9th November 2002

A Mission in Pictures      

A new Internet ministry has been launched to bring together Christian photographers from around the world. TONY CUMMINGS reports.

WE ALL, on occasion, take photos, but we're not all photographers. The gap between holiday snap takers and those who pursue photography as an art form and/or a profession is an obvious one - though one rather difficult to quantify. Now with the launch of a new Christian ministry, there's a fresh opportunity for all Christians who are serious about the creative dimensions of photography to link up with kindred spirits - and, at the same time, give testimony to their faith in Jesus Christ.

The focal point of PhotoMission is a brand new website www.photomission.com and as one of three founders, Cardiff-based photographer Ian explains, this beautifully-designed website has many different dimensions. "It's a website for photographers to connect with each other - the high-flying professional or the equally enthusiastic amateur. We are seeking to develop an online community of Christian photographers around the world, and we have a web page called 'Photos 4 Sale' where we'll be matching up people looking for the services of photographers." Does that mean, I ask, that if I needed a Christian wedding photographer in Chipping Sodbury you could find one for me? "It will obviously take time to build up the membership of PhotoMission, but yes, in time I think we will be able to connect people on all kinds of levels," Ian responds.

As well as the networking dimension to the PhotoMission site, members will be asked to contribute their Christian testimony. Connie, who resides near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and is the second founder of PhotoMission, spoke about the possibilities on that part of the site. "As the website grows, I think the testimonies will have the potential for browsers to be moved by the Holy Spirit to find God for themselves. We've placed links on the site so people searching for answers to spiritual questions will be able to access information about Christ and how to enter into a personal relationship with him." Unlike Ian, who in his five years as a freelance professional photographer has had shots published in such UK publications as The Sunday Telegraph, The Independent, Cross Rhythms and Christian Herald, Connie is a US photo enthusiast. Her photography has been exhibited internationally and published among others in The Washington Post. Passionate about the art of photography, she observes, "Part of the excitement in being a photographer is that you never know what God has waiting for you in terms of his world, whether it's capturing nature or those once-in-a-lifetime portraits. One can be right around the corner from the other."

Connie, who left a position with a US healthcare company to lead PhotoMission, spoke about one of her photos. It's a photo taken at a country fair, showing a great sense of devotion between a young lad and his horse. "The expression on the child's face drew me into the warmth of that exchange," she said. "A few moments later, the magic of the moment was gone." Ian, too, spoke of one of his favourite shots found on the site. "I stood around for an hour-and-a-half waiting for the right light to appear on a castle on the western edge of Scotland. I had to put my coat on the camera to keep it from getting wet, so I got wet instead. It was all worth it, the photograph turned out particularly well."

The third founder of PhotoMission is Ghani, a professional Indian photographer from Bhubaneswar who has worked for international wire services. The three photographers first made Internet contact with each other in 2000 when they contributed photography for a book celebrating the Millennium. At the beginning, they didn't realise each was a Christian. Then some photos taken by Ian at the re-enactment of Good Friday on the streets of Cardiff helped Connie and Ian make the spiritual connection. Remembered Connie, "Next, Ghani started corresponding with me. In one of his early emails, he wrote, 'Everything works for the good for those who love God...,' and he didn't finish the rest of the verse. So I wrote to him and said, 'Ghani, do you know the rest of that scripture?' And he said, 'Yes.' Ghani has a very strong faith. Soon after that email, the three of us were exchanging daily emails and then the Lord gave us a vision for this ministry where we could serve him together. Now, PhotoMission has begun."

Photographers and anyone interested in photography are invited to visit www.photomission.com.

* Tony Cummings is editor of Cross Rhythms magazine.