20 Ways You Can Use Hand Lettering for Faith

Mar 19, 20215 min read

Updated: Mar 31, 2021

Hand lettering has become a popular art form. It is beautiful, elegant and inspiring! People are hired and paid good money to hand letter invitations, certificates and to display beautiful lettering for products. I have noticed it in décor, on envelopes, pictures and various forms of art, just to name a few.

What if those with this skill used hand lettering for faith and to facilitate the spread of God’s words into the world more. The word of God is powerful and has impact. Our culture is bombarded with over 500 messages a day from digital media, TV, radio, billboards, signs, newspapers, magazines and books. Marketing Research shows" repetition over time" is effective to influence consumers and their habits. We can see His word spread in the same fashion and see the positive impact He can make through that spread.

Taking an unbiased look at the "influencers" in society, what would you consider greater, the Bible and it's precepts or worldly culture? Does our society reflect God's word or the world's ways? I have views on this, but each of us is given free will and the choice to choose how we respond in life which includes our world views..

I would like to encourage you, if you have a Biblical World View, to take your place with God's

people and purpose to impact your sphere of influence. If each of us stepped out in faith and allowed Him to work through us as He makes an impact for the kingdom, just imagine the transformation we can see occur around us.

The Seven Mountain Mandate

About 10 years ago the Christian Community started hearing about The Seven Mountains Mandate. Basically, it is a way to impact culture in seven different areas of influence.

1. Family

2. Religion

3. Government

4. Business

5. Education

6. Arts and Entertainment

7. Media

Do you recognize any areas where you could be an influence in the above list? So many of us do not see the importance of our place in life at this time. Or we don't believe what we do is important or significant. The truth is, every believer on the planet has an important position and ability to impact the Kingdom. You were made to make an impact in at least one of those mountains listed above, which one do you think fits you best?

Conceptualize for a minute what our world might look like if Christians were a major influence in these areas of society. It would look very different then the current trends.

One way to have influence is through God's word.

Hebrews 4:12

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Isaiah 55:11

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Hand Lettering to Spread God's Word

Hand Lettering scripture and God's precepts could be a way to spread God's word.

It would be a beautiful way to get art and God's word in the mix of all these other influences.

If Christians took the word and made something beautiful out of it, the impact could be monumental!

If you are reading this article and are a hand letterer, I would like to ask you to give some prayer time to how you might use it to glorify God. There are so many avenues for impact through scripture!

Example

To help you with a beautiful example, as you consider your placement,

Amy Latta is an artist who has written several Hand Lettering books, one being "Hand Lettering for Faith: A Christian Workbook for Creating Inspired Art." It carries a 4.7 out of a 5 star rating.

I would recommend this book if you need ideas or just want to improve your skills and draw closer to Christ. Even if you have never considered Hand Lettering, it might be something you would enjoy.

An artist recently said, "I decided I wanted to hand letter, so for one year, I practiced every day". This was impactful for me to hear, because if it took time for her to master this, it is normal to struggle with it at first. It doesn't mean you can't do it, it means it will take practice.

Maybe some of you have mastered Hand Lettering and/or Calligraphy, and that is great! My mother-in-law mastered Calligraphy many years ago. She excelled in it, while her sister struggled to learn. Just because it may come easier to some and not others, does not mean you cannot do it. It is an art form and takes practice.

Amy Latta’s Bible verse hand lettering is set up as tutorials and can nurture your relationship with God as you engage in the process. If you are new to lettering, Amy’s down-to-earth approach will encourage you to jump in and create. And if you’ve already discovered your artistic connection to God, you’ll learn new skills for your Bible journaling.

Each chapter includes Amy’s design for a verse, a few words of reflection and step-by-step instructions for a new lettering font, technique, art or embellishment. The thick, smooth art paper and beautifully bordered blank pages invite you to draw right in the book. If you practice all the exercises, you’ll have 40 pieces of handmade faith-based art. In addition, you can take what you have learned and come up with your own designs.

Sample page from Amy's Book

Example from Amy's book.

Practice

Here is one of my first practice sheets from her book.

Here is another practice piece from the book.

A practice piece I made.

Tutorial

This is a section on how Amy walks you through the process of lettering, design and layout.

Finished piece from Amy's book.

Here is my practice piece from the page above.

How to Impact the World through Hand Lettering

I did a little brain storming with a fellow Christian and came up with ideas for how hand lettering could be done in various ways to impact people.

This is just a beginning list to help give you ideas to consider. I would love to have folks add ideas to the comment section. I would love to hear about any ways you are currently using hand lettering for faith.

Designs on T-shirts
Web banners
Stencil Art/Wall clings
Designs on Flags
Designs in coloring books
Book or journal covers
Children's and adult books
Stickers
Art work
Home Décor
Greeting Cards
Calendars
Digital Prints
Gift Tags
Note pads
Ornaments
Magnets
Bookmarks
Signs
Stationary

This week I received a thank you card in the mail from someone in my Bible Study. Enclosed in the card was a sticker with a scripture message. It really touched my heart!

Below is the sticker sent to me.