BIO:

Artist Jonathan Rogers is the blessed recipient of a series of visions from God that are rendered through him into drawings and paintings. These images convey loving, protecting, enthralling meanings to the heart and soul. There has never been imagery like this. Some viewers reactions verge on the miraculous. Lives are changed, souls are led to God. Somehow this imagery is downright subversive!

For 16 years now Jonathan has been getting invitations from churches to exhibit the artwork and to speak. These events have been wondrous, so meaningful that he now devotes his full time to offering these artworks and their testimonials to audiences across the nation. The artwork alone is beautiful, stunning, extraordinary up there on the screen, but when Jonathan recounts various viewers’ reports and stories in his warm, entertaining, engaging way his fascinating “Show & Tell” becomes an outstanding event.

A pastor asked Jonathan to answer a series of questions. Here is what he answered:

Dear Pastor Darryl,
Thank you for your questions. Here goes:

What does your presentation include?
An art exhibit of about 15 original drawings and paintings, a portfolio of about 30 print samples, some sample greeting cards, bookmarks, fridge magnets and such, and some CD’s of digital images of all the artwork. Usually I give a talk about how the “Visions From Faith” came to be, relate the stories from people who have told me about these visions , and answer questions.

What do you talk about?
Briefly - I tell about how I was found by my Heavenly Father. After a conventionally successful career in Animation for TV producing Casper, My Little Pony, The Glofriends and such, my soul was in tatters and I was preparing to terminate my life. Instead I surrendered my life to God as our Savior Jesus guides us. My life and my consciousness immediately changed as if from night to day. My lifelong illness vanished, I sleep without disturbance to this day, I felt I was learning how to breathe, walk, speak, see, listen, touch - everything - all for the first time. My ingrained anger vanished never to return. My constant fears vanished never to return. I was reborn. I was presented with wondrous visions with an irresistible urge to produce them, then copy and distribute them. When I tried to give copies away people would not accept them without paying. People started telling me in great wonder about how their lives and the lives of others had been beneficially affected by these visions:

A chronically depressed physically handicapped woman recognized herself with God in Heaven in “First Step”, and was transformed in spirit. It is quite a story.

A traumatized Vietnam Vet who had scarcely spoken in over 20 years recognized “Let Go and Let God”. His wife sought me out to tell me of her gratitude to God for the return of the young soldier she had married so long ago. It is quite a story.

“Yes!” has countless happy stories and outpourings of gratitude for triumph over adversities. Recovery from addictions of course, also terminal illnesses, terrible accidents, fears of this and that, passing of exams, winning that race, getting that doctorate. I hear people say “that is exactly how I felt when God” …blessed me, saved me, protected me, healed me, you name it.

A child whose mother died was profoundly affected by “You Are Not Alone”. That’s quite a story.

I never know what these visions are all about until after they are done and out there for a while. I had supposed that “Soulmates” was for couples in love, newly weds and all that. Yes of course. Then a report about a young mother with premature twins gave a very different interpretation. Now there’s a story.

I had supposed that “Psalm 34:18” was intended to comfort people in their travails and uncertainties. Not entirely. A hospital worker called me up to tell me that due to that picture a baby given up as dead had just gone home with the happy family. Quite a story.

God leads me in unexpected ways. There have been times when I have been surprised by what has come out of my mouth. In a worship service at a Baptist church I shared some special experiences with God that I had never put into words before. I got a standing ovation. That event was a major factor in my decision to ask to visit churches instead of just waiting for an invitation. I am no preacher. I do not understand why I am called to do this. I am content not to understand, I am God’s servant, I will do as I am bidden, whatever it may be.

What kind of artwork do you bring?
I will bring about dozen drawings and a few paintings to mount a little art show. The drawings are in the 18” x 24” range, on paper in charcoal or graphite, not framed, but mounted on card so that they will stand up on an easel. I have only 3 easels, if you have any extra easels - please! Also a few oil paintings. The largest is 30” x 36”. Also I will bring a portfolio of reproduction prints, all 18” x 24”, all in clear plastic so they can be laid out on tables and people can go through them. These are the “Limited Edition” prints and can be ordered at $80 each, but I hope to be able to bring some along with me. Also I will bring some sample open edition prints at $20, sample greeting cards, bookmarks, mouse pads, fridge magnets, daily devotional cards. You can see the imagery on artbyjonathan.com

A word about the originals - I prayed for guidance about how much they should cost. The next day a woman at Highland Hills Baptist pointed to one of the drawings, handed me a check for $2500 and asked if it was enough. It was. A prominent art dealer and an insurance agent were consulted for my show last year at the Castellani Art Museum at Niagara Falls University. They valued the drawings at $2500 to $3500 - and they did not even like them. The Castellani bought a large painting for the Permanent Collection for $10,000.

What is your goal/objective?
To earn a sufficiency to keep this ministry going while I share my experience about the saving grace of God, show the visions and answer questions.

What do you see God doing through this ministry?
Nobody ever asked me that before! I have to say that I truly do not know in any clearly definable way. I just pray for guidance and the courage to follow it. But what a question! It makes me remember one of the very first times I ever spoke to a congregation. Feeling a little awkward to say the least. Me in a church. Standing up at the front talking about Jesus Christ and the Grace of God. Who would ever have predicted such a thing. Not me! It was in a little wooden Pentecostal Church in Concord, North Carolina one hot, hot Sunday. At the end of the service a man came up and congratulated me on my ministry. My what??? I nearly fell down. Wait a minute. I am just a guy, OK? Never in my wildest dreams did I ever consider that what I ever would do would ever be classified by anyone as a ministry! It changed my attitude towards the artwork and also changed my attitude about my speaking. It expanded my sense of belonging to God when I had thought that my sense of belonging to God could become no greater. Is that an answer? I don’t know.

Maybe God is exposing me as some kind of example. I am not a very talented artist. I was a producer, I spent more time on the phone and in meetings than drawing anything. It is God enabling my hand to depict that powerful imagery. I knew I never had what it takes to be a good artist. So it is with anyone and the gift that God bestows upon us. We will never know what we can do until we lose our life to God and then with the greatest astonishment watch what God does with it. I hope that young people will be encouraged to surrender to God before they waste the greater part of their lives the way I did. I am now 67.

A remarkable thing happens when people are exposed to these pictures. Somehow the simplicity of the symbolic image penetrates the heart before they get their rational thought filter in place. I have never had a show that has not caused both rapture and tears. Five years ago the huge Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago projected the images by Power Point during a worship service. People are still talking about that extraordinary event. I get calls about it to this day. Willow now uses the pictures in mission work, study groups, all kinds of ways. And they sell them in their bookstore. Every couple of months they call me up and order a few hundred more.

Somehow these images are terrifically meaningful to some people. They regularly affirm God to some of the most likely, and some of thee-most-unlikely people. As for me I have seen that my sharing of my experiences in my talks has touched many souls. I do know that now my life is completely blessed . I see that God is doing that, so maybe that can be considered as some more towards some kind of answer, but I suspect that the question you have asked may resonate in my mind for a while. Maybe I will come up with something more satisfactory by the time I get asked again! But trying to answer it has been a blessing - thanks for asking.

How long does your presentation take?
I intend about 20 minutes to half an hour, but it has happened that a certain spiritual atmosphere prevails and I find myself saying something that I never dreamed of saying. Nevertheless I am always mindful that I am a privileged guest - I have never exceeded 40 minutes, but I know that I could speak for a lot longer.

In His blessed service,
Jonathan Rogers

For more information visit: www.ArtByJonathan.com