Kingdom Kreatives started as a project for my digital advertising class. We were tasked with making a brand from scratch focusing on its purpose, its design, and its message.
When building my brand, my professor challenged us to answer these questions:
“Who are you?”
“What are you good at or passionate about?”
“Who do you want to become?”
“What do you want to be doing in five years?”
At first, these questions felt big and intimidating – but the more I sat with them, the more excited I got about creating something that would resonate deeply with who I am to my core.
I have a desire to serve, learn, and create and knew I wanted to build a brand that aligned and reflected that.
So, Kingdom Kreatives was formed – an online space and educational resource for designers, photographers, creatives who serve in ministry. A place where creativity meets calling. And a place where fellow creatives can encourage and lift each other up!
Over the course of the semester I got to develop and design the brand identity, created the Kingdom Kreatives logo, planned social media strategy, researched and wrote content, and got to interact with other designers in the creative ministry field. I pulled content learned from my college courses, my internships, and little lessons I’ve picked up over the last four years – and poured them into this space.
I’ve actually really enjoyed the time spent working on this project, and, in a sense, it became a place of peace, joy, and reflection amidst a busy semester. I got to talk about the things that matter to me most, while also getting to design fun graphics and posts. It also allowed me to draw in the knowledge, course content, and skills I’ve learned throughout the last four years of school, ultimately leaving me appreciating and reflecting on my time at UNI coming to a close.
While this is my final blog post for the class, it is not the end of Kingdom Kreatives (well… not exactly). 🙂
I’m planning to keep the Instagram alive, but evolve it into more of a personal design account. Still rooted in creativity and creating with a higher purpose, but just with a little more me in it 🙂
If you’ve been following along, thank you! You not only helped me get website clicks and views for my class, but you’ve been an encouragement and support during a busy semester!
Up next –> graduating & moving to Madison, WI to be a graphic designer at Doxa church!
I’m glad we could create together – more content to come 🙂
In today’s written interview, I’m thrilled to feature a sweet friend and fellow church creative—Miss Hannah Eilers!
Hannah is someone the Lord has filled with such a beautiful blend of passion and creativity. Her heart to glorify Him through her work is so evident and inspiring. She continually encourages me, and I know her story will uplift and inspire you, too.
As the Media and Marketing Director for a church in Central Minnesota, Hannah shares her creative journey, lessons she’s learned in ministry, and her heart behind the work she does.
Let’s dive in!
Hannah Eilers posing for her branding photoshoot. Courtesy Photo.
1. Tell our audience a little about yourself and your creative journey! High school to UNI to MN!
Hi!! I’m Hannah Eilers, a 22-year-old creative living in Central Minnesota!
I’ve always loved creative processes, color theory, and dreaming. I was able to dip my toes into the world of graphic design in my high school years, which made me fall in love with art and creating even more!
In the fall of 2021, I enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa (go cats!), as a Graphic Design major. I became immersed into the world of artistry, skill, and studio classes. Within my few years of college, I was able to experience how being in a relationship with Christ could fix my eyes on kingdom efforts– desiring more than what a college degree could possibly provide me, in the circumstances I found myself in!
The summer following my sophomore year, through a great connection of a friend, I was able to intern at a church in Central Minnesota. The Lord met me in that small town, and helped me realize that His plan was going to look a lot sweeter than my own. Yet, it came with more discomfort than if I were to perform these miraculous abilities on my own!
Time and time again, running back to the Father in prayer and quiet, I felt an indescribable sense of peace considering the circumstances in front of me. I decided not to continue my degree and instead stay in Minnesota after that summer of heart-change! The month of May marks two years of walking obediently with the Lord, celebrating the victories that came from 20-year-old Hannah’s “yes!”
2. What did you learn in your internship/time at UNI that prepared you for your job in creative ministry?
I will say- nothing can quite prepare you for the things that ministry will throw at you. Considering that Creative Ministry is a broader case, compared to vocational/pastoral ministry! I learned countless beneficial elements while working on-campus media positions during my time at UNI. But, I recognized once I came into the position I am currently in, that consistency is a choice.
To choose consistency in your workload, your workflow, and how to tolerate circumstances & certain tasks at hand. For me personally, every day has looked a little different than the last. During my time in my Social Media Manager role at the Wellness and Recreation Center at UNI, I acknowledged how stream-line most operations were in the office. I have appreciated how I’ve been shown to control this choice and use it to my advantage in the workplace!
3. What are some challenges you faced early on in your current job and what would you have done differently looking back?
