Illuminate Conference
The Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference is proud to offer so many great sessions
for guests to consider, although (unfortunately) it's impossible to attend them all.
Tough decisions need to be made, but it's a lovely problem. Enjoy—but don't stress
over—exploring the abundance!
monday, march 23, 8-9 am
Doors open for Illuminate! Please stop by the Welcome Desk to sign in and pick up your lanyard.
registration information
You don't need to show proof of registration (email, etc) to hosts at the Welcome
Desk. They'll simply check your name off our list or add your name if you're a Southern
Adventist University student. Complimentary hot drinks, snacks, and fruit are available
on site.
Monday, March 23, 9-10:30 am
Each topic is a standalone session held in its own room. Click session title to view description.
Doing Bach Badly: Prioritizing Community-Building over Artistic Perfection ("Act" Room)
What happens when an amateur choir attempts Bach’s “Saint Matthew’s Passion”?
How did a broken-down school bus turn into a celebration spot? Where, when, and how,
in our atomized age, do we make space for shared time, music, and community?
-Maureen Swinger, Plough magazine senior editor; and Jason Swinger
-Maureen Swinger, Plough magazine senior editor; and Jason Swinger
How Congregational Scripture-Singing Revives Faith, Biblical Literacy ("Belong" Room)
This session features “Scripture Hymnal,” a unique resource designed to help congregations
sing the Word of God—memorably and beautifully. Through this innovative (and ancient)
approach to worship, participants experience how music rooted in scripture can become
a powerful vehicle for discipleship, spiritual renewal, and community formation.
-Randall Goodgame, musician
*This session is also being offered on March 24 at 9 a.m.
-Randall Goodgame, musician
*This session is also being offered on March 24 at 9 a.m.
Kaiju, Bless You: The Marrow and Meaning of Monsters, Part 1 ("Focus" Room)
In this first of a two-part series, we will examine monsters as reflections of
the deepest fears and desires within Western culture and how they function as cultural
symbols that expose the brokenness of the human condition, reveal the ways societies
attempt to police moral boundaries, and give form to the longings that Scripture identifies
with human sin and the fall. Throughout the session, we will explore why certain monsters
seem to “refuse to die” across generations as enduring symbols of humanity’s struggle
with evil and how the Christian story of creation, fall, and redemption reshapes the
way we understand what truly frightens us—and what ultimately restores us.
-Rebecca Reynolds, MA, Oasis Family Media associate publisher
-Rebecca Reynolds, MA, Oasis Family Media associate publisher
L’Abri Fellowship: Practicing God's Presence through Hospitality ("Unite" Room)
In 1955, Francis Schaeffer and his wife opened up their home in Switzerland for visitors
to sojourn in community while exploring spiritual questions. That sacrificial generosity
lives on through L’Abri “homes” across the world, including the United States. Hosting such a community requires a heavy dose of hospitality;
it’s about turning strangers into neighbors through acts as simple as a meal, a cup
of tea, or even pulling weeds together in the garden. After more than 20 years working
at L’Abri in England, Edith Dryden will share how, perhaps, the best definition of
hospitality is efforting to discover something remarkable about every person’s life
which can make God known in a way that no one else could do.
-Edith Dryden, MPhil
-Edith Dryden, MPhil
On Endings and Writing Toward Them ("Serve" Room)
The topic of endings is often neglected in writing guides and magazines due to its
difficulty. What makes a good ending, and how do you write one? How does the construction
of an ending relate to the construction of a life? Drawing on Wendell Berry, George
Eliot, Rudyard Kipling, and others, this session discusses the shaping of stories
toward what Tolkien called "the good catastrophe."
-E. Lily Yu, author of “On Fragile Waves,” “Jewel Box,” and “Break, Blow, Burn, & Make”
-E. Lily Yu, author of “On Fragile Waves,” “Jewel Box,” and “Break, Blow, Burn, & Make”
Prescribing Creativity: The Power of Arts and Well-Being ("Hope" Room)
Explore the dynamic and emerging field of arts in health, where creativity meets
wellness. Discover the research suggesting how engaging in creative activities can
foster mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This session includes an interactive
storytelling exercise designed to spark imagination and highlight the healing power
of creativity.
