“Hello God’s Heart TV team. I would like to testify about the miracles of God in my life. My name is Lauris. I am from Latvia. I am an artist and graduated from the Art Academy of Latvia in 2002. I became a believer in 2012, and since then I have experienced many miracles from God in my life. But one of the most important aspects of my life is my professional field, which I have practiced since childhood – visual art, specifically painting. Since graduating from the Art Academy, I have done a lot and been active in the creative field so that my artistic work would bring financial rewards into my life.
“I have organised solo exhibitions and participated in group shows, trying to fulfil my calling to be a full-time artist. However, as the years went by, I began to realize the reality that no one was buying my paintings – except in very rare cases. As a result, I have been forced to constantly work in jobs unrelated to my education. These have mostly been various temporary jobs, which I have done in order to survive while also trying to fund my own exhibitions and painting work in the studio. This kind of life has constantly put me under the burden of debt and an ever-growing sense of hopelessness, that my art has no value. Despite this, I am one of those people who does not give up. Over the past two years, I submitted applications to several artist residencies and participated in local grant competitions. However, in all my efforts, I faced rejection.
“For over a year now, I have been writing prayer requests in faith to God’s Heart TV, and one of the most urgent ones has been for a breakthrough in art, so that I could earn a living through my work and provide for my family. I have been joining the Interactive Prayer Services consistently with my family. This January, I submitted an application to the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation in the USA for an individual support grant. The purpose of this grant is to support artists who, despite financial hardship, have remained faithful to their calling as artists and can demonstrate a mature body of work developed over a span of 20 years. At the beginning of May, I received an email from the foundation informing me that I am one of 20 artists selected to receive a $25,000 grant. This year, 865 artists from around the world applied for this grant. For me, this award represents a major breakthrough and growth as an artist, as well as professional recognition on a global scale.
“Thanks to this grant, I have the opportunity to repay the debts that have accumulated over time as a result of financial insufficiency, as well as the previously unavailable opportunity, as an artist, to plan progressive steps in my artist career, where financial and time investments are important. So far, I have enrolled in an online art marketing school, where I have begun a wonderful collaboration with a renowned art curator from Greece. This school is a wonderful opportunity to gain excellent knowledge and practically apply it for successful integration into the processes of the global art market. I want to encourage every believer never to give up, to be persistent, to have faith, and to send prayer requests to God’s Heart TV. And above all, to be in wonderful fellowship with the Creator. A big thank you to the God’s Heart TV team for your persistent ministry to people. And most of all, thank You to Jesus Christ for answered prayers and miracles in my life.”