A challenge that I faced early on in the role that I’m currently in was definitely the comparison of artistic choice. Depending on the feed I was scrolling on to the encounters I had with individuals here, I was constantly being fed things that I enjoyed but began to create a toxic environment in my brain. Thinking that I had to meet needs because of a trend or to receive likes for a post.
It has definitely taken me longer than I would have liked to learn through these struggles, but it has helped remind me that I am an imperfect human! I know that as an artist, designer and a believer of Christ, I am allowed the freedom to express the talents that the Lord has given me. I shouldn’t need to compare my abilities to another’s.
4. How do you balance working creatively while also aligning your work with the church’s mission, vision, and branding?
There is a total switch up when it comes to secular culture and ministry culture. Designing for society brings a lot more open doors to what could be consumed and considered “well done,” but as we see in the Church, it’s not always the most glorifying or righteous thing to post the same trending reel or audio just to get people’s attention. This might be a harsh statement but bear with me- if you can’t align yourself with your Church’s overall mission and vision, then you won’t have fruitful work. I’ve learned that I can’t rely on my own preference and flesh to produce something for the church.
5. How do you stay inspired? What makes your creative juices flow?
Top three things that keep a girl’s creative juices flowing are; music, alone time with Jesus, and spending time in a healthy and uplifting community. Music has always been a huge one for me, I am constantly consuming music, (like any young adult in this generation), which refreshes pieces of my creativity. Spending time with the Lord most definitely nourishes my spiritual soul, but also my creative mind. I have received stronger imagination abilities by entrusting Christ with my dreams, visions, and ultimate authority of my gifts! Community as a young adult has got to be the most life-giving thing to invest in. Sharing experiences and simply doing life with other believers fills a cup that you never realized was running dry.
6. What advice would you give to someone just starting in church marketing or graphic design?
Let your “yes” be “yes,” and your “no” be “no!” What I mean by that is making sure you aren’t overloading your plate with what sound like exciting and big projects, or seemingly small tasks for another– which consequently leave your other priorities to suffer.
Don’t get me wrong, take that dream project, say “yes” to that new event branding, but recognize your capacity first. Living on the edge of capacity, I believe, slowly works itself to burnout. Using your discernment and judgement to take on opportunities will benefit your job enjoyment, boost your motivation to create, and overall will reassure your abilities to get needs done & requests completely.
7. Where do you see the future of church marketing and design going, and how are you preparing for it?
I think more and more people will discover these crazy talents and gifts from the Lord, which will ultimately result in vast production of variety! I see more vibrant color palettes coming into play, bigger-bolder font styles being used, and creatives kicking hesitancy to the side and running with the creative freedoms of Christ! From production to media, there’s big things coming. How cool is it to be creative?!
Find Hannah’s work on her portfolio website here !
Interested in seeing the ways she’s serving her church? Check out their Instagram below:
What do you do when you are in a design rut looking for inspiration? Or how about when a team member gave feedback you didn’t agree with on one of your designs? Or what if you’re feeling burnt out and unmotivated?
More often than not we turn to pinterest, our favorite church Instagram accounts, or seeking to confide in friends. Now, those aren’t bad in and of themselves—they are good gifts and tools the Lord has given us! But when did we stop turning to the feet of the Father first?
Let’s look at a few things we can pray for together as church creatives!
Humility
Our work is not our own, and neither are the church’s accounts we post on. I think as designers it is easy to take pride in our work and want others to recognize it as well. Building confidence as a designer is a slow and steady process with lots of ups and downs, so I applaud you guys out there that feel confident in your work! However, our heart should be fixated on the One who has created us to do this work we love!
I read a post recently that said it best: “The goal of our work is not for us to be recognized, but for the Lord to be recognized through our work.”
How cool is it that creating things we love actually brings people closer to the Father?! I pray that the Lord would continue to humble us. That we would surrender our plans to Him. That the gospel would be at the forefront of our minds throughout our weeks and also when we are working on new projects. Would the Lord use us to display His character through our work!
Rest
Man oh man am I still navigating how to rest well. It seems like when I have busy weeks, physical and mental rest are the first things thrown out the door. I oftentimes sacrifice extra hours of sleep to get school work or projects done and don’t take adequate time to rest and be still.
Something that was really convicting during a Sunday sermon this year was over 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. This passage is over fleeing from impurity, but our pastor paused on verses 19-20 for a little bit longer. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own…”
He gave the example of borrowing someone else’s car for the weekend and how we take better care of things that aren’t our own. You would be extra careful driving the car around town. Maybe you would even get it washed at the end of the day! Why do we not treat our own bodies in the same way? It is literally where the Spirit dwells in us; its home! The Spirit that guides us in conversation, in sanctification, and also in our creative life!