-Richard Hickam, DWS, AdventHealth director of Music & the Arts
-Richard Hickam, DWS, AdventHealth director of Music & the Arts
Readers as Pilgrims: Encounters with Annie Dillard ("Dream" Room)
As our culture presses us toward the quick, the distracted, and the performative,
we are often called nevertheless to go slowly, to pay attention, and to be sincere.
It is a gift, then, that reading literary nonfiction—particularly slow, meditative
literary nonfiction—is not just a great pleasure but also an excellent way to form
in readers deeply counter-cultural values. Using the foundational metaphor of pilgrim,
this workshop guides guests through selected readings from Dillard's work and asks
them to both contemplate and practice the habits being formed. Participants will leave
the workshop with a framework for considering their identities as readers, a list
of suggested future reading, and the experience of having spent time with the work
of Annie Dillard and a few other like-minded authors.
-Sarah Huffines, EdD, Covenant College English professor
-Sarah Huffines, EdD, Covenant College English professor
Translating Fellowship to Comics: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien ("Lead" Room)
The friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the most meaningful
examples of Christian fellowship shaping imagination and faith. A recent work of graphic
nonfiction revisits their story, illuminating how their shared love for Christ, storytelling,
and truth encouraged one another in both life and writing. While “comics” are sometimes
dismissed as juvenile, the medium can powerfully communicate profound ideas about
faith, redemption, and sacrifice. What might we learn when scholarship and art come
together to tell stories that invite us to see Christ, truth, and beauty more clearly?
-John Hendrix, MFA, Washington University in Saint Louis art professor
-John Hendrix, MFA, Washington University in Saint Louis art professor
Monday, March 23, 11 am - 12 pm
Plenary Presentation
Border-Walking: Contributions from the Margins of Culture and Faith (Sanctuary)
Makoto Fujimura writes about the idea of artists as a mearcstapa—a word which
comes from Old English and appears in Beowulf—when individuals who live on the edges
of their groups go in and out of them, often bringing news back to the tribe. Whatever
your “tribe” is, it’s possible that the best way to love them is to find a place at
the edge of the tribe and speak from there, not merely repeating their talking points,
but bringing them news of larger realities.
-Jonathan Rogers, PhD, author and host of “The Habit” podcast
-Jonathan Rogers, PhD, author and host of “The Habit” podcast
Monday, March 23, 12-2 pm
Lunch On Site for Registered Guests
Enjoy conversations with conference guests while eating your Panera box lunch
(included with registration).
monday, march 23, 12:45-1:45 pm
Poetry Open Mic ("Unite" Room)
Illuminate guests share both original works and selections from their favorite writers.
No need to sign up ahead of time. We’ll dim the lights if you’ll snap your fingers
after each piece! Berets welcome, but not provided.
monday, march 23, 2-3:30 pm
Each topic is a standalone session held in its own room. Click session title to view description.
Emily Dickinson: The Poetics and Legacy of Uncertain Faith ("Dream" Room)
Dickinson's life and writings offer readers a way of seeing faith as a continuum
of certainty and uncertainty, belief and skepticism. Her genius lies in the ability
to use her uncertainty as a means to bolstering her faith, rather than eroding it.
Dickinson's legacy continues today in the poetry of Franz Wright and Christian Wiman,
two contemporary Christian poets whose work has been lauded by a secular audience
but neglected by the majority of Christian culture.
-Daniel Gleason, PhD, Bryan College English professor
-Daniel Gleason, PhD, Bryan College English professor
Music and Mister Rogers ("Focus" Room)
Best known for his work on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Fred Rogers nevertheless
considered himself primarily a musician and composer. He wrote every song that appeared
on the program, and his compositional output also features nine operas. This session
explores foundational principles of Rogers’ life, including music, silence, philosophy
of education, cultivating individual and collaborative creative practice, and living
a life of quiet faith.
-Theresa Chafin, PhD, University of Georgia adjunct professor
-Theresa Chafin, PhD, University of Georgia adjunct professor
Showing Up: Reimagining Historical Portrait Photography as Exchange ("Serve" Room)
We often imagine historical photographs as mere exercises of factual record. Or,
when looking at ethnographic or documentary photographs, we might assume that the
photographer maintains all the power, often in problematic ways. However, what shifts
when we consider the agency of the subject in the creation of a photographic image?
