History and Purpose of “Repentance”
“Repentance” is a life-size sculpture of myself, sculpted in clay with the aid of mirrors. I created it when I was nineteen, in 1965, during my second year at the Museum of Art School. I cast it in reinforced Ultracal cement.
But around 1990, hoping to create a more modern, less “Grecian” look, I put jeans on the sculpture and attached a falling pistol. I also coated it with bronze casting wax, enabling finer detail.
Since I was thirteen my great ambition was to glorify God and, as Milton put it, “justify the ways of God to men”. From that time my education and interests inclined in that direction. Although I did not have the intention of expressing the idea of repentance through my clay sculpture, I believe He led me to choose a pose perfectly suited to such a purpose. That purpose was to give visual form to the greatest duty of man’s existence: to confess and turn away from sin- at last becoming the friend of the One who created us, Jesus.
Status: Ready to be cast in bronze
Specifications
Title: “REPENTANCE” (Copyright 2018)
Material: Artist’s master. 98% finished. To be cast in bronze.
Size: H 80”
Date:
Edition of: A Numbered Edition
Price: $78,500.00
Repentance as a Tool of Evangelism and Gun Violence Prevention
Megachurches now post armed guards to protect against possible gun massacre. In at least several instances such protection successfully prevented horrific tragedy.
Yet such intervention, while vitally necessary, does little to address the possibility that out of a Church or Church School’s membership , one of their own may turn upon Church members in a gun violent rampage.
That’s exactly what happened fairly recently:
On August 29, 2025 a transgender former student of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis opened fire through the stain glass windows of the Annunciation Catholic Church upon 400 Catholic students saying Mass. Two children, ages 8 and 10 were killed. Seventeen were wounded.
On March 27, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian Church in America parochial elementary school. A transgender former pupil of the school killed three nine year old students and three adults before being shot and killed by two police officers. It was the deadliest shooting in Tennessee history.
Similarly, on Dec.17, 2024 a fifteen year old student opened fire at the Abundant Life Christian School, operated by the Evangelical Covenant Church, killing a teacher and teenage student and wounding six others.
My sculpture “Repentance” was designed to offer megachurches a redeeming, preventative approach toward quelling possible gun violence in its own young members. It’s a long- term program to subtly, yet powerfully influence them - first to give their lives to Jesus, but also to identify with the “ tough guy”, anti- gun violence, role model this sculpture presents.
Such benevolent conditioning begins with purchase of “Repentance” and the laser- cut cross and base which go with it.
But the bronze plaque which is on the wall ( which you can create and order online) is crucial. It says:
“A tough young gang leader was about to shoot his rival. But suddenly the Holy Spirit convicts him for his sin. Instantly he sees himself for what he is and will become. He is terrified and bows his head in shame, asking Jesus to forgive him. He drops his gun, symbol of his evil life, now past. (The gun also stands for all intentional hurtfulness through word or action against others.)
Having received Christ as Savior, He is now “born again, his name written in Heaven.
Encouraged by the same Holy Spirit who had convicted Him, his right leg moves forward. A slight smile appears on the left side of his mouth. He walks into a new life dedicated to glorifying God and helping others. Afterward, he will be with his Redeemer forever- a Redeemer who knew he would be saved before the Universe was created!
TOUGH GUYS TRUST JESUS
TOUGH GUYS DROP GUN VIOLENCE
“Repentance” for Gun- Violence Prevention: Two Proposals
Increasingly, Megachurches are posting armed guards against possible gun violence. This introduces the possibility that they might use “Repentance” as part of a long- range educational program to subtly, yet powerfully, turn their youth against gun violence- while at the same time evangelizing them.
But first, a word about the special group this effort would be directed toward: young boys. The great majority of shooters of groups of people are white men of a median age of 31. Generally speaking, black and, to a lesser extent, Hispanic male shooters do most of the drive-by, drug related ghetto shootings. In contrast, white male shooters largely come from suburbia- the environment of most Megachurches.
Boys Need Heroes
96% of acts of mass gun violence are committed by males. Clearly, such massacres are a predominantly male proclivity and any long - term program to prevent gun violence must be slanted toward boys.
Most little boys from at least seven or eight are very attracted to “macho” male role models. God has ordained that the father should set the example of moral strength, provision, and kindness, which satisfy the boy’s need for a hero. This includes encouragement of the child of about eight to give their lives to Jesus.
Unfortunately, even in the Church, many fathers do not fulfill the criteria of “hero” to their boy. As a result, the child becomes content with illusions of courage as presented by violent video games and “tough guy” movie heroes.
“Repentance” was designed to be the image of what most little boys admire. In his towering size, black patina, and “tough guy” aura, I believe that, over the years, encouraged by adult approval, this statue’s presence can imprint an aversion to both gun and verbal violence on the growing boy. If a Megachurch permanently establishes it in the presence of boys throughout their growing up years, then, in later years of possible disappointment, rejection, and frustration, a young man may be morally and emotionally assisted to resist the suicidal impulse to take his own life through use of a gun against the humanity who have hurt him so bitterly.
Instead, he may remember the decision of his childhood hero, the sculpture “Repentance”. He may drop his gun, repent, and move forward, trusting Christ as never before.
A focused evangelistic/ anti-gun violence display may thus be seen as an investment toward the future safety of a Megachurch. If a shooting occurs, at least the possibility of it coming from one of its own may be greatly reduced. Such a preemptive initiative could be the best approach toward quelling tendencies toward gun violence and transforming troubled, angry boys into disciples of the Prince of Peace.
If it could prevent even one church gun- violent death it would be well worth the investment.
Protected Displays of “Repentance”
The photoshop images below portray possibilities for indoor and outdoor display.
Figure 1
Fig.1 is the sculpture without cross, but with plaque. With a light colored rug, a taped off roller-painted large, dark red rectangle, ( in enamel), can be painted on the wall. It symbolizes the purifying and preserving power of Christ’s shed blood at Calvary for all who give their lives to Him.
Figure 2
Fig. 2 shows “Repentance” as an “art installation”- its most powerful and complete presentation. A stainless steel cross, 1/16” thick and 10’9” tall is bolted to a 24” heavy duty stainless pedestal. (The statue is not fastened to the pedestal but may, if need be, be carried horizontally on a blanket by six men.) The entire area occupied by the cross and sculpture is painted vivid red.
Fig 3
Fig 4
The “tough guy” image of rebellion
against gun violence...
Gallery
Note: To prevent damage or vandalism a stainless steel rod will exist within the lower left arm through the forefinger extending into the pistol butt.
