We believe creativity matters. It stretches beyond engagement. Creativity isn’t just a picture or a piece of art. It goes deeper than that. Creativity matters because it has the potential to shift perspectives and even direct your calling.
It was this very thought that sparked the idea and heart behind SALT Conference. We asked ourselves, “What would the contemporary church look like if we stripped away production and performance from our services?” Would people lose interest? Would the church still be engaged with what God is doing? Does creativity matter?
While wrestling with these questions, we took a look at the churches of the past—cathedrals constructed decades or even centuries ago. Immediately we noted that these churches aren’t furnished with the technology of today: projectors, digital soundboards, or lighting design. They weren’t striving to keep pace with megachurch movements. In our eyes, they were stripped to the bone. But at the core, these cathedrals carried something authentic—they carried a story. A story that exists beyond contemporary comprehension. The churches of old told this story through the craftsmanship of stone walls, painted ceilings, and stained glass windows.
What we found was that these Cathedrals told the same story that we seek to reveal to our generation today. The architects of these cathedrals knew that creativity matters! People hear the Gospel through a story and we believe the Gospel is the greatest story ever told. The only difference between the contemporary church and the cathedrals of the past are the vehicles that are used to engage the audience in the story. Art, lights, sounds, visuals should create an atmosphere for people to best receive the Gospel. These tools should never take away from the story. They are not the story, but they help tell the story.
This year at SALT Conference we are unpacking that revelation. In an age fueled by excess and the idea of MORE, doing MORE in the church lends itself to competition, striving, and disengagement. A flood of MORE causes us to feel overwhelmed. But, doing MORE shouldn’t detract us from our pursuit of excellence—doing MORE should revolve around the condition of the heart.
Our Creative Arts Conference seeks to pursue connection to God. As a bi-product, everything that we create is crafted meticulously and intentionally with the story of the Gospel in mind. With an arsenal of technology, worship music, and complex stage design we must remain in connection with the author of our faith in order to accentuate the story, but not distract from it.
