London, UK | Prophetic Art and Urban Blessings
In a London neighborhood riddled with poverty and crime, Joy prayer-walks, listening for a word to bless the land, which she turns into fiber street art.
Novo staff Joy James has lived in the same neighborhood in East London for 12 years. Her neighbors often have difficult lives and struggle with poverty, addiction and loneliness. There is a lot of crime and violence as well. As an artist, Joy has begun prayer-walking her neighborhood and creating street art using ribbons to bless the land (and the people) with words from Jesus.
She begins each project by gathering a few people to listen to Jesus and prayer-walk together. They ask God for a “word” for that place—a prophetic prayer of blessing that is the opposite of whatever negative things may be happening in the physical or spiritual realm. Then she “writes” that word on fences with ribbons for all who pass by to see.Her neighbors, mail carrier, and even people delivering her groceries frequently comment on her work.
“Freedom” is a God-infused prayer that brings hope to neighbors who are in bondage.
They ask God for a “word” for that place—a prophetic prayer of blessing that is the opposite of whatever negative things may be happening in the physical or spiritual realm.
Joy’s largest piece, which simply reads “Freedom,” is a visual prayer for freedom from religious extremism, violence, drug addiction, homelessness, and those selling sex just to survive. As Joy worked on it, many people made comments—things like, “Wow, that’s amazing!” or “Every time I walk by it lifts my spirits. Thank you.” Occasionally, she’s able to share that these are not just words but God-infused prayers for the community.
One of the founders of The East London House of Prayer described Joy’s work this way:
This prophetic art is first and foremost an act of worship to the One God; Father Son and Holy Spirit.
Second to this, these are words of Truth the Lord has given to Joy to speak out over the land.
Tower Hamlets has deep wounds which need all forms of the Lord’s love and minister to heal…This prayer is a beautiful, missional blend of ministering truth through creativity.
It brings to mind this quote by Frederick Buechner: ‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’”
