In the heart of 2019, as a groundswell of legislative actions aimed to push the LGBTQIA+ community further into the shadows, Pastor Mel was struck by a powerful vision: a declaration of solidarity that could not be silenced. Witnessing the pain and isolation, the urgent need to stand with the marginalized grew stronger, and we knew that inaction was not an option.  The vision resonated:

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Our people are suffering.

We cannot afford to be silent or hidden.

Lives are at stake among God's beautiful kaleidoscope of human experience.

Let us be seen, and thereby affirm those most at risk.

Wichita Falls, a city that adorns its streets with the vibrant whispers of local artists, became the canvas for our mission. The walls of our sacred space yearned for a visual testament to our inclusive spirit. We embarked on a quest to bring a mural to life, a silent but mighty declaration of love and acceptance.

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Almost immediately, Pastor Mel was asked to dinner with a former congregant who had moved away after the passing of her mother. It was this table-side conversation which resulted in the funding of the Sharon Lynn Reid-Cox Scholarship for Visual Art. Sharon had been a muralist in her youth and loved the use of art to communicate meaning. Inspired by her legacy, Connie established the Sharon Lynn Reid-Cox Scholarship for Visual Art, a beacon of hope to illuminate the path ahead.

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We cast the scholarship into the local art community in the Fall of 2019, eager to see the masterpieces that would emerge. Yet, the unforeseen grip of the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to briefly set aside our brushes and dreams. But in the resilience of hope, we revived the endeavor in 2021, reaching out once more to the talented community of local artists.

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From the depths of creativity emerged four stunning design concepts, with local artist Marie Alaniz contributing three breathtaking pieces. Our congregation gathered in a blind ballot, their eyes and hearts open to the beauty before them, and chose the mural that would soon grace our walls.

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Now, with anticipation brimming and our vision clear, we stand on the precipice of a new chapter. The time has come to transform our vision into a living, breathing testament. The brushes are poised, the colors are ready, and the wall awaits the loving touch of the artist's hand. Together, we will paint a picture of acceptance, a mural that whispers hope and shouts love to all who walk by. The story of Sharon's spirit and our congregation's unyielding embrace of diversity will soon unfold in a symphony of colors and shapes, a visual hymn to the kaleidoscope of human beauty in God's creation.