When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart’s delight.
- Jeremiah 15:16a

Dear Spark+Echo Arts community,

It has been a delight to serve as Executive Director since founding Spark+Echo Arts with my wife Emily Clare Zempel ten years ago. I have been ceaselessly inspired as this community of artists has brought the Bible to life. We have commissioned art on over 4,000 verses through our flagship illuminated Bible program. Most recently we have begun piloting a new program, formational groups, providing a model for communities everywhere to also create on Scripture. With the rhythms and vision of the project established, I have decided that now is a good time to pass the Executive Director baton. I’ll be moving on to the board of directors and continue to assist this transition.

I am thrilled to announce that our Program Director, Rebecca Testrake, has accepted our board of directors’ invitation to step into the position of Interim Executive Director through December 2021. Rebecca holds a Masters of Divinity in Worship, Theology, and the Arts from Fuller Theological Seminary. On staff since 2015, she has shepherded hundreds of artists through the process of creating new art for Spark+Echo Arts. Rebecca lives the mission and vision of this organization, and no one knows its work better.

You will be hearing more from Rebecca and our board over the next few months, but I wanted to set the stage, and ask you to join me in supporting Spark+Echo Arts through this transition. The support I received in the early years of this organization made all the difference. Please contact us if you would like to get involved as a volunteer or leader, or make an end of year contribution toward our work of engaging artists and communities with the Bible.

Thank you, dear friends,

Jonathon Roberts
Co-founder