Focusing on examples of early 20th-century portraits of the Crow people and images
of the Japanese American internment, this session suggests alternative ways of understanding
both historical images and our own contemporary practices of photography.
-Elissa Weichbrodt, PhD, Covenant College art professor
-Elissa Weichbrodt, PhD, Covenant College art professor
Staged Reading: “My Name is Søren Kierkegaard” (Sanctuary)
Two selves, one soul. In this one-act play, Søren Kierkegaard confronts himself—half
prophet in search of revolution, half pilgrim in search of holiness. They scheme,
suffer, and spar over whether the church can be saved or whether it must first be
torn apart. This theatrical staged reading is an original script written by Atlanta
playwright Tim McIntosh and is performed by New Threads Theatre Company.
The Deepest Cut: How Songs Carry What We Cannot ("Belong" Room)
How can creativity help us process our grief? Some of the most connective songs
are born in moments of real despair. In this conversation, songwriters Rachel Wilhelm
and Randall Goodgame share the stories behind songs written in seasons of loss and
reflect on how making art can become part of the healing process.
-John Barber, pastor
-John Barber, pastor
Vocation of Seeing: Learning to Love the World through the Eyes of Lilias Trotter ("Lead" Room)
In recent years, many have begun rediscovering the life and art of Lilias Trotter—a
gifted Victorian painter who turned down a promising career and followed God’s call
to North Africa. Her journals, parables, and luminous watercolors reveal a soul who
learned to see the world with extraordinary clarity, compassion, and joy. In this
talk—drawing from the forthcoming book “If Only We Could See” (April 2026)—attendees
explore how cultivating an artist’s eye transforms not just what we create, but how
we encounter God, love our neighbors, and participate in the redemption of all things.
What might it look like to follow the Divine Artist in our own small corner of the
world?
-Jennifer Trafton, author and educator
-Jennifer Trafton, author and educator
Workshop: Introduction to Pottery Throwing (Back Hall)
Students will learn the basics of wheel throwing in an environment where they
are free to fail—and to enjoy the process of learning from each failure. Turning theory
into masterful practice will take the rest of our lives ... we have 90 minutes! Sessions
cover the basics of centering and the theory behind how to efficiently move the clay
into a desired form. Aprons provided. Seating is highly limited; first-come, first-served. Additional sessions offered (see below).
-Loren Howard, Southern Adventist University ceramics instructor
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 4 p.m. and March 24 at 4 p.m.
-Loren Howard, Southern Adventist University ceramics instructor
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 4 p.m. and March 24 at 4 p.m.
Monday, March 23, 4-5:30 pm
Each topic is a standalone session held in its own room. Click session title to view description.
Desolation of the Heart and “The Funeral March” from Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony ("Unite" Room)
Orchestral musicians are often deeply moved by the music they play. One piece
that has moved session presenter Junius Johnson consistently across his 30+ year career
is Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony. In this session, Johnson shares some of the ways that
piece has taught him about the dynamics of grieving and how to listen to classical
music more deeply and spiritually.
-Junius Johnson, PhD, author, educator, and musician
-Junius Johnson, PhD, author, educator, and musician
Recruiting the Dead: Francis of Assisi and the Dangers of Biographical Studies ("Focus" Room)
After Francis of Assisi’s death in 1226, church leaders began writing books about
his life. These “biographical” works often presented Francis as a supporter of whatever
position the author held. As a result, there is a disconnect between the Francis of
modernity—whose persona has been shaped by these writings—and the historical Francis.
This session explores the dangers of recreating historical figures in our own images.
-Jackson Gravitt, MA, Bryan College theology professor
-Jackson Gravitt, MA, Bryan College theology professor
Staged Reading: “My Name is Søren Kierkegaard” (Sanctuary)
Two selves, one soul. In this one-act play, Søren Kierkegaard confronts himself—half
prophet in search of revolution, half pilgrim in search of holiness. They scheme,
suffer, and spar over whether the church can be saved or whether it must first be
torn apart. This theatrical staged reading is an original script written by Atlanta
playwright Tim McIntosh and is performed by New Threads Theatre Company.
“The Habit” Podcast Recording with jamie qautro ("Dream" Room)
Author and educator Jonathan Rogers, PhD, hosts "The Habit," a popular podcast where he has interviewed more than 300 writers about the writing
process. For Illuminate, Rogers will do a live recording of “The Habit” alongside
award-winning Chattanooga author Jamie Quatro, whose fiction has appeared in The New
Yorker and The Paris Review, among others.