I pray that we would slow down. That we would be still before the Lord. I pray that He would give us discernment on when to say yes and no to projects and the courage to do so. That we would take intentional time to fill up our cups and realize our work serves no one when they’re empty.
Gospel conversations
Maybe you do outreach in your position, or maybe you don’t – either way, let’s be looking for opportunities to have gospel conversations (even if it’s not technically in your job description)!
I think one easy way to do this is to just have your eyes up and open when you’re doing your weekly Sunday tasks. Say hi to someone new when you’re walking around getting content for socials, or introduce yourself to a group of people and ask to get a photo of them! As a photographer, I am almost conditioned to try to not be noticeable. I often lurk in the back or try to stay out of peoples’ way when I’m getting the shots I need. But so many life-giving conversations can happen with a simple “hello.”
Are big social gatherings not really your style? Invite someone to lunch or coffee! Maybe spend time with someone who also shows interest in design, photography, or social media — ask God for opportunities to love and pour into those people!
I think it’s also easy to have the lie that our work “isn’t as important” creep in when comparing creative jobs to other church positions focused on outreach. Just because our role looks different doesn’t mean it’s not important or serving a purpose.
I pray that we would not put ourselves in a “designer box” and that we would still be chasing after the task at hand: to go and make disciples. Would the Lord give us opportunities to share and would He guide our words in gospel conversations.
Being so close to graduation has me reflecting on my last four years spent here in Cedar Falls; all of the places I’ve been and people I’ve met – and how the Lord met me uniquely and intentionally through each one.
It is so clear that His hand has been over my whole college experience, from coming in as a biology major, the long nights spent in the library, the Christ-centered friendships made, the internships I’ve done, and the hardships I’ve endured. He is sovereign over it all – I feel so undeserving of a God who is so kind and good that He sought me out to draw my heart closer to Him.
Hence: Places of Pursuit – where the Lord intentionally met me where I was, pursuing me and my heart.
These pictures are just a few of the many places and people that have been on my heart as I think about my college years!
1. Hagemann Hall and the girls I met there!
My favorite people and sweetest friends met through small group and university housing. They strive to seek the Lord and live obediently in all they do. They love hard and encourage often and make me want to do the same!
The first photo is from small group, where one of my leaders discipled me. She is the most servant hearted person I know and displayed the heart of Christ through her welcoming presence and gentle spirit.
2. Sidecar Coffee
Countless hours spent with friends studying, talking about life, praying for each other, and reading our Bibles together. It’s been such a core part of my time here in Cedar Falls. It’s such a sweet thing for the Lord to use something as simple as coffee to bring people together and closer to Him!
3. Around Cedar Falls – my home, hammock spots, walking trails
My sophomore year room is a place I look back fondly on – so much growth happened there. It was where I started to really study the Bible and know it for myself. The studying also followed me to my hammocking spots around town and campus. I also had frequent prayer walks on the trails as well.
4. Oregon
This past summer I did an internship at a church in Oregon! I got the opportunity to work with such an amazing team, meet new people, make new friends, and explore the beautiful landscape Oregon had to offer. Not only was it a summer full of so much fun, but it was the summer I also learned how to pray fervently, be still, and listen to the Lord’s voice. He brought me far from home, but near to Him at the same time.
5. Discipleship Group & Ellie
Every Monday morning at 6am we meet at Ellie’s cozy cabin for discipleship group. I can’t thank the Lord enough for giving us Ellie as our leader! She is bold in her faith, she lives to be obedient, and she has challenged me more than anyone else. I can see the ways the Lord has so kindly had our paths cross.
6. Wisconsin
I never thought I would be moving to Wisconsin for my job post-grad. But I can see how the Lord’s hand has been over it all — my brother moving there after college, many family visits, and spring break trips with friends. The way He has already woven my story makes me excited and eager to see what He will do in the years to come!
Are you a church creative for a traditional church that steers clear of social media trends? Or perhaps you work at a modern church and find yourself caught between staying authentic and jumping on the latest trends?
Well, if you relate to either, are somewhere in between, or just want to learn more about this topic, I’m happy you’re here!
I’ve spent the past two years as the student graphic designer and social media manager for my college ministry, and I’ve also had the opportunity to intern at a new church in Eugene, Oregon. Through these experiences, I’ve slowly learned a lot about the ins and outs of church media, often turning to industry experts like Brady Shearer, who helps churches navigate the digital space.
