We're All About Jesus Christ
Keeping Jesus at the Centre
We are all about Jesus—who He is, what He has done, and what He is still doing today. Everything we do flows from Him, points to Him, and invites others to begin a beautiful journey with Him. We keep each other and our leadership accountable for ensuring that our focus always remains supremely on Him. (Read Colossians 1:15–20)
Christ Crucified
We proclaim Christ crucified—the power of God and the wisdom of God (read 1 Corinthians 1:23–24). At the cross, we see the fullness of His love, the depth of His sacrifice, and the hope of redemption for all who believe. Our focus remains there, where salvation was won and new life begins.
Christ Resurrected
We proclaim Christ risen from the dead—the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (read 1 Corinthians 15:20). By His resurrection, death has been defeated, and new creation has begun. Our hope and our joy are rooted in the empty tomb, where life triumphed over death and the promise of eternity was secured.
Christ Ascended
We proclaim Christ ascended into heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father (read Mark 16:19). He who humbled Himself on the cross is now exalted above every name (read Philippians 2:9). From there, He intercedes for us (read Romans 8:34) and has poured out the promised Holy Spirit upon His people (read Acts 2:33). Our eyes are lifted to Him, who reigns and will come again in glory.
Christ Returning
We proclaim Christ who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (read 2 Timothy 4:1). Just as He ascended, so He will return (read Acts 1:11). We wait in hope for His appearing, when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (read Philippians 2:10–11). Our eyes look forward to the day when He makes all things new (read Revelation 21:5).
We're Cross-Denominational
We work across traditions, expressions, and theological streams, anchored by a shared belief in Christ and a deep love for His Church. We recognize that beyond the core truths of the gospel, different Christians hold different convictions.
It's About Christ Alone
Romans 6:4 says "Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
This is the gospel we profess: dead to sin, but alive in Christ through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. This is our focal point, our one and only message.
No Concert Is The Same
As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:22–23, "To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings."
In the same way, some of our concerts may be more lively, some more reflective, and others comparatively neutral in tone.
One concert does not always set a precedent for the next. It is our aim to weave adaptability into our shared culture, enabling us to reach many kinds of people with the gospel from event to event.
Statement of Faith
We hold firmly to the foundational beliefs expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: the historic confession that unites Christians across time and tradition. This creed alone acts as our official 'Christian Arts Statement of Faith'.
(Read Habakkuk 2:2)
Diversity of Believers
In our gatherings and rehearsals, a Catholic might sit beside a Pentecostal. An Orthodox believer might serve alongside a Baptist. We see this not as a challenge, but as a beautiful glimpse of heaven, a chance to learn and glean from one another, and an opportunity to develop greater levels of Christ-like humility as individuals and as a community.
(Read Galatians 3:28)
Unity ≠ Uniformity
Unity is not uniformity. It means holding our own convictions while making room for others. It means valuing the Church not just as 'my tradition', but as part of our shared inheritance in Christ.
(Read 1 Corinthians 12:4, 12)
Which Canon We Use
We use the biblical canon recognized across the broadest range of Christian traditions - the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. This shared foundation gives us a basis for scriptural unity, providing common ground for moments of teaching, prayer, and reflection. We use the New Revised Standard Version Anglicized (NRSVA) due to its broad interdenominational acceptance.
Who We Are, What We're Not
We're Not a Church
AChA is not a church. We are a non-profit Christian arts organization — and that distinction matters. We are not here to promote or enforce a particular set of denominational doctrines. Instead, our focus is on Christ and the gospel, which we aim to express to the best of our ability through the creative arts.
(Read Matthew 7:16)
We Have a "Creative Company" Model
Think of us less as a church that does the arts, and more as a "theater company" with a Kingdom purpose. We are seeking to build something fit for use by God. To do this, we believe that clarity surrounding who we are called to be, and who we are not, allows us to serve in one accord, for as long as the Lord wills each of us to do so.
(Read Exodus 31:2–5, Exodus 35:30–35 & Exodus 36:1)
Style ≠ Denominational Affiliation
At Australian Christian Arts, we encourage our members to recognize and respect the difference between personality and denominational affiliation.
There may be times when our style feels more high-energy or visionary than some members are used to. We are grateful for our enthusiastic and lively leaders and founder, but it’s important to be clear: we are not a “charismatic” arts movement, and personality does not denote denominational affiliation. Style and personality are simply flavors—ways of creating, rehearsing, or performing in a given moment or context. They are nothing more and nothing less. Sure, Australian Christian Arts has its own flavor—but this remains irrelevant to a particular denominational persuasion.
