PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRANSFIGURATION LUTHERAN CHURCH
People either love tattoos or hate them.
And people either have hope and faith, or they don’t.
Imagine if you combined tattoos, hope and faith. What good things could result?
Members and leaders at Fenton’s Transfiguration Lutheran Church (TLC) are discovering what can happen when people of all ages and backgrounds come together to share ideas, stories and beliefs.
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- Adam Powell of Fenton personifies the annual event. He willingly speaks about his life with multiple sclerosis (MS) and multiple tattoos.
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- More than a dozen tattoo artists created flash and temporary tattoos while also helping spark conversations and story sharing. Proceeds were shared between the fundraising event and the tattoo artists. The afternoon included music, food and family activities.
The fourth annual “Faith, Hope, and Tattoos” event brought together about 200 people Sunday afternoon, Sept. 27, at TLC, 14176 Fenton Road. The ELCA congregation (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) welcomed more than a dozen tattoo artists who created flash and temporary tattoos while also helping spark conversations and story sharing. The afternoon included music, food and family activities.
A highlight of the event each year is the presentation and blessing of the tattoos at 4:30 PM, led by TLC Pastor Kate Zywicki, who shares her own tattoo stories while inviting members and guests to do the same.
In all, the artists tattooed 70 people, creating 91 tattoos and fulfilling the event’s goal of bringing together the church community and the tattoo community.
Perhaps the best personification of the annual event is Adam Powell, a Fenton resident who willingly speaks about his life with multiple sclerosis (MS) and multiple tattoos.
“I think we successfully helped bridge the gap between the church community and people with tattoos,” Powell said. “Everyone was joyous and talking all day long. This is what Pastor Kate (Zywicki) envisioned. She says, ‘All means all.’ They really want to reach everyone.”
In all, $5,900 was raised through tattoos and related events. Powell said the artists kept half of the proceeds and donated the other half, or $2,950, to the event. Powell and TLC each received about $1,475.
Powell is donating his portion to help people with MS through Pryde Athletics & Physical Therapy in Northville and Canton. Along with other merchandise income he earned, his total donation of $2,500 will help people with MS who cannot afford physical therapy classes.
Powell also made a few side wagers to encourage friends and supporters to donate to his cause. Because more than $1,500 was raised in his name, he agreed to get an “I heart cats” tattoo, even though it’s well known that he hates cats!
“I think we successfully helped bridge the gap between the church community and people with tattoos. Everyone was joyous and talking all day long. This is what Pastor Kate (Zywicki) envisioned.”
— Adam Powell
Pastor Kate said, “The FHT was a huge success. More than $3,000 was raised for worthy local causes. This year we lifted up our veterans, hearing how their service shows up as stories via tattoo ink.
“We’re already planning for next year, so mark your calendars for September 26, 2027. Stay tuned for more developments. We’re coming together to get to know each other better.”
National surveys indicate that 32% of adults have at least one tattoo, while 22% have more than one.
Inking your body is generally a choice among younger people: 41% of tattooed Americans are younger than 30, while nearly half, 46%, are between 30 and 49 years old. And 13% of people 65 and older have body ink, suggesting that tattoos are becoming more accepted.
Tattoos are no longer a traditional form of body decoration reserved for soldiers and sailors.
