Matt Schell, local pastor, teacher, lawyer and entrepreneur held a Paint your Prayer for Selma event at the Walton Theater on Thursday night.

Schell is the author of the newly released devotional “Painted Prayers” and Thursday’s event was a way for him to continue his mission of encouraging prayer through art in the Selma Community.

“We’re amazed by the response that the book has gotten,” said Schell. “It never was our intention to do a book. We just wanted to teach the children that they could paint their prayers. When we began to see their prayers painted and the story behind them we were really moved and felt that the Lord was speaking to us through them.”

After showing the art work to friends it was suggested to Schell that the art be compiled and turned into a book.

According to Schell the goal of the book was to create intentional prayer for the city of Selma and similar cities in the country, encourage families to pray together and to encourage adults to pay attention to the prayers of children.

The “painted prayers” featured in Schell’s devotional were available for purchase on Thursday night. The art in the book was done by children from The Bloom House, UNITED for the city and Gospel Tabernacle Summer Camps. All the proceeds collected from the art sales went back to the those organizations.

“It’s our way to give back,” said Schell.