Inside Story
Unique Design & Desire
David Stickel Gives His All to Serve His Saviorby Rebecca K. Grosenbach
Several years ago, Navigator David Stickel heard two words that have shaped his understanding of God’s calling on his life—or anyone’s life. Design and desire.
God designed David with an extra measure of artistic ability and an added portion of love for internationals. David has combined these passions in his service for Christ.
God also made David very tall. And He’s used that, too.
This 6' 9" athlete went to college on a basketball scholarship. But his major was art. “People are always surprised to learn that I’m an artist because it doesn’t seem to fit my appearance,” David says.
His basketball abilities opened the door for David to go to Africa on a short-term mission after college. While in Nairobi, he met some Navigators and fell in love with the way they did ministry.
After returning to the States, David attended a training seminar at The Navigators’ Glen Eyrie headquarters in Colorado Springs. There he met Julie, who became his wife in 1987. Julie studied French and German in college and shared David’s interest in ministry to internationals.
“At Glen Eyrie I roomed with a guy from Australia and worked with a couple guys from Africa,” says David, “and it just seemed like a good fit.”
Eventually, David and Julie became involved in working with Chinese students in North Carolina, where David grew up. That’s where they serve today, opening their home to internationals and teaching Bible studies.
David also nurtured the talent and training he had in art and began
creating his own style of watercolor painting. “I’m a representational
painter,” he explains. “I like to paint things that look like they can
stand off the wall. I use watercolor in a way that most artists don’t.
I may use it more in the way others would use oil or acrylic. “Plus watercolor fits my schedule,” he says. “If I get a call from somebody who says, ‘I have to buy a car right now, can you come help me?’ I can drop everything and go back to it later.”
David’s unusual style and lifelike renderings have garnered him membership in the National Watercolor Society, a group not open to just anyone. His work has won “Best of Show” in art competitions and has been selected for inclusion in numerous art books.
More important than the acclaim is the opportunity his artwork brings.
“Painting is a powerful way to establish credibility,” he says. “When people see your work and appreciate what you’re doing, they ask about you and what you think about things. You ‘have them’ in a sense; you’ve captured their attention. I want to be the very best artist I can be so as people admire my work I can say, ‘The Giver of this gift is worthy of my praise.’ ”
David and Julie are also passionate about their family. They have five children: Rachelle, 16; Sean, 13; Daniel, 10; Christiana, 7; and Jubilee, who is 3. Jubilee is Chinese by birth, and David says her adoption was “a series of miracles.” For one thing, David and Julie felt strongly that the whole family should travel to China for the adoption. God put it on a friend’s heart to give them his 500,000 frequent flyer miles to make the trip possible.
Today, David is teaching his children about desire and design. “What has God put on your heart? What do you do that you really get excited about? What gives you joy?” he asks.
“For me, it’s interacting with Chinese students and doing art. It’s like Olympic runner Eric Liddell said: ‘God made me fast and when I run I feel his pleasure.’ I believe that with all my heart. When I paint, I feel God’s pleasure.”
A framed print of A Visit to Serenity Falls or an unframed print of A Visit to Serenity Falls is available for a suggested donation.