The world of her latest novel, “Two-Step Devil,” is pretty grim: one of the main characters is a victim of sex-trafficking. But the physical world, even at its seediest and ugliest, is a place where grace still does its work. In fact, it is exactly the place where grace does its work. Truth tells itself here, no matter how loud it has to shout. If questions of faith can’t be explored in the darkest corners of the world, what good do they do us in the sunny uplands?
The world of her latest novel, “Two-Step Devil,” is pretty grim: one of the main characters is a victim of sex-trafficking. But the physical world, even at its seediest and ugliest, is a place where grace still does its work. In fact, it is exactly the place where grace does its work. Truth tells itself here, no matter how loud it has to shout. If questions of faith can’t be explored in the darkest corners of the world, what good do they do us in the sunny uplands?
Voices of the Marginalized: Hip Hop’s Challenge and Promise ("Lead" Room)
Explore the origins of hip hop—including its roots in African American spirituals
and gospel music, traditions that carried deep expressions of faith, suffering, and
hope in God’s deliverance. This session will highlight how certain artists draw on
themes familiar to the biblical tradition of the prophets and the Psalms, using subversive
joy, disquieting satire, and songs of lament to confront false narratives that shape
our world. By engaging the genre through a biblically informed lens, we will consider
how these voices can echo the call to repentance, truth, and justice found throughout
Scripture. Participants will learn how a more attentive understanding of hip hop can
deepen Christian empathy, compassion, and our commitment to loving our neighbors.
-Mary McCampbell, PhD, author and educator
-Mary McCampbell, PhD, author and educator
Wordsworthian Wonder ("Hope" Room)
Romantic poet William Wordsworth expressed anxiety in his poetry that the soul—which
he imagined as being created by God and residing in heaven until the moment of birth—loses
its connection to God while confined in the physical world. The lack of kindness and
compassion he observed in industrialized England and France seemed a direct consequence
of people doing nothing to counter a gradual shuttering of their souls. Attendees
will read Wordsworth’s poetry and grapple with how to pursue his call to resist a
life that is “but a sleep and a forgetting” and instead to infuse our lives with wonder,
spurred to “little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.”
-Ashley Mulligan, PhD, and Chad Schrock, PhD, Lee University English professors
-Ashley Mulligan, PhD, and Chad Schrock, PhD, Lee University English professors
Workshop: Introduction to Pottery Throwing (Back Hall)
Students will learn the basics of wheel throwing in an environment where they
are free to fail—and to enjoy the process of learning from each failure. Turning theory
into masterful practice will take the rest of our lives ... we have 90 minutes! Sessions
cover the basics of centering and the theory behind how to efficiently move the clay
into a desired form. Aprons provided. Seating is highly limited; first-come, first-served. Additional sessions offered (see below).
-Loren Howard, Southern Adventist University ceramics instructor
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 2 p.m. and March 24 at 4 p.m.
-Loren Howard, Southern Adventist University ceramics instructor
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 2 p.m. and March 24 at 4 p.m.
Workshop: The Rhythm & Restoration of Therapeutic Drumming ("Belong" Room)
Presenters explore this restorative, evidence-based modality of drumming through
the lens of Imago Dei, discussing its power to move traumatized youth from a focus
on past "offenses" to a discovery of their God-given strengths. By engaging the "fearfully
and wonderfully made" connection between rhythm and the nervous system, this workshop
demonstrates how drumming facilitates a paradigm shift toward hope, self-discipline,
and peace. Come experience how the arts can serve as a vehicle for Christ’s healing
work ... drums provided!
-Tom Harris, therapeutic drumming manager for Youth Villages; Tron Wilder, PhD, Southern Adventist University professor
-Tom Harris, therapeutic drumming manager for Youth Villages; Tron Wilder, PhD, Southern Adventist University professor
monday, march 23, 5:30-7:30 pm
Dinner On Your Own
If you're from out of town and want recommendations, please ask Illuminate staff
or Southern faculty. There are many great options within 15 minutes of the conference.
monday, march 23, 7:30-9 pm
Each topic is a standalone session held in its own room. Click session title to view description.
