Renew the Arts welcomed Jonathan Warner to its Board of Directors in Spring 2025, but he’s been closely involved with Renew the Arts for many years. I recently had the chance to ask Jonathan a bit about his background and heart for this mission. Here’s what he had to say . . .
Tell us a bit about you & your background. How did you first become involved with Renew the Arts?
“Hi Katy, thanks for the question. A little bit about myself. My childhood was split between Saint Louis, MO and Milwaukee, WI, so a lot of Midwest roots. When it came time to choose a college I went to Bryan College in Dayton, TN. That’s where it all started. My roommate there was in a college band that was connected to the work of Renew the Arts. I’m not an artist myself, but I have always loved being around music and creative personalities. I slowly found my community among the people who were most passionate about this work.
I was a political science major at Bryan College and always thought I would be going into that field. God had a different idea for my career path and over time I began to realize that politics (although extremely important) is almost always downstream from cultural change. That understanding reignited a desire to support the work of Renew the Arts. I stayed very connected with Renew the Arts through the years, but started getting more intentionally involved in 2019. Over the past six years it has been amazing to see how God has led to this point of serving on the Board of Directors.”
Tell us about one of your favorite pieces of art, why it moved you, and how it may have affected your perspective or life in some way.
“Haha, okay…I’m going to have to give a very nerdy, but 100% truthful answer. I am a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, as well as many of J.R.R. Tolkien’s lesser known works. This love of Tolkien started when I was about 12 and has only grown over the years. I see his literature and world building as a supreme work of literary art. Tolkien inspired me from a young age to see, imagine, and understand that which is beautiful. He captures that beauty in countless and varying ways in his stories. I think that had a profound impact on me from a young age. Even though I felt like I didn’t have any acute artistic gifts, I wanted to be someone who promoted the true and beautiful.”
Why are you passionate about this mission? “Cultivating Christian communities in and through the arts by inspiring arts partnership and supporting artists”
“Great question! I’m passionate about the mission because it is so needed. I think Christian communities are starving for strong artistic influences. The arts have a way of bringing a deep sense of belonging and connection. When done to God’s glory, that influence can ignite a pursuit of truth and beauty that deepens our faith. I also think that God made us too enjoy that which is beautiful for its own sake. Art feeds the soul in a way that everyone needs. If we as Christians, who serve the eternal Creator of the universe, aren’t making art that reflects the glory of God and what he has created, then what are we doing?”
What is your favorite story of this mission playing out from your perspective so far?
“This is kind of a big picture story, but it’s honestly the thing I’m most thankful for. For me this all started at Bryan College. At Bryan, I made lifelong friends. For many people those college friendships will slowly fade away into the changing season of life. For me, those friendships have endured. It’s impossible to look at the last 12 years since graduating and not see the hand that Renew the Arts has played in nurturing a community that has allowed those friendships to grow. I love the fact that the work of Renew the Arts has cultivated an enduring community. It has become an irreplaceable part of my story.”
What is one of the biggest challenges Renew the Arts faces right now?
“That’s easy! I know I talked a lot about truth and beauty, but I am a very practical person when it comes down to it. I think the biggest challenge we face is finding people who are able to financially support this work. Fundraising has never been easy for Renew the Arts. We run everything on a shoe string budget. I’m thankful that we’ve had to be faithful with little, that has taught us a lot of good lessons. That said, we also want to bless the people who work for us with good salaries and be able to have the funds we need to expand the mission.”
Thank you for serving on the board. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
“I’d just like to say that it is an honor to serve on the board of Renew the Arts. I am so excited to continue to support the incredible work that our team is doing. If you are reading this, please pray that the Lord will sustain and grow the work. I believe that what we are doing is needed more than ever.”
Hope Newman Kemp, Chase Tremaine, and Carly Kotula listening in as Jonathan shares during the board retreat in March 2025.
Jonathan and Michael jot down their notes to the sheet during a brainstorming session.
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Check out the 2025 Annual Report, which features both of Renew the Arts newest board members, Jonathan Warner and Hope Newman Kemp.