Chick and Dennis Durrett-Smith are professional performing artists. They moved to Atlanta with high hopes of starting their own musical group that would also do comedy and dance. Although they worked steadily in the arts for four years, fulfillment evaded them. Finally, their lives fell apart, their marriage was on the rocks and there was nothing to cling to... except Jesus Christ. Chick and Dennis made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives and determined to serve Him with their gifts and talents.
God called Chick and Dennis to devote themselves to the arts from His perspective. He gave them a vision of a professional company that would have as its primary goal the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus. Another part of the vision was to begin a School of Fine Arts to train others to share their faith in this way, with the ultimate goal of having a permanent facility in which to produce dramatic, musical, visual and performance art exhibits.
Chick and Dennis have had the great privilege to travel over the U.S., Great Britain and Australia performing with a wonderful troupe of believers. FISHWORKS continues to travel and perform, sometimes teaching in weekend workshops on the road, and going on "short-term" mission trips abroad.
The professional company has been touring since 1986. WORKS in Progress School of Fine Arts began in une 1994, and moved to a semi-permanent facility in June 1996. The WORKS in Progress Apprenticeship Program began in September 1996. The company members of FISHWORKS and faculty of WORKS in Progress are grateful for the challenges and the blessings provided through this ministry to "know Him and make Him known."