One moment to Forever: What Three Films Teach Us About Time, Connection, and Mortality ("Belong" Room)
What do we do when confronted with the end? Three filmmakers working in animation,
live action, and documentary have created works that sit with this question. One film
traces a bond forged at a piano, another imagines humanity's final moments at a radio
observatory, and a third bears witness to real stories of mortality and grace. After
screening these short films, join directors Jesse Brass, Zach Gray, and Avery Kroll
for an intimate conversation about the creative choices that brought these meditations
to life. Discover why artists are often the first to help us see what we're afraid
to look at, and why contemplating our fragility can paradoxically deepen our experience
of connection and meaning.
-Jesse Brass, independent filmmaker; Zach Gray, MFA, Southern Adventist University art professor; and Avery Kroll, MFA
-Jesse Brass, independent filmmaker; Zach Gray, MFA, Southern Adventist University art professor; and Avery Kroll, MFA
Singer-Songwriters in the Round (Sanctuary)
Enjoy an intimate performance and musical insights as musicians take turns playing
some of their favorite original works and sharing the stories behind the songs.
-Randall Goodgame, John-Mark McGaha, Chris Slaten (Son of Laughter), Rachel Wilhelm
-Randall Goodgame, John-Mark McGaha, Chris Slaten (Son of Laughter), Rachel Wilhelm
----------
Tuesday, March 24, 8-9 am
Doors open for Illuminate, Day 2!
Registration Information
New attendees, please stop by the Welcome Desk to sign in and get your lanyard.
You don't need to show proof of registration (email, etc) to hosts at the Welcome
Desk. They'll simply check your name off our list or add your name if you're a Southern
Adventist University student. Complimentary hot drinks, snacks, and fruit are available
on site.
Organ Tour and Open Console (Sanctuary)
Want to learn more about pipe organs and how they work? Join Devon Howard, DMA,
on stage in the church sanctuary to learn all about the Anton Heiller Memorial Organ
(4,500+ pipes!) and try it out yourself.
-Devon Howard, Director of Worship Ministries, Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church
-Devon Howard, Director of Worship Ministries, Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church
Tuesday, March 24, 9-10:30 am
Each topic is a standalone session held in its own room. Click session title to view description.
AI’s Three, Potentially True, Outcomes: Tool, Trend, Tragedy ("Lead" Room)
Is artificial intelligence off-limits to illustrators? Rhetoric around images
made by algorithms is not particularly nuanced. The distance between those who see
AI as a new tool that makes artistic creation easier and more accessible, and others
who believe it to be a cancer that threatens the very soul of humanity, is razor thin.
From ethics to ethos, this presentation considers if AI is a brand-new category of
creation or simply the latest chapter in the cycle of skepticism and fear around emergent
technology.
-John Hendrix, MFA, Washington University in Saint Louis art professor
-John Hendrix, MFA, Washington University in Saint Louis art professor
Beyond Words: Visual Language and the Creative Christian ("Dream" Room)
For centuries, many Christian communities have held creativity at arm's length—suspicious
of beauty as a gateway to vanity or viewing faith as purely propositional truth while
creativity is seen as worldly and sensual. This is unbiblical. Scripture drips with
poetry, and the God who spoke galaxies into existence also designed the iridescent
throat of a hummingbird. Creativity isn't peripheral to Christian living—it's central
to how we're made, bearing the image of a Creator God. Visual language can forge connections
that words alone cannot reach, bypassing the superficial to resonate with the deeper
spiritual self.
-Matt Brass, owner smokyoutfitters.com (handcrafted destination art)
-Matt Brass, owner smokyoutfitters.com (handcrafted destination art)
How Congregational Scripture-Singing Revives Faith, Biblical Literacy ("Belong" Room, Repeat from Day 1)
This session features “Scripture Hymnal,” a unique resource designed to help congregations
sing the Word of God—memorably and beautifully. Through this innovative (and ancient)
approach to worship, participants experience how music rooted in scripture can become
a powerful vehicle for discipleship, spiritual renewal, and community formation.
-Randall Goodgame, musician
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 9 a.m.
-Randall Goodgame, musician
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 9 a.m.
