My name is Trip Hughes, and I am raising money to start a Christian Blacksmith ministry. I have already received a grant from an organization named Creo Arts, but to fully realize my vision for this project, I need to raise a bit more support. The art of Blacksmithing has such amazing parallels to our Christian Faith. We all start with a heart of stone that requires the Holy Spirit to soften and turn into a heart of flesh that is capable of loving Jesus. With the forge, we take a block of steel, heat it to a point that is workable, and begin making hammer blows. Just as the Lord puts things in our lives to shape and create us into the works He intends, we smiths do the same with the steel. The lessons from the are truly messages from the Gospel. I desire to build a home base for this forge and then take it on the road to groups that need to hear it. The mobile forge will travel to do demonstrations and workshops at churches, schools, rehabilitation centers, and much more. I believe the ability to take this on the road can impact places that would never have access to such an age-old craft. With the funding from the Creo Arts grant, I can accomplish a lot, but to really create the impact I desire, I need to fund a bit more, allowing for more access, more anvils, more students, and more ministry.