A photographic exploration on the theme of joy and faith
“The Joy of Salvation” is a photographic exploration blending Will’s passion for artistry and spirituality. Much of Will’s life has been held in the tension between these two interests. Now he is bringing these two aspects of his life together to explore the theme of faith through his images. For this exploration, he is taking inspiration from the Biblical poet-king, David, in Psalm 51:12: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation”.
Where Christianity has been represented to many as a prison of rules and routines, true Christian faith at its core has a deep sense of joy and fulfillment though Jesus Christ, and this is something Will has been discovering more and more through his own spiritual journey, but he’s not alone.
This series focuses on the stories of a diverse group of subjects pairing vibrant and joyful images with testimonies and accounts of each individual’s journey of faith. Through these stories, it is the artist’s hope and prayer that conversations would be sparked and perspectives influenced regarding faith, especially towards Jesus.
Shortened Leg Miraculously Grows
This past May, I had the incredible privilege to attend History Maker; a weekend conference that ultimately impacted me in a way that I could not have expected going into it. During that weekend, I had the opportunity to go to a healing breakout session. I have always been fascinated by stories of people being healed and have even witnessed healings; but for one of the first times in my life, God actually used me to be a part of a miracle.
After the message, we were asked if there was anyone there who needed healing for something. If there was, they were to stand up and the people near them would be given time to lay hands on them and pray that they be healed in the name of Jesus. People all throughout the room stood up to receive healing. Sure enough, there was a boy standing right next to us. He had pain in his hip and lower back; something that he was forced to deal with because one of his legs was nearly an inch shorter than the other.
My friends and I prayed over and over again. Time went by and almost everyone else who was once standing, had received healing through the name of Jesus. Each time we prayed for this boy, we asked him whether or not he felt any difference, and at times he said the pain had lessened but was not fully gone. Being one of the only people left to be healed, we were called to the front of the room, and the boy was sat in a chair. With one of us on either side of him with our hands on his legs, another held his feet up where everyone could see how significant the difference in length between his legs actually was. In that moment, we prayed that his leg would grow, and all pain would be gone in the name of Jesus. Immediately his right leg grew to match exactly the length of his left. I cannot even begin to describe what it felt like to feel his skin actually being stretched beneath my very hands, or to see it happen before my eyes.
Unlike the other times we prayed, where we had to ask the boy if he felt a difference; this time we just knew. Everyone began jump and shout, praising God for what He had done.
It was in that moment that the presence of the Holy Spirit become so real, that no one in that room could escape it. The very love of God at work in our lives was so visible, one could not deny it. That day, God used ordinary people to achieve something incredible for His glory.
Nick H.
Child's Stomach Sickness Healed
In the early 2000’s, Steve and I were heading up Alpha here at New Life. It was growing and people were coming to know Jesus, be being brought back into relationship with Him, and beginning to become His disciples. It was such an exciting and encouraging time in our own personal relationships with Jesus and it was also demanding and time consuming! We loved it!
It was approaching the weekend of our retreat where the whole Alpha group goes away together for a weekend’s teaching on the Holy Spirit and a time of deep experience of the Holy Spirit’s power in our life. I had been praying about the weekend and hoping for great things to happen in all our lives as we opened up our minds and hearts to the Holy Spirit. As the weekend approached, a stomach bug settled into the Fowler household. We dropped one by one until Friday came and everyone was feeling better. My oldest, who was eight at the time, had managed to dodge this bug. I was feeling relieved and getting as organized as I could be to get out of the house and head to the weekend retreat with three young boys in tow. We had no family in town, so the boys were coming with me.
At 4pm, just as I was about to pile everyone in the van, I discovered my son lying in his bed clutching his tummy. My heart sunk! I had no back-up plan for leadership for the weekend, and I knew that if he was throwing up, I would have to cancel. I also knew this was not the Lord’s plan for this weekend. A friend had challenged me the week before as she shared how she had prayed for her son over a sore finger and God had immediately healed the finger. To be honest, I was afraid to pray for healing in case I was disappointed, and my son was disappointed, but I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to pray. As I sat with my eight-year-old, I asked him if I could pray for him in my own special prayer language that God had given me to talk to Him. I began to pray and at first, I was sure there was going to be vomiting at any moment, but I prayed anyway.
When I stopped and asked Graeme how he was feeling he told me that the sickness felt like it was moving up his body, from his stomach into his throat and that I should keep praying. I prayed on, and minute later he sat up, jumped out of bed and told me it was done. I will never forget the look on his little face. It wasn’t surprised at all. It was completely matter of fact. He had no doubts at all that God was going to take away his tummy bug. He had no fear of being disappointed. He fully expected that God was going to fix this and that is exactly what He did. One of our family’s Psalms, through generations is Psalm 103.
“Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”Psalm 103: 2-4
Gillian F.
God Present in Near-Death Crash
This past May, I had the incredible privilege to attend History Maker; a weekend conference that ultimately impacted me in a way that I could not have expected going into it. During that weekend, I had the opportunity to go to a healing breakout session. I have always been fascinated by stories of people being healed and have even witnessed healings; but for one of the first times in my life, God actually used me to be a part of a miracle.
After the message, we were asked if there was anyone there who needed healing for something. If there was, they were to stand up and the people near them would be given time to lay hands on them and pray that they be healed in the name of Jesus. People all throughout the room stood up to receive healing. Sure enough, there was a boy standing right next to us. He had pain in his hip and lower back; something that he was forced to deal with because one of his legs was nearly an inch shorter than the other.
My friends and I prayed over and over again. Time went by and almost everyone else who was once standing, had received healing through the name of Jesus. Each time we prayed for this boy, we asked him whether or not he felt any difference, and at times he said the pain had lessened but was not fully gone. Being one of the only people left to be healed, we were called to the front of the room, and the boy was sat in a chair. With one of us on either side of him with our hands on his legs, another held his feet up where everyone could see how significant the difference in length between his legs actually was. In that moment, we prayed that his leg would grow, and all pain would be gone in the name of Jesus. Immediately his right leg grew to match exactly the length of his left. I cannot even begin to describe what it felt like to feel his skin actually being stretched beneath my very hands, or to see it happen before my eyes.
Unlike the other times we prayed, where we had to ask the boy if he felt a difference; this time we just knew. Everyone began jump and shout, praising God for what He had done.
It was in that moment that the presence of the Holy Spirit become so real, that no one in that room could escape it. The very love of God at work in our lives was so visible, one could not deny it. That day, God used ordinary people to achieve something incredible for His glory.
Nick H.
PHOTO: Helene Cyr
About the Artist
Coming from an extensive artistic background, Will grew up studying various styles and mediums of art, developing a strong foundation in design work. Although painting and drawing were his primary expressions growing up, it was eventually photography that took hold as the primary output of his artistic vision. Finally the brush and pencil were set down altogether to focus on his photographic endeavors.
After continuing to focus on and hone his craft, black and white was eventually chosen by Will because of its timeless and soulful qualities that best showcased the kind of images he was looking to create.
Through the medium of photography it is Will’s desire to capture
stories and record moments that reveal more than just what a person looks like – images that reflect life, being captured rather than contrived.
Through a casual and documentary approach to photographing his subjects, Will seeks to create an environment where they can feel comfortable enough to be themselves. It is during those moments of authenticity that Will captures his images.
Whether shooting for private or commercial clients, the approach is the same in that the photographer seeks to capture an emotion or feeling and not just another pleasant
picture.
