"A great diversity of people is shown moving towards Christ. At the center, He spreads His arms wide to accomplish the embrace. His representation at the center brings a light and meaning to the entire composition. Behind Christ is the Tree of Life. The people portrayed try to represent "we the people" in our total variety. Because faith has many meters, some are seen enthusiastic, others reluctant and questioning. In the background is suggested our varied milieus of city and suburbs."

                                                     

"The vertical panels to the right and left of the archway celebrate the struggle and cadence of Central America and South Africa, parts of the world where Central Baptist Church has outreach. Also, I wanted these panels to bring a further challenge to our relatedness: a strong confluence of images, an encompassing invitation to each viewer to seek and find a part of themselves in the expressive representation of others. We are, in the end, always trading places and standing on each other’s shoulders to reach the center."

"Ron Morgan and I chose cherry wood as the material for this visual challenge. It is a wood strong, beautifully grained, always a reward to those who contemplate it. Ron engineered the separations and the mounting of the work. Patrons called forth and supported the adventure. However, it is only you, the viewer and user of this space, that the work ultimately must address. For it is only you who can recreate the work in your own image, extending the embrace and the caring."