Tell us a little bit about who you are!
Arts and Entertainment Ministries (AEM) has been equipping Christians to be salt and light in the mainstream art world and entertainment industry since 2004. Our passion is helping Christian creatives succeed in their creative life while growing deeper in their spiritual walk. We do this by teaching them how to grow their creative business, how to be discerning in an environment that’s often hostile to their faith, how God uses art and creative people to transform culture, and sharing biblical principles that demonstrate how God values artists.

This is important because God calls artists to be salt and light in mainstream culture, but resources for creatives of faith have been historically lacking. AEM was started to fill this void and equip Christians uniquely called to work in all spheres of art, media, and entertainment. We’ve had the privilege of teaching, mentoring, and coaching Christians in every artistic field. Our community includes such creatives as fine artists exhibiting in top museums, designers, dancers, writers, actors, producers, and video game developers.

How do you pursue God’s renewal of our city and world?
We believe God’s heart is to redeem all things and, as part of that, God calls creatives to be his ambassadors as they work in the art world and entertainment industries. The goal is not personal success—it’s to honor God through the gifts he’s given us. We equip men and women through personal mentoring, coaching, large gatherings, open forums, and online courses. All our work encourages Christians to have a larger view of what God is doing in Los Angeles and the world. In fact, through our online courses, we equip creatives in over 180 countries. Our Arts and Entertainment Institute has trained professional creatives and art professors at various Christian colleges and universities around the world in a more robust theology and the ability to apply Biblical principles to their teaching or creative endeavors.

How can we support you and engage with your mission?
We’re thankful for Reality LA! AEM’s founders, Rev. Joel and Michelle Pelsue (along with their kids), have been a part of Reality for over four years! We look forward growing partnership with our community. Practical ways to support us are through giving (we are a 501c3 religious non-profit) and by sharing our ministry and resources with any creatives of faith you may know.

How do you hope this partnership will shape our church?
AEM is committed to supporting the local church, which is God’s primary means of equipping the body of Christ. And just like Reality LA, our commitment is to serve and love our city, work for it’s good (Jeremiah 29:7), and equip fellow believers to do the same. We hope to shape the heart and culture of our church by supporting its work of discipleship and spiritual growth, particularly in the church’s creative community—we’d love to help members of Reality LA to learn how to approach their creative callings and anchor them in a biblical framework. Some specific opportunities include:
• Artists Calling Course
• Catalyst Program
• Core Foundations

More formally, we’d love to host a seminar or workshop for those in creative fields and to train church leadership in biblical principles for equipping and counseling creatives.

How can we pray for you?
God is opening doors for our online courses, and for our in-person Arts and Entertainment Institute to be produced in other states and countries. Please pray that we will have discernment about new partnerships and opportunities. Pray for increased visibility and the expansion of our courses so we can equip more Christians around the globe. Please also pray for financial resources—we had a few key donors go be with the Lord or lose their businesses in the aftermath of COVID.

How can we contact you?
You can connect and engage with AEM by emailing joel@a-e-m.org or mich@a-e-m.org.