(Read Philippians 1:18)
We believe a strong team is enriched by different personalities as long as they’re healthy, respectful, and open to adapting. When we work with openness on both sides, we bring out the best in each other, creating a shared spirit that can flex without losing its heart.
Involvement ≠ Total Agreement
As an organization, and as individuals, we want you to know that we do not assume that your involvement means that you agree on every matter, at all times. It is our prayer that knowing this will enable you, as the Spirit leads, to relax and make a home for yourself here at Australian Christian Arts. (Read Colossians 3:13–14)
We understand that involvement and total agreement are not always the same thing. Here, involvement means joining hands in the areas where we share purpose, even if we don’t see eye-to-eye on the details.
For example, one member might believe that we should lean more heavily into a particular tradition. Another might wish we included more of one element, or less of another, based on their background, preferences, or taste. Those feelings are natural—and we're always open to hearing your thoughts.
However, we recognize that maturity in Christ calls us to temperance and patience (read Ephesians 4:2), and that the Holy Spirit equips us to live these virtues out in community (read Galatians 5:16). This enables us to bear with one another in our differences, and should allow for many of us to remain motivated even in areas where we might not completely align.
A Note on Ministering at Particular Churches or Denominations
We welcome the richness of the wider Church and are glad to visit and fellowship with congregations of different styles and expressions. This includes churches that may vary in their teaching on the Holy Spirit, the gifts, or the outworking of salvation.
However, our one boundary is morality: we will only visit and partner with churches whose convictions surrounding morality reflect the historic teaching of the Church. In this way, we show respect for the Church at large, honor its heritage, and stand with the vast majority of Christians worldwide who hold fast to traditional morality.
(Read 1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Romans 13:13–14, Romans 6:12–13, Romans 12:1–2)
One Uniting Belief: 'Every Journey Has a Start'
Christians understand salvation in different ways - some primarily through sacraments, some through theosis, and others through faith and conversion. Yet we can all agree that in one way or another, life with Jesus is a journey, and every journey, by definition, must have a beginning. (Read Philippians 1:6)
Moment of Contrition (Read 1 John 1:9)
At every event, we carve out a moment which some denominations call a 'sinner’s prayer', in others an act (or prayer) of contrition, or in some, the 'Jesus Prayer'.
Some traditions may not often take the approach of saying such a prayer aloud within their gatherings. However, for us, not being a church, providing people with such a moment is more about the recognition that every journey has a start, so why not at our concert!
We may just have one chance at each concert to help someone start on their 'Jesus journey' - and we want to help them do so, whichever soteriological stance they choose to adopt going forward.
Expression ≠ Stance (Read 1 Samuel 16:7)
When we invite people to begin their journey with Jesus, we have to choose a way of facilitating this moment: our chosen tact, method, and presentation.
It's therefore important to note that any chosen style or approach doesn’t imply a specific theological position on salvation. Rather, any particular style might simply be the way we present the invitation and not a reflection or indication of a particular denominational affiliation or soteriology. The same goes with any messages delivered at our events. 'Charisma' does not therefore automatically equal a charismatic denominational persuasion.
Our desire is to give every person a genuine opportunity to begin their journey with Jesus, and we aim to do this in a way that is authentic and expressed in a style that is likely to reach as widely as possible.
Connecting People to a Church (Read Hebrews 10:24–25)
We also help people find a local church community, offering options from a variety of denominations.
We don’t take on the role of defining exactly how someone must walk that out, or as to what church denomination they should join. However, we are intentional about giving people the opportunity to make their own informed, prayerful choices, from a variety of options.
We celebrate our own convictions while also making space for others to follow Jesus in the tradition that they feel best nurtures their walk with Him.
No Concert Is The Same
When you’re considering a long-term commitment with Australian Christian Arts, we encourage you to join us for at least two concerts. Why? Because no two events are ever the same. Just as people express their faith in different ways, our concerts carry a variety of expressions through everything from the choice of music, to the venue, the ensemble, the décor, and the size.
Think of it like a book: don’t judge it by the cover, or even by the first chapter. Your first concert might not feel like “your thing,” but the second could be the one that captures your heart, and sometimes it’s the other way around. Every event is a different chapter of the same story. (Read 1 Samuel 16:7)
Contemplative Moments
Some of our gatherings lean into a quieter, reflective space. They’re moments of stillness and depth with acoustic sounds, prayerful pauses, or spoken word that invites you to slow down, listen, and meet Jesus in the quiet. These nights remind us that God isn't always found in the wind, in the fire, or in the earthquake, but in the whisper (read 1 Kings 19:11-13).