So, on the topic of authenticity and trends, here are a few things that have been on my mind!
1.Don’t run from new trends
It’s important to understand that trends aren’t inherently bad. Are some really cringey? Yes. (in that case maybe don’t use them 😉 ) BUT, they can be a really great opportunity to not only engage with your current church body, but also reach new people. Take note of the trending sounds, audios, or reels that you can implement in your feed.
This can also be true for the graphic designers and artists of the church. As designers, we get inspiration everywhere – from other creatives, branding, trending color pairings, fonts, and more. Don’t shy away from incorporating some of those into your sermon series graphics or your instagram feed, as long as they are serving a purpose.
Remember to welcome these trends in with discernment. Does this trend align with your values? Will it connect to your audience in a meaningful way? If so, it can give a freshness to your content while also engaging existing members and potentially drawing new ones in. If not, it’s okay to pass on it even if you see the trend all over your feed. You don’t need to chase every viral moment – stay true to your brand!
2. Establish your brand
Speaking of brands – I think something I wish I would’ve spent more time on when I first started out was sitting down and writing out what the feed should look and feel like. Your church’s brand is more than just its colors and logo; it’s the tone in your captions, the warmth or coolness of your photos, the people you feature, how often you post, and so on. Your brand should be a true reflection of your church’s values and mission.
Consider these questions when thinking about your church’s brand:
Are your photos warm and inviting, or do they lean toward cool, sleek tones?
Do you capture candid moments of people connecting, or are your shots more polished and staged?
Is your feed filled with aesthetic shots, or does it also showcase real emotions and genuine interactions?
These elements, while subtle, play a crucial role in how your church is perceived online.
For example, if your church values diversity, is that reflected in your social media presence? If your church is focused on reaching all generations, is that evident in the content you share?
Dig into your church’s values and mission and brainstorm the ways you can visually display it through social media!
This can also be an area where you can see the downside of chasing viral trends. It’s easy to stray from your brand by participating in a new trend, which can leave your audience feeling confused or disconnected from the personality your church has established through its brand.
I’ve also seen churches on my explore page who are doing all the trends (cringey or not) and sometimes it’s hard for me to get a vibe or feel of their church through the socials. I think this is a missed opportunity — take advantage of the tool that social media is for reflecting your church atmosphere and, in turn, making them want to visit!
3.Consistency over perfection
When establishing a brand, it’s easy to get caught up in making everything perfect. While it’s important to maintain a cohesive look across your feed, it’s also important to remember that consistency is often more valuable than perfection. Delivering consistent, quality content builds trust with your audience, provides engaging and helpful posts, and also contributes to the overall look and cohesiveness of your feed.
For example, if you post a carousel of photos from the Sunday service every week, your feed will gradually fill with photos of real people having real interactions at your church. Whereas if you’re someone who is trying out a new trend every week, it can make your feed look disorganized.
I’ve definitely been there. Saving all of the trendy reels I see other ministries doing then editing my own reel and posting it. But then I’ll look back on the feed and there is no consistency, no cohesiveness — it looks disorganized. You might be doing all the right things, but in the wrong way. It’s perfectly fine to sprinkle in trends , but balance them with your consistent, authentic content.
People value regularity in design, tone, and posting frequency over perfectly curated posts or overly staged content.
4. Know your audience
Each ministry within the church, whether it’s youth, college, or community-focused, has unique audiences. It’s crucial to understand what resonates with them. For example, youth ministries may benefit from fun, fast-paced reels or trends that tap into trending music or challenges. A college ministry might also benefit from trendy reels, while also relying on design trends to catch viewers’ eyes on socials. Community-focused ministries can emphasize more relatable, real-life moments captured in photos and short clips.
Plan your goals and social media schedule based on the ministry’s objectives.
Social media is a powerful tool, let’s learn how to use it well together in a glorifying way!
Looking for graphic designers or other creatives for fresh inspiration? Want to encourage, support, and follow other creatives? Check out these talented graphic designers below!
She creates bold, clean designs with a vintage-inspired touch. Her work merges modern simplicity with retro elements, creating a timeless and distinctive aesthetic.
Sam’s feed presents clean, inviting designs that are thoughtfully made with balanced compositions. His designs are fresh and minimalistic, yet bold and colorful.
Looking for how to get the right photography shots on a Sunday morning? Want photography tips to make your photos and social media feed look top-notch? I’ve got you covered!
1. Make a shot list / have an inspo folder
Whether it be writing down a list of specific shots you want to get or making a Pinterest board with photos for inspiration, both are so helpful! Planning helps you have direction on a Sunday morning and makes sure you are getting the shots you want and need. My current list consists of shots of the greeters, attendees walking in, worship, and meet-and-greet time.
