From Church Basement to Creative Calling: Using Your Gifts for God
I still remember the first time I picked up a camera—not in a studio, not on a fancy set, but in the middle of a Sunday service at my parents' church. I was 13 years old, a kid with zero training and no real idea what I was doing. But that church gave me something priceless: a place to explore my gifts without the pressure to be perfect.
It wasn’t a paid gig. And honestly, that was a blessing. Because when there’s no fear of messing up something “important,” you get space to try, to learn, and to grow. I started taking pictures of everything—events, worship nights, youth group gatherings, VBS. Over time, that little spark turned into a deep love for photography. I didn’t know it back then, but God was already shaping my path.
Church, Friendship, and the Start of Something Bigger
Around that same time, I met Georgie. We went to the same high school and church. I was behind the camera taking photos, and he was doing video for church events. What started as shared church media tasks quickly became a friendship, and that friendship became a creative partnership.
Eventually, we started ICON—just two guys with a vision to create meaningful photo and video content. We thought we were starting a side hustle. What it became was something far bigger than we imagined.
Over the next 12+ years, ICON grew into a full-scale business with a team of 15 people. We weren’t just doing photos and videos anymore—we were running photo booths, printing & custom design, and even launching a wedding arcade business. (Yes, an actual arcade. At weddings. It was wild, and it worked.)
And it all started in the church.
Letting God Use What’s Already in Your Hands
Looking back, I see how God used something simple—serving in church—to unlock a lifelong passion. I didn’t have a master plan. I just showed up, did what I loved, and let God guide the rest.
There’s a verse in 1 Peter 4:10 that says:
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
That hits home for me. The gifts God gives us aren’t just for our own benefit. They’re meant to be used—for His glory and for the good of others.
I never thought I’d be doing this for over a decade. But the more I did it, the more I loved it. And the more I loved it, the more I realized: this isn’t just a skill. It’s a calling.
A New Chapter + Full Circle
Today, I work full-time as a Creative Producer with a Christian counseling organization. I help build sets, direct shoots, and bring stories to life through media. I also handle photography for our events and national conference. It’s a new season, but it’s still rooted in the same thing: using my gifts for God.
And in an incredible full-circle moment, I now serve as the Director of Media at my church in Northeast Philadelphia. The same type of church environment that once gave me a safe place to explore has now become a space where I help mentor and train other creatives who are passionate about media. My heart is to help them not only develop their craft, but also discern and experience the unique talents God has placed inside them.
There’s something deeply fulfilling about helping others step into their callings—especially when you know what it’s like to be that young person, just starting out with a camera and a dream.
Your Turn
If you’re wondering whether your gift—whether it’s photography, organizing, music, design, or even something like hospitality—can be used for God, the answer is a loud, resounding yes. Start where you are. Serve without needing a spotlight. Let God develop your craft in the quiet, faithful places. You never know where it might lead.
If He could take a 13-year-old kid with a camera in the back of a church and turn that into a lifelong career and ministry—He can do the same with you.
Thanks for reading. If you're a creative looking to explore your gifts or wondering how to serve with what you’ve been given, I’d love to hear your story. Let’s build something for His glory.
