“I used to be very into the occult, channeling spirits, casting spells, taking part in with a Ouija board six to eight hours a day — all that stuff.
That's how navy veteran and artist Timothy Gagnon described his early years, explaining how he descended into dangerous practices as a younger man.
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Now, a long time later, Gagnon is on a faith-filled mission to publish his “Bible of the Illuminated Messiah,” a creative tackle Scripture that depicts Jesus from Genesis to Revelation, with the artist creating 66 illustrated panels that come collectively to create life. -a giant portrait of Jesus on the cross.
The challenge is a giant departure from his previous pursuits.
“I grew up in a form of — for lack of a greater phrase — Christmas and Easter Catholic household,” he stated of his background. “We didn't actually take part that a lot.
Gagnon stated that on the time he lived as if God was not an essential side or precedence in his life. When he entered the sixth grade, he remembered an oral report project he was given. Not sure of what to do, he went to the college library and got here throughout books on the occult.
This introduction to the topic led him to solid spells, play with Ouija boards, and channel spirits, amongst different such actions—issues he did “all day” and “all night time” with two of his pals who additionally descended into the identical apply.
Gagnon stated these charms weren’t empty practices—that one thing occurred when he turned concerned with the occult. He stated he and his pals communicated with three entities who claimed to be an angel, a demon and a “misplaced spirit in purgatory”. In spite of everything, it was an actual encounter with a demon.
“Once I was casting spells, once we have been channeling spirits, we have been experiencing supernatural occasions and issues we couldn't clarify,” he stated. “It's like a drug.
However at some point one thing occurred that stopped him.
“In my room I used to be casting spells and channeling spirits and I felt a presence that was higher than something I had encountered earlier than,” Gagnon stated. “And I knew instinctively that God was coming.
He continued: “It was the spirit of God coming to me and I used to be terrified.
Gagnon stated he assumed God would come to kill him due to his occult practices. So he ran out of the home “in a panic” and went straight to the native Catholic church, the place he instantly entered the confessional and instructed the priest every part he had accomplished.
Whereas Gagnon thought he would possibly outrun God, he remembered feeling the Lord's presence in that confessional.
“God began talking to my coronary heart,” he stated. “I felt like each atom in my physique was simply shaking with His presence, and I keep in mind him telling me, 'Cease it. It’s sufficient. Come and observe me.” And that was sufficient. I stated 'sure' to God.”
Gagnon stated he instantly stopped all his occult actions and had a “starvation for the issues of God” and the Bible.
“I had this encounter with Jesus,” he stated. “I had this rebirth expertise. However I didn't know there have been phrases for that.'
The connection intensified a couple of years later when Gagnon joined the navy and met his flight commander, a Christian who started sharing his religion and witnessing to Gagnon.
“He gave me my first actual Bible with out footage,” he joked. “And he started to show me the Phrase of God.
It was then that Gagnon started to color footage of varied biblical scenes. Because the research continued, so did his creative skill to recreate them. This gave Gagnon the roots to mix his artwork and religion, which he does in his new “Illuminated Messiah Bible.”
Many years later, Gagnon helps to encourage different believers by this particular model of the Bible – one full along with his art work.
“I did 66 messianic portraits,” he stated. “Jesus in each guide of the Bible. … Consider it as painted piety.”
Gagnon continued, “All 66 work – despite the fact that they’re particular person work, mix collectively to kind a 12-and-a-half-foot lengthy cross.”
Be taught extra about “The Enlightened Messiah's Bible”.
