Our Story

The ministry began in 2006 when Zachary was asked to write a Christmas play for Buck Creek Christian Church. This production, entitled A Christmas Testimony and directed by his wife Susannah, was well received and an arts ministry was born. In 2009, another script followed, sharing the message of Easter and forgiveness through the Cross called Grace Beyond Humanity. This ministry expanded into the area of music a few months later when Susannah heard God say "start a praise band" while sitting in the car at their church parking lot. Soon after 1heart Praise Band began.

At the Karitos Worship & Arts Conference in July 2010, God began to prepare Zachary & Susannah for the next level of their ministry and they begin praying for greater focus and purpose. God answered quickly! Their hearts became focused on connecting artists within the Body of Christ and preparing themselves for the next step where God would lead them. In December, God opened a door for 1heart Praise Band & the drama ministry to merge through a collaborative effort during the second production of "A Christmas Testimony". On December 11th, the two ministries were officially merged to create 1heart Arts Ministries, which also began a biweekly Artist Bible Study. The next two years, brought more excitement as 1heart Arts began working alongside other ministry organizations, such as Faith, Hope & Love, Red Sea Ministries, Inspired Productions and through our film ministry. In April of 2011, a 1heart Arts Committee was formed with bandmate Jim Harris. Ministry; friends Stanley and Janet Jones were added in 2012.

May of 2012 ushered in the opportunity for Karitos INDY to be born, a mini-version of the 3-day worship & arts conference in Chicago that has made such an impact on Zach & Susannah each year. God again moved the 1heart Arts ministry in a new direction in July, as one-on-one ministering and discipleship of artists became the main focus. In January 2013, God even clarified this vision and mission of bringing together the Body of artists even further when the first Arts Ministry Leadership Group was formed, providing a platform for local arts ministry leaders to connect and encourage one another. On the horizon, we see a more defined network being formed to unite artists and leadership in serving the local community and beyond.

God has been so very faithful in providing each and every thing we have needed along the way and we know that He will continue to give us exactly what we need in His perfect timing. We take root in the promises of God found in Ephesians 3:20:

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

We in ourselves are nothing without Him, the power and sustainer of our faith. We merely follow His direction and leading as our Great Shepherd. Each day, we seek to die more to ourselves so we can become an even greater instrument to the Creator of all. We pray that God uses this humble arts ministry to accomplish His will for the people of Indianapolis and beyond.