The Story Behind "The Lamb Won" Drawing from 1997

The Story Behind "The Lamb Won"

Dr. Mrs. Nina Gunter, Director of World Missions for the Church of the Nazarene told a story about a little church in the former Soviet Union after the fall of Communism. That former underground church now had permission to put a sign over the door of their church. What would they paint on it? What name could they give their tiny church?During a prayer meeting one man spoke up quietly. "I will paint the sign and bring it here tomorrow."He returned the next day with the sign. They nailed it above the door for all to see. It simply read . . .

"The Lamb Won"

When Dr. Gunter finished telling the story, immediately, I knew what the picture should look like. I knew that in the softness of the lamb's fur there would be the faces of people who made up the body of Christ, who were a part of bringing the message of Christ to the world. After that, it was just work...leg work, mind work, art work. I gathered snapshots of friends who had participated in short and long term mission projects. It would be their faces I planned to draw onto the lamb. Next, I asked a friend if I could take pictures at her lamb farm. She said yes, so I drove out to the farm and shot 3 or 4 rolls of film of a bunch of very skittish little lambs.
Next it was off to the photo shop. By now it had been over a month since I had heard the story. I was intent on getting the drawing done. The message had touched my heart profoundly and I knew it was a picture that had to be drawn. I dropped off the film and impatiently waited for the pictures to be developed.

When I went to pick up the developed film I almost passed out when the clerk said there had been a problem and they could pitch one of the rolls and give me a replacement or ..." Please, just let me see the pictures. Then I can decide." What had happened? I could’t stand it. Was God trying to tell me that this wasn't right, that this wasn't His picture? My hands were shaking as I pulled the photos out of the package. To my absolute amazement they had been double exposed: there were people's faces on the lambs. It wasn't a reprimand or anything from God, He did want my attention to be on Him, though and not on this drawing. And, it was confirmation.

Beyond anything people could do or had done, He won. That’s the story. It’s been several years now and it still amazes me. The Lamb Won.

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God Bless,

Rusty

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