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1991 was, and will always be the darkest year of my life; a failed marriage, and my 3 year old son recently diagnosed with Leukemia. I was near death from self pity and didn't want to continue to live with the pain. During it all I asked God to lighten my burden. As months went by I decided to move away from my family. On the eve of moving to Chicago, I took my two children into a store to spend one last time with them. It was there I saw the "Face of Christ". The only copy left, was the store's copy that included the narrative in red for each illustration within the "Face of Christ". I was mesmerized with the art and prayed each verse as if I was praying the stations of the cross or the rosary. My heavy burden was lifted and God spoke to me, saying "take me with you and don't loose sight of me". At this moment I suddenly realized that "Joe Castillo” the artist and I shared the same name, "Joe Castillo".
The store employee sold me the only store copy they had, I took it with me to Chicago. since that fateful day I have remarried to one who is truly my soul mate and my two sons are now living with me. I live a fruitful life and I thank you for sharing your God given talent with the world. I am convinced the path I was headed down before "Face of Christ" would have ended my life.
My pastor recently shared, "The Face of Christ", in a small study group at my church. He told us to hold the picture close to our face, and look only into the eyes. He asked us what we saw, and then told us to slowly move the picture further away, looking now at the entire image. The point he was making is that when we look at a small part of someone we really don't know that person at all. It isn't until we get to know them that we really see the whole picture. You have to seek it.
Then to my surprise, he asked me if I would be willing to lead the congregation through this exercise on the following Sunday. When I got home, picture in hand, I decided to do some internet surfing to see if I could find the exercise he put us through, hoping to sharpen my presentation a bit. I did not find a copy of his presentation on the Internet, instead, I found something much more valuable....
I eventually found your website. Once there, I read the story of how you had drawn the picture, only to have it stolen; argued with God, only to have him win; and given up on compensation, only to be richly reward through the witness of others. The story touched me deeply as I began to recognize that your compensation for drawing for this picture was far greater than money, and came lovingly from the Creator Himself. I remembered that just like your talent for drawing, we all have gifts, and sometimes God exploits our talents, but never without richly rewarding us for our obedience to him. You could have drawn a picture of anything in the world, but you chose obedience in drawing the image that God had given you.
The story could end there but it doesn't. I went in to tell my wife about the website. She was sitting at the dining room table reading the Bible and as I walked in she said listen to this awesome piece of scripture from the Book of Matthew (6: 25-34). She read what Jesus had to say about worrying, and how Jesus desires for us to seek first his Father's Kingdom and he will provide for our every need. She continued to share her understanding of Jesus' instructions in Matthew, and I shared with her the correlation I had found in your story. How your loss was turned into hope and eventually joy, all because you had the faith to hear God when he spoke to you, and the obedience to obey his instruction for your life.
My wife and I went on to discuss several other Bible stories as the Holy Spirit led us. Eventually, my eleven year old daughter came into the room and joined the conversation for the next half hour. As you can imagine I left the room filled with the Spirit, and so thankful for the blessings in my life, one of which is you :)
Thank You, and May God Bless Your Awesome Ministry,
Your brother in Christ,
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What a gift to share a story of how the Face of Christ impacted men in local prison. I had talked with Joe about autographing a copy of the Face for our very first Kairos Prison weekend here in Idaho which he so graciously did. We wanted to leave the prison chapel and inmates who attended a memento of the great weekend we had. During the closing on Sunday night we presented the picture to the men who attended. We had it framed and signed by the whole team. The chaplain decided the picture would be part of the chapel and today it sits at the front of the chapel for all to see as they sit and worship there in the chapel.
We have also have heard many stories of men who were at the first Kairos taking people up to the altar to look more closely at the print. Now anyone new who comes into the chapel is invited to the altar by anyone who is there to look more closely into the eyes of Jesus. Not only does the Face of Christ allow the men to remember the great experience of Kairos but they also have an opportunity to re-visit the life of Jesus every time they look at the picture. What a double gift for them. And it is always in front of them in the chapel sanctuary.
I have attached a copy of the picture after the Kairos team had signed it and before it went in on Sunday of the weekend.
Peace and Love…
After receiving an email with the graphic of Christ's face, I was in awe. It touched my heart incredibly! I kept the email and looked at it often, but was not able to make out the writing at the bottom. About a year later, I received the graphic in an email from my sister. She was taken by the picture and said that she wished we could find out something about it. I was on a mission. Finally I was able to get one of the graphics blown up clearly enough to make out the name Joe Castillo! I was so excited! I went on a search of the internet and quickly found your site.
What an INCREDIBLE blessing God has bestowed upon Joe! Wow! I began to contemplate HOW I was going to use the cards - I felt so compelled to use them somehow. I ordered one set and a large print... the print was to hang in my living room and the cards to see exactly how they were laid out. Upon receiving my box, I was so excited. They are more beautiful in person than on screen! I ordered more and ended up with enough to send out to everyone on our Christmas list. Every year we send out an update and some of the people on our list are not Christians. What a ministry this card would be! The response I have gotten back from the cards has been just as I had expected. I smile to know that I am not the only one that has one of the cards taped up beside my computer. I also have one of the cards hanging on the wall of my classroom. If a student or parent asks, I gladly show and talk to them about it. My quiet ministry in a public school world.
I thank God for the talent He has given you and the willingness you have had to submit to His calling! I will be praying for your ministry!
May God richly bless you...
I just read your story on the “Face of Christ”. I have really loved and admired the picture for years, but didn’t know where to find it. I prayed and finally found your website.
About 4 years ago, I went through a horrible divorce after a marriage of 27 years to a pastor of 21 years. One week after the divorce, I was driving my car and a tree fell on top of it with me in it, crushing the car and me. After the accident, knowing my injuries were not crippling, I felt a new thrill and appreciation for life. In spite of all the losses, I could still look at ALL I STILL HAD and really be thankful for the things we all take for granted.
Thank you for your awesome work. It was an encouragement to me during the hard times. Thank you even more for sharing your story. Really that makes the art even more valuable. it is a reminder that we need His love and forgiveness, and that through His example we must likewise forgive the wrongs we’ve experienced.
Blessings to you.
We recently were at St. Mary's hospital in Knoxville TN. visiting Billy (a friend of my son) and his family. Billy’s father had suffered an aneurism and was in critical condition. I was trying to comfort Billy's mom, looking for a way to open a conversation about the hope that was found in the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Then I noticed "The face of Christ" artwork on the wall in our ICU waiting area. That was it! I was excited to tell Nora, (Billy's mom) that I personally knew the artist who had done this artwork and that years ago, God had used him to help me come to trust in Christ alone for my salvation!
It was the perfect introduction to the good news.
Dear Joe,
The whole way that I found “The Face of Christ” artwork is Holy Spirit driven. I was working on the design of item for a First Communion. When I went in to the copy room I saw a copy of the e-mail "The Face Of Christ" in the waste basket. I picked it up and mentioned it to the secretary. She then showed me the e-mail that had been printed out and forwarded it to me.
I felt the need to research you and I found your web site.
When I started scrolling over the pictures and getting scripture references, I was awe struck. I called my husband down to the basement, and he thought it was so cool that he told me to order the two prints. The rest you know, because he called you. But what you don't know is that he is pretty tight with his money and not easily impressed. Your artwork made quite an impression on my husband and I wanted you to know about it.
Thank You for touching my heart and my husband's!
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