Kaiju, Bless You: The Marrow and Meaning of Monsters, Part 2 ("Focus" Room)
In this second of a two-part series, we will explore how many Eastern philosophies
portray monsters not only as threats but also as teachers. Participants will learn
six foundational principles that appear in many Eastern monster narratives and consider,
using biblical discernment, how these stories reflect humanity’s universal search
for meaning, restoration, and hope. Central to the discussion is Eiji Tsuburaya, a
famous Japanese filmmaker who emerged from the devastation of World War II to craft
stories that reflect a deep longing for restoration after destruction—a longing that
ultimately points to the greater hope Christians find in Christ, who brings true redemption
to a fallen world.
-Rebecca Reynolds, MA, Oasis Family Media associate publisher
-Rebecca Reynolds, MA, Oasis Family Media associate publisher
Nurturing the Arts in Your Church ("Serve" Room)
Integrating arts into your worship community can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge
worth pursuing because we connect deeply with God through beauty, and the arts—music,
visual design, storytelling—help express truths that apologetics alone cannot. This
panel discussion explores different approaches to arts advocacy in the church, whether
the goal is to nurture creative culture by supporting and connecting parishioners
in their individual artistic endeavors or to bring arts directly into the corporate
worship experience. Come learn what’s working elsewhere and leave encouraged to try
something new at your home church.
-Daniel Gamble and Tim Goldsmith (The Mission Chattanooga), Rachel Wilhelm (United Adoration), and Devon Howard (Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church)
-Daniel Gamble and Tim Goldsmith (The Mission Chattanooga), Rachel Wilhelm (United Adoration), and Devon Howard (Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church)
Past Lions, Through Fire: Writing and the Industry Environment ("Act" Room)
This session will disillusion and armor artists for the realities of the publishing
industry. Today, writers must deal with P&L statements, comps, and online and in-person
mobs and harassment, among other challenges. How does the artist confront, accept,
and move past these realities while maintaining integrity and holding on to what matters?
-E. Lily Yu, author of “On Fragile Waves,” “Jewel Box,” and “Break, Blow, Burn, & Make”
-E. Lily Yu, author of “On Fragile Waves,” “Jewel Box,” and “Break, Blow, Burn, & Make”
William Blake: A Complex Legacy of Art, Poetry, and Theology ("Hope" Room)
Blake’s unique relief etching process, also called “illuminated printing,” used
chemicals to burn away surface materials, leaving the desired art (often a combination
of text and image) exposed and ready for printing. This aggressive, and potentially
dangerous, act of elimination is a striking metaphor for examining other aspects of
Blake’s professional and personal life. His compulsive questioning about good versus
evil is evidenced through an enduring creative legacy and complex theological positions
that were deeply biblical but favored imagination—he had “visions” of angels and demons
his entire life—over literal interpretations. Many of Blake’s contemporaries called
him a madman; after this session, what will you call him?
-Giselle Hasel, MFA, Southern Adventist University art professor; Heather Hess, PhD, Covenant College English professor; and Samuel Youngs, PhD, Bryan College religion professor
-Giselle Hasel, MFA, Southern Adventist University art professor; Heather Hess, PhD, Covenant College English professor; and Samuel Youngs, PhD, Bryan College religion professor
Workshop: Psalm-Writing ("Unite" Room)
The Psalms capture the full spectrum of life, offering insight into every facet
of the human journey. We’ll explore the various types of psalms, from lament to thanksgiving,
and reflect on their relevance today. Participants engage in a psalm-writing exercise,
creating their own expressions of faith and emotion.
-Richard Hickam, DWS, AdventHealth director of Music & the Arts
-Richard Hickam, DWS, AdventHealth director of Music & the Arts
Tuesday, March 24, 11 am - 12 pm
Plenary Presentation
Lift Up Your Eyes: The Case for a Theology of Wonder (Sanctuary)
As we continue to grapple with the disenchanting legacy of modernism, many are
awakening to the power of wonder. This is, in many ways, the special province of those
who serve and worship the God of wonders; yet we have done very little work digging
into the theological grounds and nature of wonder. This session will offer an exploration
of the way the depths of God are revealed through wonder, and the power of wonder
to lead our hearts back to their celestial home.
-Junius Johnson, PhD, author, educator, and musician
-Junius Johnson, PhD, author, educator, and musician
Tuesday, March 24, 12-2 pm
Lunch On Your Own
If you're from out of town and want recommendations, please ask Illuminate staff
or Southern faculty. There are many great options within 15 minutes of the conference.