Joyful Celebrations
Other concerts are alive with music that stirs, through voices raised together in an atmosphere of celebration that reflects the joy and freedom we find in Christ. These nights remind us that worship can also be bold, creative, and lively, akin to the passages of jubilant and energetic praise found throughout scripture (read 2 Samuel 6:14-22).
By experiencing the different sides of AChA, you’ll discover not only our breadth as a movement, but also where your gifts and passion might fit within our shared mission: to see the arts reclaimed and used to glorify God.
Our Missional Mandate
Australian Christian Arts operates with a clear mandate that shapes our mission and activities. This three-fold mandate guides our strategic decisions and creative focus.
Kingdom Advancing
We are evangelistic in our approach, using the arts to share the Gospel, partnering with the Holy Spirit as He advances God's Kingdom.
(Read Matthew 11:12)
Kingdom Uniting
We are ecumenical, bringing together Christians from various traditions and denominations through shared artistic experiences and collaborations.
(Read Ephesians 4:3–6)
Kingdom Revealing
We reveal Jesus and His beauty through our art, making the invisible God visible through creative expression that points to divine truth.
(Read Colossians 1:26–27)
Wisdom from Church Leaders: How God Uses Art to Point Us to the Divine
In every sunrise and at every sunset, we see a glimpse of how God uses beauty: “the heavens declare the glory of God” (read Psalm 19:1). As His image-bearers (read Genesis 1), we follow that pattern. Just as artisans once shaped stained glass windows and inventors pioneered modern lighting, we too use aesthetics to help point people toward the divine. This is not coercion or manipulation.
Like as a sunset does not force a response from us, but rather, invokes one, God has given to humanity the wonderful gift of our senses, and of creativity to move and subsequently lift peoples eyes and hearts towards Him.
Through creation - and supremely through the incarnation - He demonstrates to us how the physical world can reveal to us His immanence and His transcendence. Music, lighting, bird song in the morning, spoken word, sunrises, soundscapes, dance, drama, historic spaces, and beautiful modern spaces - God can use it all for His glory, and that's what it's all about.
These collected perspectives, spanning the breadth of Church history and tradition, bear witness to the widespread conviction that art communicates spiritual truth and draws people closer to God.
At Australian Christian Arts, we seek to connect with this broad tradition, refresh it for a new audience, and embellish it in our own distinctive way. (N.B. The saints from whom we quote reflect our ecumenism, and none of them are to be taken as AChA endorsing a specific doctrinal stance).
QUOTES
Pope Benedict XVI
"Art is capable of making visible our need to go beyond what we see, and it reveals the thirst for beauty, for the infinite."
Pope Francis
"Art and faith are not separate; they belong together. Art must open the doors to the transcendent."
St. John Damascene
"The artist is the hand of God. Through matter, we can perceive the spiritual."
St. Augustine of Hippo
"He who sings prays twice."
St. John Chrysostom
"Nothing so uplifts the soul, gives it wings, sets it free from the earth… as the melodies of sacred song and psalm."
N.T. Wright
"The arts are not a luxury. They are a test of the Church's health. They are the highways to the heart."
Martin Luther
"I would gladly see all arts, especially music, in the service of Him who gave and created them."
Francis Schaeffer
"The Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars."
St. Gregory of Nyssa
“The universe is an instrument played by the Divine Hand… all creation dances to the rhythm of His will.”
Fr. Alexander Schmemann
“Creation is not mute: it sings, it speaks, it reveals. It is a cosmic liturgy.”
St. Maximus the Confessor
“Creation is a song. Every part of it sings its own note in praise of the Logos who sustains it.”
St. John of Kronstadt
“The Church is the fountain of art and beauty, for in her Christ is glorified with splendor, and souls are adorned with grace.”
Søren Kierkegaard
“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Music… will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.”
St. Augustine of Hippo
“The world is a great hymn to the Creator, composed of beauty and order and rhythm.”
St. Isidore of Seville
“Music is so naturally united with us that we cannot be free from it even if we so desired… It has the power to shape our soul.”
John Calvin
“The heavens resound with God’s glory as if creation were an instrument, tuned to sing the praises of its Maker.”
A Final Note
This document may not include everything some would like to see, and it may contain things others would rather leave out. We don’t claim it is perfect. What we do hope is that it offers you a genuine insight into our heart. Above all, our desire is to see Jesus lifted high in everything we do, and to see people come to know our wonderful Lord and saviour, and to share eternity with Him.
As the apostle Paul writes in Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.”