Marion (Host):
Byron, welcome to The UPside! You’ve spent more than five decades serving the global church through music, missions, and leadership. For those who may not know your story, how did God first capture your heart as both an artist and a minister?
Byron (Guest):
Thank you, Marion. It’s a joy to be here. You know, music has been woven into my life since I was a child — piano lessons at eight, improvising at nine, then picking up guitar and French horn as a teenager. But the defining moment came when I was traveling with the Continental Singers in 1968. We were touring across Asia, and I was in a very compromised place spiritually. I loved music, but I wasn’t walking closely with Christ. And yet, every night, as we sang and thousands heard the gospel, I couldn’t ignore the conviction in my heart. In the Philippines, a Navigator named Jaime took me under his wing and opened the Scriptures with me. On the steps of a YMCA, I finally surrendered my whole life to Jesus. That moment of repentance became a pivot — not just to be a believer, but to dedicate every creative gift I had to God’s service. I realized then that music wasn’t just a talent. It was a calling, a portal into mission, and a way to create environments where people could truly encounter Christ.
Marion:
You often say that being an artist is not a fringe pursuit but a priestly calling. Can you unpack what you mean by that?
Byron:
Yes. In the Old Testament, God specifically called artists by name. Bezalel and Oholiab in Exodus were filled with the Spirit of God, gifted with skill and imagination to create beauty for the tabernacle. That tells us something important: creativity was not optional. It was central to worship. So when I say it’s a priestly calling, I mean that artists stand in this unique space — mediators who help people encounter the presence of God through beauty, music, story, or image. Too often, the church has relegated art to the margins, while Scripture places it at the very heart of worship.
Marion:
I love how you describe artists as “imaginative expression specialists.” Where did that language come from, and how does it help us better understand the role of imagination in God’s design?
Byron:
That’s a phrase I developed because “artist” in our culture often carries baggage — the beret-wearing, iconoclastic stereotype who is separated from the community. But biblically, artists were central to community life. I call them “imaginative expression specialists” because they are people uniquely gifted to express truth in ways that transcend logic alone. C.S. Lewis called imagination the “organ of meaning.” We can have rational truth in front of us, but unless imagination engages, we don’t truly grasp it. God gave some of us heightened capacity in this area, so that through music, story, drama, or visual art, we help others touch transcendent realities.
Marion:
Why do you think the church has often struggled to fully embrace artists, while the secular world seems to celebrate them?
Byron:
Part of it is historical. After the Reformation, the Protestant church leaned heavily into rationality and the written word — which was vital and needed. But in the process, imagination and artistry were often downplayed. The emphasis was on intellect, doctrine, and reason, while the imaginal and emotional aspects of our humanity were sidelined. As a result, many churches became suspicious of artists, while the wider culture saw their value. My mission has been to call the church back to balance — to recognize that God designed us with rational, emotional, and imaginal intelligence. All three are essential. Without imagination, we cannot experience the fullness of truth.
Marion:
Your own calling was shaped through music, but it quickly expanded to discipling artists and leaders worldwide. How did you know this was the direction God was asking you to take?
Byron:
While still in college, I wrote it down in my journal in 1970: “Whatever you do, disciple people out of a music and arts background and see them worked into the fabric of church and missions.” That conviction has guided me my entire life. As I led choirs, worked with Continental Singers, or wrote songs, I noticed that very few artists were being discipled. They were often left on the fringe of the church. And God impressed on me that this must change. That’s why I founded Artists in Christian Testimony International, to give artists a spiritual covering, a missional platform, and a sense of belonging in God’s work.
Marion:
One of my favorite insights from your teaching is from Ephesians 2:10 — that we are God’s poema, His masterpiece. How does this change the way we see ourselves, not just as artists, but as believers?
Byron:
Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s workmanship,” but that Greek word poema means so much more. It’s where we get the word “poem.” It means we are God’s work of art, His masterpiece. That changes everything. It means you are not an accident. God shaped you with four unique dynamics: your personality, your natural talents, your spiritual gifts, and your sovereign history — the family, culture, and time you were born into. When surrendered to Christ, those dynamics form a design only God could orchestrate. And through that design, His glory shines.
Marion:
That’s so powerful. For someone listening today who feels creative but maybe doesn’t know if their art really matters, what encouragement would you give them?
Byron:
First, surrender everything to Christ. Without that, your art risks being self-expression rather than kingdom expression. Second, serve wherever you can. Even if it’s not glamorous or paid, use your gifts as unto the Lord. Excellence honors God. And third, trust that your creativity is not a side project. It’s a divine assignment. God doesn’t waste gifts. If He placed imagination in you, it’s for His purposes. As you surrender and serve, He’ll multiply it in ways you could never predict.
Marion:
You’ve worked across 50 nations and with more than 650 artists through Artists in Christian Testimony International. What do you see God doing right now in the global arts movement?
Byron:
It’s an exciting time. Around the world, artists are rising up as frontline missionaries. They’re using music, drama, film, dance, and visual art as bridges across cultures, opening doors where traditional preaching might not reach. I’ve seen firsthand how a song, a story, or a painting can soften hearts and open conversations about Christ. Arts are not just accessories to mission. They are central to mission. God is using artists to carry the gospel into spaces that would otherwise remain closed.
Marion (Closing):
Byron, your story challenges all of us — not just artists — to dream bigger, to embrace imagination as part of our discipleship, and to remember that we are God’s poem, His masterpiece. Thank you for reminding us that the arts aren’t optional; they’re essential to God’s mission.
Byron:
Thank you, Marion. It’s been a joy.
