My journey with “making” started through my love for the home. I was obsessed with interior decorating from a young age, and refinishing furniture felt like the perfect outlet for this underlying itch I had to create. I quickly discovered not only the immense satisfaction that came from finding the perfect piece to refinish, but also the joy it brought me to see my vision for it come to life. 

The parallels between refinishing furniture and my faith grew clearer to me. By refinishing furniture, I, with my own two hands, could take something broken, battered, outdated, neglected, and unloved – and turn it into something beautiful. It was like giving new life to whatever it was I was painting, a growing metaphor for how God restores and refinishes us. I had come to learn how creating is more than a cognitive process; it is also a spiritual one. 

“Making” as a Christian reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3:11, which speaks of God putting eternity into our hearts. I truly believe that when we create as Christ-followers, it is a reflection of our longing for the eternal things of God – a reminder that this world is not our home. When I create, whether it be through my love of writing or beautifying furniture, I am faced with a desire to communicate and pursue something in a way that evokes a feeling I can rarely assign words to. I feel pulled to “make,” yet often navigate the difficult terrain of understanding exactly why or how I am supposed to go about this work.

Joining Imprint has made this foggy path less daunting because it is a constant reminder to do all things, including creating, to the glory of God. This community and its encouragement, paired with its gentle accountability and sense of responsibility, truly has changed how I go about “making.” I went from individualistic thinking in my creative endeavors to seeing the irreplaceable value of a team, one that adds clarity where I feel lost, mutual experiences to keep me from feeling alone, and brilliant ideas that keep me inspired. Imprint is a tangible reminder of different parts making up the body as we each contribute unique gifts that make our work stronger as a whole. It has provided me with a space to serve Christ and his Church through the use of my gifts, and that is something too precious for words. 

Behind the Scenes with Oliveah

1. What’s your day job?

I work in strategic communications for a government relations and communications firm. My typical day can range from writing news releases to managing social media.

2. How long have you attended Grace Toronto Church?

I began attending Grace about a year and a half ago. 

3. What do you do for Imprint?

I’ve recently begun managing our social media channels. I was also honoured to write a piece for our 2020 print issue, Freedom, and hope to continue writing pieces for Imprint online in the future. 

4. What’s your favourite piece for the upcoming print issue and why?

While I think the Freedom issue is full of profound pieces, I love "Held Together” by Becky Chai. This piece uses the example of knots (both literal and in the sense of our spiritual lives) as something that can often require work on our part, or as something that acts as a lifeline for us. In both cases, Becky speaks to how God faithfully works in the knots of our lives, from the Old Testament to our present day. What an encouraging piece given the events of this year and an ever-so-needed reminder of how good our God truly is. 

5. Tell us something surprising about Imprint behind the scenes!

The team is incredibly collaborative! I’m so thankful for the open and safe environment that we have, where it always feels comfortable to voice your thoughts and opinions. Everyone is also very light-hearted - there have definitely been some hilarious moments that add comedic relief to our otherwise strategic and focused planning sessions!