DRAWN TO THE WORD is the artistic ministry and mission of Paul Oman, pastor and professional artist. Paul creates larger-than-life sized murals of any Bible story or theme in less than an hour as audiences are engaged by watching the process. The Biblical story comes to life before your eyes, impacting lives and congregations in profound ways.

You choose the theme; PAUL paints the story. Events are planned in conjunction with the congregation/event host involving musical talent of the congregation and community, or Paul can provide a pre-scripted event with music and narrations.

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To see a story created on canvas before your eyes is a unique and powerful experience which brings people of all ages and denominations together.

Paul paints during worship services, educational events, retreats, special events such as weddings, anniversaries, and retirements, youth gatherings, conferences, college choral performances, camps, outdoor settings, memorial events, outreach events, disaster relief efforts, school and corporate events, and more.

He has painted during choral performances of the Wartburg College Choir and with musicians/singers/songwriters/bands on stage.

Paul’s painting process compliments most styles of music, worship, and events, from contemporary to high liturgical, and from outdoor street events to camps and professional concert appearances.

In the News

Parishioners at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church watch as pastor and artist Paul Oman paints a mural as part of Wednesday’s “Drawn to the Word” event in East Grand Forks. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

Visiting pastor-artist creates religious mural during worship service

At the front of the sanctuary in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks, Pastor Paul Oman stood at a pure white, 7-by-5-foot canvas, stretched and mounted on an easel, and began painting a mural he would complete before the worship service ended.

Oman, a visiting ELCA pastor and professional artist from Wisconsin, did not utter a word during the church’s Wednesday, Oct. 9, evening service.
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All-Community Mural

THE ALL-COMMUNITY MURAL is a natural outflow of Drawn to the Word. Instead of Paul doing the painting, the community comes together and creates a magnificent paint by number mural. The mural can then be used for worship, can be painted to change with lighting (think glow in the dark or blacklight effects), and is perfect for using for a variety of events including community concerts, drama performances, children’s programs, special events, and more.

Bring your congregation or community together with the power of art.

Learn more about the All-Community Mural

Teaching And Presentations

Bring teaching to life with a co-mingling of art and biblical presentation at your next retreat, workshop, school or community event, and more with a Diving Deeper session. Paul will bring the stories and teachings alive in the same manner as Drawn to the Word events. Diving Deeper is a more intimate and teaching-focused opportunity for luncheons, keynote speaker needs, and so much more.
Learn more about Teaching & Presentations

Murals by Paul Oman

Jesus Walks On Water

Jesus Walks On Water

For God So Loved The World

For God So Loved The World

The Promise Of Noah’s Ark

The Promise Of Noah’s Ark

The Message of Amos

The Message of Amos

Borning Cry

Borning Cry

Call of Abraham and Sarah

Call of Abraham and Sarah

Call Of The Disciples

Call Of The Disciples

Jonah

Jonah

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

Goliath Meets David

Goliath Meets David

Crucifixion of Jesus

Crucifixion of Jesus

Manna In The Wilderness

Manna In The Wilderness

Welcome To The Banquet

Welcome To The Banquet

Commission a Painting

Commission Paul to paint a large-scale painting of nearly any size (such as a huge painting of the Feeding of the 5000, or a landscape along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, or any Bible story or theme) to go on a wall in your building that needs some life. This painting can teach and preach 24/7/365 for your organization.
Contact Paul to learn more

Mural Lending Library

Borrow a Mural Program

Paul runs a Mural Lending Library for a nominal fee.
Learn More

What People Are Saying

I'm not artistic at all, but I get to have a little share in something that is going to be a really big thing!
Paul H.

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Amery, WI

It's fun working together with everyone on the mural!
Natalie P.

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Amery, WI

What a joy-filled project!  People of all ages, working side by side, with all levels of skill and mastery culminating in a vivid, artistic display of God’s rich promises for our lives.
Heather Eggert

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Amery, WI

The All-Community Mural was an exercise in community, grace, and living into the gifts given to us by our Creator God! It was an experience full of the Holy Spirit—watching as people of all ages came together to touch brush to canvas, to laugh and talk and share, to unify their joy in the coming Savior in the creation of a work of art—a reminder that no matter who we are, Emmanuel calls us all to the same space: the foot of the cross.
Holly Stoner

Director of Faith Formation, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Amery, WI

As beautiful as our completed mural was, I believe the even more significant aspect of this project was the process used to create it. The simplicity of the mural's "paint-by-number" made it possible for both – Sunday School kids and 80-year-olds to add their brush strokes to the canvas.

As a community of faith, we worked side by side to create an extraordinary painting telling the story of God's love for us. Paul's design of the mural and encouraging oversight generated great excitement for all involved in the project.

Pastor Keith Ruehlow

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Amery, WI

The highlight of the project was the way people got involved, not just from our church, but friends from the community got interested in being part of the project.
Jim Osborn

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Amery, WI

Featuring Paul in our worship was one of the most engaging, meaningful experiences our congregation has had in years. Paul’s gifts of painting and presence are amazing, and the good news shines through him.
Dan Poffenberger

Senior Pastor, Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake MN

Very humbling and emotional. Extremely moving. Stunning, amazing and beautiful!

Wow!

Words cannot express how touched I am in my heart.

Anonymous

Participant

If we have Paul again, I will invite 20 of my closest friends!
Participant

from MN

This was the perfect worship event by which to remember our loved ones.
Participants

from throughout the United States

Your ministry inspired faith in the new generation. This highest of priorities is fulfilled in what you do – Thanks be to God!
Philip Blom

Pastor (retired)

My four-year-old was mesmerized for the entire time! She kept telling me every part of the story as Paul painted it.
A Mom

from WI

So emotional, it brought me to tears.
Participant

from WI

The whole story came to life before my eyes!
Participant

from WI

I was simply carried into prayer by the colors.
Dirk Lange

Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN

Our Lord Jesus painted pictures in our minds when he told parables. Paul puts these depictions on canvas to bring Christ’s images to bear on our lives.
Christopher Croghan

Professor of Religion, Sioux Falls, SD

Thank you for including the choirs in the powerful worship. Everyone is still talking about it throughout the community!
Lee Nelson

DMA Zahn Chair of Choral Conducting, Wartburg College, Waverly, IA

I was amazed, and when completed I looked with amazement on the painting! Both young and old sat mesmerized. This is a great event for the whole church!
Pastor Dave Williams

Hope Evangelical Free Church, Osceola, WI

We were truly blessed to have Paul come to our parish to paint the Road to Emmaus story during the Easter Season – an awesome experience!
Andrea Bleck

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Catawba, WI

Captivating! Watching Paul open up the story of the Scriptures through his painting held our congregation spellbound.
Pastor Neil Craigan

First Presbyterian Church, White Bear Lake, MN

Paul’s heart shines through in a dynamic way as he allows the Spirit to create through him a Gospel message that jumps off the canvas and penetrates straight to the heart.
Steve Dornbusch

Pastor (retired), Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, MN

It was a profound coming together of the audible and visible Word.
Pastor Dwight Hanson

Hope Lutheran Church, Ladysmith, WI

My kids came home and told us all about it, how awesome it was!
Parent

Concordia Int’l School, Shanghai, China

Jesus has called and is powerfully using Paul’s incredible gifts to revive a hunger for His living, active Word.
Pastor Wendy Berthelsen

President of Call Inc., Dallas, TX

That was the most amazing thing I have ever seen!
Ten-year-old worship attendee

Clayton, WI

Contact Paul to schedule a Drawn to the Word or All-Community Mural Event.
Schedule An Event