Drawing Near: A Devotional Journey with Art, Poetry, and Reflection

Allow the Spirit to stir your soul

Amid busy lives, Drawing Near invites you to slow down, to pause and ponder, and to explore the creative edges of your faith. This unique devotional brings together 40 stunning original artworks that illustrate a particular biblical text or story. Each image is paired with its related scripture text and an original poem by a contemporary Anabaptist writer, along with questions or prompts for further reflection and space for your creative response.
​
The 40 scripture texts, illustrations, and poems provide a starting point. But the biblical passage will come alive in surprising ways as you gaze at the image and allow the Holy Spirit to disrupt the text through the evocative power of art and the surprising insights of well-crafted poems.

This devotional includes plenty of white space for your own response to the Spirit’s nudging--whether your own reflections, doodles, drawings, or poetry. A perfect gift that will engage people of faith, seekers, and creative souls of every age. Savor the art; reflect on the poetry; allow the Spirit to stir your soul.

Eileen R. Kinch is digital editor at Anabaptist World. She studied English at Chatham College and writing as ministry at Earlham School of Religion. She is the author of Gathering the Silence (Finishing Line Press). Her poetry has appeared in various journals and anthologies, including Foreshadow, Topology Magazine, Convivium, Fledgling Rag, and Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God. Her essays have appeared in the Journal of Mennonite Writing, CrossCurrents, and the Mezzo Cammin Women Poet’s Timeline. She and her husband Joel Nofziger live near Tylersport, Pennsylvania, with their two cats. She is a member of Keystone Friends Meeting in Lancaster County.

John D. Roth is project director of MennoMedia’s Anabaptism at 500 initiative. Prior to that role, Roth was a professor of history at Goshen College (1985-2022), where he also served as director of the Mennonite Historical Library and editor of the Mennonite Quarterly Review. Roth has published widely on topics related to Anabaptist-Mennonite history, theology, and church life. He is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism at Goshen College and is active in Mennonite World Conference. John and his wife Ruth enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and are members of Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship in Goshen, Indiana.