Tuesday, March 24, 2-3:30 pm
Each topic is a standalone session held in its own room. Click session title to view description.
Altars in the World: When Pop Culture Becomes Holy Ground ("Lead" Room)
Jesus frequently called people to spiritual attentiveness, urging those with “ears
to hear” and “eyes to see” to recognize God’s voice and activity in the world around
them. This session invites listeners to reflect on how the Holy Spirit may already
be speaking through the cultural artifacts we encounter every day, and how glimpses
of God’s truth, goodness, and beauty often surface even in places not explicitly labeled
as Christian. By learning to look at culture through a Christ-centered lens, we can
better discern how God is revealing Himself and drawing people toward the gospel in
unexpected ways.
-John Barber, pastor; and Janna Barber, poet/author
-John Barber, pastor; and Janna Barber, poet/author
The Hidden Conversation: How Active Listening Shapes the Artist's Story ("Serve" Room)
The same creative truths surface again and again when space is made to hear them.
This talk explores humility as a creative practice—listening more than directing,
allowing silence, and following a story instead of imposing one. Through short films
and reflection, this session considers how restraint, trust, and uncertainty can reveal
a shared creative language that resonates across disciplines and with audiences.
"Making Art" is an ongoing documentary series by filmmaker Jesse Brass. Since 2012, the project has produced 37 short films featuring contemporary artists across North America and has been featured by publications including National Geographic, The Atlantic, Wired, Colossal, HuffPost, American Art Collector, and others.
-Jesse Brass, independent filmmaker
"Making Art" is an ongoing documentary series by filmmaker Jesse Brass. Since 2012, the project has produced 37 short films featuring contemporary artists across North America and has been featured by publications including National Geographic, The Atlantic, Wired, Colossal, HuffPost, American Art Collector, and others.
-Jesse Brass, independent filmmaker
Merlin's Isle: The Tale This Land Still Keeps ("Belong" Room)
Producer A.S. "Pete" Peterson presents a new short documentary about Malcolm Guite's
Arthurian epic poem: Merlin's Isle. The film follows the poet and his illustrator,
Stephen Crotts, on a journey across England as they explore the locations, inspirations,
and themes behind these ancient stories in search of the deeper meanings that lay
beyond them. Peterson is also the publisher, designer, and editor of the book series
and will discuss the once-in-a-generation opportunity to publish an epic work of literature.
-Pete Peterson, Rabbit Room Press
-Pete Peterson, Rabbit Room Press
Silliness is Next to Godliness: Pursuing Family Discipleship by Becoming Childlike ("Dream" Room)
Following Jesus begins with self-forgetfulness. In this session, we explore how
parenting with silliness helps loosen the grip of self-consciousness in real time,
gets beyond “resources,” and leads into a life of co-discipleship with our children.
-Randall Goodgame
-Randall Goodgame
Wendell Berry’s Sabbath Poetry ("Unite" Room)
In the face of an ecologically and socially destructive consumer-industrial economy:
does poetry matter? Novelist, poet, environmentalist, and farmer Wendell Berry is
well known for his scathing critiques of the economy and corporate agriculture, as
well as his support for local economies and ecologically sustainable agriculture.
What is much less well known is his four decade long spiritual practice of writing
poetry which brings together the practice of Sabbath rest, craft of poetry, affection
for place, and concern for ecological health. This session examines select Berry works
that consider a different rhythm and relationship within the created world.
-Adam Whipple, songwriter, composer, and poet
-Adam Whipple, songwriter, composer, and poet
What We Can Learn from Jane Austen about Faith and Writing ("Focus" Room)
This presentation shares insights from Austen’s childhood as the daughter of an
Anglican rector and her growing sense of faith as a young author. Her life and writing
illustrate how she understood Christianity to be integrated in how we act, speak,
read, and write.
-Joyce McPherson, PhD, Covenant College adjunct professor and Jane Austen biographer
-Joyce McPherson, PhD, Covenant College adjunct professor and Jane Austen biographer
Why We Need Lament ("Hope" Room)
Many say lament is a dire need in the church, yet few actually implement it. Why
is it so hard, and what does it require of us? Discover how the arts can help us understand
and practice lament, and how that translates to integrating it devotionally and corporately
for whole-life worship.
