8741.
The Fellowship’s missions education resources are available through the CBF Store at (888) 801-4223 or www.thefellowship.info/TheCBFStore. .
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.