2. Take more than one photo of the same shot
Say you take a burst of 5 photos of a group of people joyfully chatting before the service starts. In one photo someone probably has their eyes closed, in the next someone moved their hand in front of their face, and in the next the photo was a little blurry from moving your camera. I don’t end up using nearly as many photos as I capture – make sure you’re giving yourself enough good options to choose from later.
Get both horizontal and vertical photos of the same shot. Sometimes you don’t know what capacity you’ll use a photo in, but it’s always a bummer when you really like a certain photo and the space you’re working with doesn’t fit it. Better safe than sorry !
3. Stay close to the greeters
The greeters bring genuine smiles and lively spirits to early mornings! Hang around the lobby or entrance to capture the ‘hellos,’ smiles, and friendly interactions. You want your photos to feel real and genuine, displaying what a common Sunday looks like at your church!
4. Bring a long lens
These are helpful for meet-and-greet times to get those friendly interactions from a comfortable distance away. Being too close can 1) make someone uncomfortable, 2) make them look directly into your lens (which both them and you don’t want) and 3) be disruptive of the authentic moments people have. Plus no one likes a camera in their face when they’re trying to have a conversation with someone or during worship — or I definitely wouldn’t anyways!
5. Use a preset
Consistency in shots and color will bring your photos together and give your social media feed a unique look and feel! You want your photos to feel like you but also look like you.
6. Get creative!
This is where my Pinterest boards come in handy! 😉
Don’t be scared to try something new and expand your shot list! I recently tried shooting from the top of our auditorium and I think it will add a fun perspective to the next carousel of photos I post. Sprinkles of detailed shots are fun to add too!
Let’s take a look at the trending colors for graphic designers in 2025!
Have you noticed vibrant reds, dusty pinks, bright blues, and dark greens have been taking over the design world right now? Well I’m here for it!
Whether it be searching for colors that complement and balance each other well, or if you’re just looking for a few colors to make something pop — you’ve come to the right place! I have been loving the bright color combinations lately and hopefully you can find some inspiration for your next graphic design project below.
1. Shades of Pink
2. Lime & Electric Blue
3. Dusty Sky & Crimson
This has been one of my favorites recently. I used a similar combo in one of my sermon series graphics you can find below.
4. Rose & Kiwi
5. Tangerine & Peach Fuzz
6. Cucumber & Evergreen
7. Crimson & Raspberry Mint
8. Dusty Pink & Lavender
9. Sunbeam
This isn’t a color combo, but I’ve been seeing yellow EVERYWHERE! It’s been such a flavorful touch to lay over a black and white photo or play with fun yellow typography.
Check out some of this inspo in action below from my own personal work or graphics on Pinterest:
Hi all!! My name is Morgan Ryerson a.k.a. “the face behind Kingdom Kreatives!”
I am currently a senior at the University of Northern Iowa studying interactive digital studies with minors in marketing and digital journalism! For one of my current classes we get to build a personal brand from the ground up.
“Who are you?” What are you good at or passionate about?” “Who do you want to become?” “What do you want to be doing in five years?” These are all questions I was asked when creating my “brand.” What a gift it is to create something that corresponds deeply to who you are.
Who am I?
A child of God. A creative. A designer. A learner. A friend.
What am I good at or passionate about?
I’m passionate about creating! I’ve always loved taking photos, drawing, writing, and learning how to perfect it.
Who do I want to become?
Someone who is always searching to learn more, serve others, and practice the skills the Lord has gifted me.
What do I want to be doing in five years?
I have a few dream jobs: working in creative ministry, owning a coffee shop, and being a wedding photographer. But the one that excites me the most is getting to work in a church, having my passion be fueled by my purpose.
All of these led to the thoughtful invention of Kingdom Kreatives: a place where church creatives can learn, grow, and gain confidence in the skill the Lord has given them!
I always come back to Exodus 35:35 which reads,
“He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.”
How special is it that the Lord uniquely fills us with different skills and passions? And that my desire to create is from the Creator Himself?!
As someone who currently designs and manages my college ministry social media, I wanted to make a space for church creatives to come together to encourage, support, and give advice to one another. More often than not, creatives are met with comparison, doubt, and design ruts. This is normal and it is okay, but it is not true.
I want to write about topics like this! How to be confident in your skill, how to pray intentionally as a creative, how to take the best photos on a Sunday, how to get out of a design rut, how to find inspiration, and more!
