Attendees in the Painted Prayers workshop at Legacy UMC. Photos by jlynn studios.

More than 40 people gathered at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Friday evening, June 5, during the 2026 Dakotas Annual Conference, to experience the spiritual practice Painted Prayers. 

“So many people come with a preconceived notion from ‘Sip and Paint’ experiences. This is a spirit-led painting. A journey you go through. The emphasis is not on the final product but on the experience,” describes Bri Heida, Dakotas Conference Connector for Renewal and Painted Prayers leader.

The purpose of the workshop was to give people a chance for respite amidst the business of the annual conference, and to give them an idea of a spiritual practice they could try back at their local church.

How Painted Prayers got started.

In 2016, Bri Heida started a non-profit to guide people in a new spiritual practice, painted prayers. Painted Prayers was born from Heida’s experience with chronic pain and suffering.  

Bri found herself walking down a dark pathway of chronic illness with no answers or treatment path from medical professionals. She abandoned her graphic design business and turned her back on the things she loves —creativity and painting.

“In my experience of that darkness, I learned that beauty does not wither in the face of pain and suffering. Instead, it becomes the greatest source of light. A guiding beacon that kept me tethered to God through it all,” Heida states.

She leaned into her creative gifts from God and her experience with prayer journaling to hear God’s voice and find the light. One day, Bri pulled out a canvas and paints.

“I let the paint flow on the canvas. I could see things in the canvas and would add paint. I began to see things in new ways and release all the trauma inside of me. I saw God moving in powerful ways,” said Bri.

Painting became a spiritual practice for her. She used the time to reflect, release, and connect with God. The result was that her chronic pain went away. Bri thought, “If God can touch me this way, think of how this might reach others.” She invited friends to begin prayer painting. Soon, she was doing workshops.

Heida formed a nonprofit ministry and built an online curriculum to train instructors to first experience the process for themselves, then teach others and lead workshops. She experienced spiritual healing and transformation happening in big ways for others.

Participants reflect and paint as they listen for God's voice during the Painted Prayer Workshop.

What happens at a Painted Prayer workshop?

As people enter the room, they find basic paint brushes in recycled tin cans, bottles of acrylic paint, an 8 x 10-inch canvas for each person, and sheets of wax paper.

Each person is directed to select paint colors and place them on a sheet of wax paper. Then begin to paint a background with different brushstrokes on the 8x10-inch canvas.

As people are painting, Bri encourages them to release and reflect. “Imagine all your worries and stress are flowing on the canvas. Notice and pay attention to how you are feeling as you paint on the canvas.”

She asks questions: “What are the colors doing? Are they blending? How are the colors flowing? What are you seeing? What does it look like?”

“Just keep painting. Add details to the painting. Stay open to creativity, curiosity, and God,” Bri instructs. “Reflect, contemplate, let things flow. Allow yourself to be on an inward journey.”

As people wrap up their time painting on the canvas, Heida invites them to share their paintings and speak about their inner reflections.

“I am always amazed at what God is doing. When people share, it is so much bigger and deeper than I envision,” said Bri.

As participants leave the workshop, she encourages them to place their paintings where they can see them for the next two or three weeks.

“Ask God to speak while you are looking at your painting. You may not be done with it,” Bri said.

What is next? Painted Prayers has led Bri to answer God’s call to become a deacon in The United Methodist Church. She is currently in seminary and works for the Dakotas Conference as the Connector for Renewal. In that role, she works with churches of all sizes and contexts to cultivate pathways for discipleship and spiritual growth that meet people where they are and lead them deeper in their faith.

“I have found a home in The United Methodist Church and Canyon Lake UMC. I am mostly doing what God asks me to do,” said Bri.