In a mountain village in South Asia, a painter named Mr. Day told the stories his people had always told. His community is known for scroll art — paint and fabric carrying myths of creation, history, and the afterlife. Some even grind their own pigments from stone. One of their favorite tales is how the gods bathed in the ocean, how the dirt from their washing became birds, how trees and fish and finally humankind were formed from what the gods left behind.
Mr. Day was an artist from an unengaged, unreached people group — people with no lasting gospel strategy among them. When International Mission Board explorers Jude and Rocky Brown met him and admired his work, they asked to hear his creation story. He shared it gladly. Then they asked if they could share theirs.
They walked him through the biblical account: God creating the world and making humanity in His image; the fall; the need for Jesus, who came, bore sin, died, and rose again. They invited him to believe. Mr. Day had heard of Christianity. He thought it meant meeting on Sundays “to forgive your sins.” He listened politely. He still held that there were many paths to God.
So the Browns asked another question: Would he paint their story — the biblical creation story — in the cultural style of his people? He agreed. They sketched simple notes and doodles for each panel. Over the next several days they prayed that the Lord would soften his heart as he worked.
When they returned to pick up the scroll, they did not know what they would find. What they found was a masterpiece. Trees of creation. A sword to show the separation sin brought between God and humanity. Even Mary, pregnant — a detail they had not requested, but which he knew and included. The colors and craftsmanship were his people’s own.
Over tea they asked about the details. What fruit is on the tree? Why the sword between God and the man and woman? Mr. Day smiled and answered. Then they asked why the painting brought him joy.
“Because I believe it,” he said.
They pressed gently into what that meant. They shared the story of Zacchaeus — how a man met Jesus, repented, and believed (Luke 19:1–10). They opened Romans 10:9 and asked whether he wanted to commit his life to Christ. They explained that following Jesus would mean he could no longer follow Hindu gods.
He said he did not want to follow them anymore.
As far as the explorers know, Mr. Day is the first person from his people group to want to follow Jesus. They keep returning to his home, telling Bible stories, leaving the scroll with him so he can practice the story and share it with his family. They pray that his faith will take root — that he will thirst for truth and take the step of believer’s baptism. And they pray for his people, still largely without the gospel, that the Spirit will soften many more hearts.
God did not wait for a sermon in a sanctuary. He used a brush, a scroll, and a man who painted his way into believing the Story that paints us all new.
If you create, teach, or simply listen for God in ordinary work, Mr. Day’s confession is an invitation: the gospel can become your own story too — not by arguing alone, but by letting Jesus remake what you love until you can say, honestly, I believe it.
Adapted from “First person: God used a painting to draw a man to Him” by Jude and Rocky Brown, International Mission Board (10 Mar 2025). Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. Original article. Some names changed for security, as noted by IMB.