Creative Worship Through Art: Meet Ali Jacobs

A large blank canvas sits on an easel as Richard Pope, senior pastor of Canvas Church in Salisbury, Maryland, begins his Sunday sermon. As scripture unfolds, so does the image on the canvas, as Ali Jacobs uses her artistic talent and vision to paint a vivid picture most of us can only imagine. She brings God’s message to light with beauty and artistic flair.

The Church was once a venue for art from stained glass windows to sculptures, but over time, the traditions disappeared. However, visual art still speaks to the visual learner and the person with a creative bent outside musical worship. When Jacobs was asked if she had a title at Canvas Church for her live painting, she responded, “No, but maybe “worship painter.” Regardless of an official or unofficial title, she brings a timeless tradition back to the church.

Jacobs grew up in Baltimore County in a family of artists where she attended church and distinctly remembers feeling the presence of God with her. As she honed her artistic skills with study and work, God was continuing to hone her heart. On a youth retreat in Ocean City, Maryland, while serving as a youth leader, the pastor asked the students if anyone wanted to be baptized as a believer in Christ. With God convicting her heart that she had not been baptized as a believer, Jacobs said, “As an adult at the retreat, I was embarrassed amongst all the students to raise my hand for baptism, but I chose to do it. My decision to do so encouraged three other students to raise their hands as well. It was super encouraging to me to see.” Married to Jamie a month after her baptism, the young couple eventually moved to Ocean City and then to Salisbury, where they settled into their new home.

With a heart for the homeless, Ali and Jamie volunteered at Anne Street Village, a transitional housing community for unhoused residents, where they noticed several people wearing matching shirts in conjunction with Canvas Church‘s “Blitz Day” community outreach. The next Sunday, Ali and Jamie attended a service at Canvas, and in Ali‘s words, “We knew we had found our church home.” Wanting to use her creative talent to serve God, painting the sermon at Canvas Church was born.

Once a month, sometimes twice a month, Ali paints the sermon while it is delivered. When asked if she knows the scripture and sermon topic beforehand, she replied, “Yes, I take the time to pray, read the scriptures for the sermon, and review the sermon notes. I have an image in mind going into Sunday morning, but sometimes God takes me on a slightly different path as the sermon is preached.”

Richard Pope said, “Ali serves on our worship team because we see the work she does as a form of worship! Her paintings help our people to engage with God, not just through what they hear in the music and preaching, but also through what they see!”

Ali loves that members say they “feel” her paintings and say the painting helps them visualize the sermon, which allows them to understand the message of God’s Word better. Ali said, “It brings a blessing to my heart. It excites me to know my paintings help connect people to God.”

Currently, the paintings are in storage at Ali’s home and at and the pastor‘s house. Canvas Church rents its meeting space, so the paintings are set aside for God’s direction, whether for the walls of a future building or sold with the proceeds going toward ministry. In God’s timing, Ali knows He will give clear direction for the use of the paintings.

Outside being the unofficial Worship Painter, Ali is a deacon in training at Canvas. She specializes in painting instruction and mural painting besides live painting. She and Jamie own TC Studios in Ocean City, Maryland, whose core values are tribal connections (the TC in the name) and community focus.

When asked what her hope and prayer would be of live worship painting, she stated, “My prayer and hope are that as people learn of live worship painting, others will be encouraged to step forward to answer the call of being a creative visual artist.” If it takes root in churches, maybe the timeless tradition of art depicting God’s story will once again be on display.

Michelle Mackall is a freelance writer and serves as the administrative assistant for CrossLife Community Church and the Mid-Maryland Baptist Association.

Feature photo by Dennis Mullins