Category: Personal

Hi all!

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 🙂 

With love, 

Morgan

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!

1. 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!

2. 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. 

3. 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!

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!

Let’s learn, grow, and gain confidence together!

I’m glad you’re here!

– Morgan