Hugoton Pastor Forges Blacksmithing, Faith

Along with providing artists a way to express themselves, creativity can be an important aspect of emotional healing. The positive results can be priceless to those who need something to help them, whether it be to increase positive emotions, reduce depression and anxiety and even go so far as to improve the function of immune systems. 

“After I finished my seminary (master’s program), my near lifelong PTSD (from childhood trauma) became a more pressing issue that needed to be confronted because it was really disrupting my life,” said James Tower, a local area minister who also delves in to the art world as the “Blacksmithing Pastor”. 

Tower, who is a full time pastor at Lone Star Friends Church, said he realized he needed something more.

“I really needed help and along the way, I realized I needed a creative outlet that was something for ME, and after inspiration from a YouTube video, I began dabbling in metal casting briefly, then I began building a forge and anvil,” Tower said. 

According to Tower, he experienced something of a “mental health” crisis, that “pushed” him in the direction of finding a creative outlet.

“After watching a you tuber build a metal casting foundry and building my own, I set my sights on building a forge and anvil,” he said. “My first project was a pair of tongs, which I succeeded in making. This is not a typical beginner project, but a necessary tool I would need for most any other future project.”

Through his research on the craft, Tower said he discovered making items from glowing metal was “exciting and thrilling”, as well as “more than a little therapeutic”.

Tower, who has been blacksmithing for eight years, began looking for someone who knew anything about working with this type of craft and how to do it safely. 

“In trying to pursue finding another actual human - I became connected with a local museum in Iowa that offered me the use of their blacksmith shop and needed a reliable demonstrator,” Tower said. “Divine providence brought me from a ‘lone nut in his garage’ who had no idea other people actually did this sort of thing, to an opportunity to grow and teach others. I didn’t watch TV, and had no idea there was a resurgence in blacksmithing due to a certain competitive reality show.” 

When he isn’t ministering to a congregation, Tower is working with hand forged ornamental ironwork, knives/cutlery, and hardware.

“I make things from glowing metal, mostly with a hammer and anvil,” he explained. 

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Tower spent many years working in the architectural sheet metal trade.

“My stepdad, Virgil, whom I worked with for many years, was an amazing metal artist who had plasma cut sheet metal landscapes and even large crosses for churches that were lit from behind,” Tower said. “Most of the metalwork he did was layered, a little like a popup book. We would often have leftover metal, and he used the scraps to make a lot of his art from. You can see a little of my sheet metal background influence in my copper petaled roses, and my attention toward capturing lifelike realism where possible in my pieces that are naturally themed.”

Tower says a lot of his art is “traditional blacksmithing art”.

“I think it is often the mindset undergirding what I do, as a lot of my art is traditional blacksmithing art,” he said. “I create my art with the mindset that it is an act of worship and a way to glorify God. I believe human creativity is one way we can display and connect with the heart of our Creator, and there is a sense of the holy afoot. Art to me is a form of godly play.”

Tower’s stepdad, who passed away two years ago, was one of his biggest artistic influences. He is also inspired by you tubers such as John Switzer of Black Bear Forge, and Roy Adams of Christ Centered Ironworks.

“I also am very inspired by nature and the beauty I see around me in the physical world,” Tower said. “I believe God is the ultimate artist, and His art is always on display for those with eyes to see it,” Tower said. “I am growing as a you tuber content creator who wants to create inspiring and instructional content that is relevant and geared toward the Online maker community.”

Tower says he would love to influence and connect with other blacksmiths and bladesmiths all over the world.

“(I would like to) encourage the next generation of young people coming up behind me,” Tower said. “We live in a world where it has never been easier to connect with other artists and enthusiasts from all over the world. I want to bring my faith into that context, and explore the spiritual side of blacksmithing.”

His career as a pastor and his craft of blacksmithing go hand in hand.

"Creating helps me process and grow beyond my trauma and really brings ma into the present moment with God and/or those around me," Tower said. "I also want to do some good with my hands and mind while I still have the chance. Lord knows they won't always have the strength to do this. Time seems to be moving faster and faster with each passing year, and I am cognizant of the gift it is to be alive, and grateful to be able to enjoy and make the most of it." 

Tower finds inspiration for his craft through Nature, the Bible and often through YouTube.

"Typically a lot of my inspiration comes from problem solving or sometimes needing a tool or something I lack and can't afford, or need to make something else I need, and that leads me to start a kind of satisfying journey," he said. "Often I prototype and test a lot before I get where I want to be. And in say, making knives, I learn a lot about design and where I can make the next better than the last."

Tower loves to work on his craft in his home workshop, and sometimes in the workshops of other crafters.

"To me, it is a kind of sanctuary and I spend my time there tinkering, but also in worship and prayer for the people of my church and others I love," he said. "There is enough to keep my hands occupied, and this gives my mind a kind of freedom I truly enjoy, and keeps me in the moment with God."

His favorite medium is working with metal.

"I enjoy forging metal, and find it to be not only a good time, but a time spent in prayer," Tower said. "Mild steel is very forgiving, copper even more forgiving. Knife making steel has a whole next level metallurgical challenge to it."

Smithing helps Tower to "bridge the gap between inventor and artist."

"I used to consider myself more the former," he said. "Metal work lends itself to this as something can look good WHILE also elegantly serving a purpose. When I make a tool, and do a good job, it is a delight to use later on. There are also endless possibilities with each new tool, to make others, and there is always lots of ways I could navigate these possibilities."

If he was a customer, Tower says, he would choose to support his work because of the ministry he offers.

"(By purchasing my art) it supports a local pastor and his family, who are actively trying to reach their community for Jesus, by way of a free teaching ministry that is providing an 'open forge' maker space for people to pursue the art and skill of blacksmithing, with proper guidance and in a safe environment ," Tower said, "There is a lot of metal art out there, but none I really know of with this kind of vision."

Tower believes art is important to society.

"I believe art reveals the heart of God and some truly unique aspects of how we are made in His image," he said. "Art is a playground for the prophetic, a place where humans can share and express deeper things and chase mysteries. Through creating and 'meddling' in our world, we express longings beyond that world, and our hungers that go beyond it. Art lets people practice dreaming of and building a better world, and inspiring others to join in. To me, art is one interesting way we reveal the holy. From creation, to even procreation, there is something sacred about the adventurous endeavor art presents to us."

How does Tower define success?

"Having fun learning," he said. "Staying safe and getting to keep my fingers and toes. Making things that are elegant, and pleasurable to use, and that help people enjoy their lives a little more because of the thought, skill, and love that went into the creation of that thing. I want to define success mostly in terms of influencing others and helping them as they pursue growing in their own journeys. Most artists seem to genuinely love what they do, and tend to it as amateurs in the best sense of the word. They do it solely because of the love of doing it. I never want to lost that, though i am grateful for the way the business side of things has accelerated my journey."

You can see more about Tower's blacksmithing on his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/james.tower or his Website at https://www.theblacksmithingpastor.com/

His art is available at the Main ARTery in Ulysses and Second Chance in Liberal, Kans.