Eric Samuel Timm painted a picture in chapel ” both with paint and words.
Timm’s visit to California Baptist University on Feb. 9 will be remembered for his presentation style and creation of “Repaint Jesus.”
He is a reverend at No One Underground Ministries but by appearance and interaction with the CBU community an outsider would not have known the difference.
Timm did not jump right into his message; he took an unconventional approach. He engaged CBU students on a more personal level and created a different type of atmosphere. He had the crowd laughing with his down to earth personality and jokes.
Timm created liveliness in the room when he talked about God and his message.
“Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, these real life experiences shape who you are,” Timm said.
He decided to do things differently and show, rather than tell, CBU students his message. Timm started to use the materials that were placed on the stage. At first, the picture was difficult to decipher and he had the crowd in awe.
Once Timm flipped the painting upside down, gasps and applause were heard throughout the gym. The painting was no longer confusing, rather a detailed portrait of Jesus’ face and the words “repaint Jesus.”
Timm showed that some people had distorted views of Jesus and Christianity. But he said that he wanted to “repaint” their perspectives.
“This portrait of Jesus that someone painted to you was incorrect, it was upside down,” Timm said.
He challenged students to repaint Jesus with actions not words.
He read from Luke 10:25-37 about the story of a Levite who was left for dead on the street. Men of God just passed the man but a Samaritan passes by and becomes the one who helps the Levite.
He gave CBU students the opportunity to imitate the actions of the Levite and “Repaint Jesus” for a young child across the world.
Timm ended his message by promoting Compassion International, a “Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.
“We need to stop asking God where He is and begin asking where His people are among the poverty,”
