Makers & Mystics

From the creation narratives in Genesis to our present day, creativity remains a vital part of the human experience. Understanding and embracing the role of the arts within the church, however, has followed a jagged course and often expelled creative expressions from community life. Drawing from the writings of Barbara Ehrenreich, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, and author L. Frank Baum, Stephen Roach gives a brief, historical overview of the struggle for creative liberty within communities of faith.  In this keynote talk, Stephen Roach proposes that creativity is our birthright and partnering with God in the creative process is essential to fulfilling His original design for humanity. Stephen encourages that we are in the midst of a creative awakening and calls the church to break free from religious oppression into the creative liberty of sons and daughters. Send us a textSupport the show

Matt Tommey is a woven sculpture artist living in Asheville, North Carolina. Matt has authored several books including "Unlocking The Heart of The Artist" and "Crafting Your Brand: Simple Strategies for Cultivating a Successful Creative Career".  In this episode, Matt and Stephen discuss Matt's process of utilizing natural materials for his sculptural works. The two talk through differentiations between process and product and how artists can move from concepts and ideas to a lifestyle of creative expression.  *This episode features music by Zach Winters from the album "To Have You Around".  Send us a textSupport the show

This episode is Part 2 of a conversation with Josh Garrels. In this episode, Stephen Roach discusses Josh's honest lyricism, how our families and cultural environments inform the art we make.Send us a textSupport the show

Josh Garrels is a Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter who combines elements of hip-hop, world music and folk in his songwriting. His lyrics are characterized by a raw honesty in exploring themes of faith, hope and compassion. In this episode, Josh discusses his background in music and the pathway which led him to a vocation as a professional, independent musician. Josh talks with Stephen about balancing family life and touring as well as how the choices of our personal lives inform the art we create. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Send us a textSupport the show

In this keynote, worship leader and founder of the Burn 24/7 prayer movement, Sean Feucht challenges artists to live and create from an "ethos of amazement." Drawing from his work among refugees in Iraq, Sean calls upon artists to have imaginations which will "challenge the dominant reality" and offer hope instead of despair. This keynote was given at the 2017 The Breath & The Clay Creative Arts gathering in Winston-Salem, NC.Send us a textSupport the show

Art is often viewed as being inherently spiritual. But what does it mean to describe an experience of art or beauty as "spiritual"? Is there a relationship between the spiritual experience a person has in the presence of a work of art and the Holy Spirit of Christian faith? In this episode, Stephen interviews theologian and author Steven Guthrie about these ideas as examined in Dr. Guthrie's book, Creator Spirit: The Holy Spirit & The Art Of Becoming Human. Send us a textSupport the show