-Rachel Wilhelm, MWS, musician and United Adoration vice president
-Rachel Wilhelm, MWS, musician and United Adoration vice president
Writing While Raising Your Family ... No, Seriously ("Act" Room)
It’s easy to think of kids as “interruptions” to creative work; in reality, they
provide some of our most meaningful inspiration. In your busiest seasons of life take
hope: there are simple practices which can help limited writing time become more productive
and sharpen your skills. The session also explores ways writers can hold one another
accountable to developing their craft while remembering that publication cannot provide
their ultimate identity or satisfaction—only Jesus can.
-Katherine Ladny Mitchell, published author and mother of five
-Katherine Ladny Mitchell, published author and mother of five
Tuesday, March 24, 4-5:30 pm
Each topic is a standalone session held in its own room. Click session title to view description.
Against the Machine: Mary Shelley, C.S. Lewis, and Other Narratives of Technology ("Dream" Room)
A number of tech critics have alluded to Mary Shelley's “Frankenstein,” drawing
from it several narratives that offer caution for how human beings might navigate
their relationship to science and technology. While technology was not a major theme
for C.S. Lewis, he critiques modernism and its infatuation with progress in “The Abolition
of Man” and “That Hideous Strength,” and in that critique, we can glean insights that
speak to our current era.
-Laurie Stankavich, PhD, Southern Adventist University English professor
-Laurie Stankavich, PhD, Southern Adventist University English professor
“Good Faith” Podcast Interview with Matt Maher (Sanctuary)
Join DT Slouffman, director of content for “Good Faith,” as he conducts a live podcast
interview with award-winning musician Matt Maher. Explore previous episodes of “Good Faith” online.
Hope of Heavenly Union: Christian Churches in the Slave Narrative Tradition ("Focus" Room)
Narratives that tell the story of escapes from slavery to freedom are famous for
their criticisms of pro-slavery Christianity, but they also include positive depictions
of church gatherings, baptisms, Sunday schools, and fellowship meals. Such moments
emerge in narratives of Olaudah Equiano, Frederick Douglass, and others to starkly
contrast with the violence of enslavement and to theorize a world in which just and
equal relationships are possible.
-Hannah Wakefield, PhD, UT-Chattanooga English professor
-Hannah Wakefield, PhD, UT-Chattanooga English professor
Love as Religion: C.S. Lewis, Courtly Love, and Contemporary Popular Culture ("Lead" Room)
In “The Allegory of Love,” C.S. Lewis examines the idolatrous focus on romantic
love as religion in Medieval and Renaissance texts. In this session, we discuss Lewis’
critique of toxic love in some of his own work and trace his argument through both
literary history and contemporary popular culture, including Disney films and romantic
comedies.
-Mary McCampbell, PhD, author and educator
-Mary McCampbell, PhD, author and educator
Tales of the New Creation ("Belong" Room)
Despite wildly different creative sources and inspirations–from the paintings
of North African missionary Lilias Trotter to the literary genius of George MacDonald,
T. S. Eliot, and Charles Dickens–writers Jennifer Trafton and A. S. “Pete” Peterson
look to the past to inform their creative work here and now, and to shape their vision
of what is yet to come. How do we root our work in the artistic inheritance we’ve
been given, including the creativity of the Divine Artist, while also planting seeds
of truth, beauty, and wonder for the future?
-Pete Peterson, Rabbit Room Press publisher, and Jennifer Trafton, author and educator
-Pete Peterson, Rabbit Room Press publisher, and Jennifer Trafton, author and educator
Woody Guthrie to Oliver Anthony: How Folk Music Sparks Hope and Change ("Serve" Room)
Unlike any other genre you could name, folk songs are born, not made. They morph
and re-shape over time; they are storytellers, history-holders, and change-makers.
Sometimes they start out as folk songs, but end up talking about faith. Follow the
stories of songs written by musicians such as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Odetta,
Johnny Cash, Oliver Anthony, and other bards who sing about real people—their real
troubles, the real ways they come together, and the real strength they draw from a
renewed faith in God and in humanity.
-Maureen Swinger, Plough magazine senior editor; and Jason Swinger
-Maureen Swinger, Plough magazine senior editor; and Jason Swinger
Workshop: Introduction to Pottery Throwing (Back Hall)
Students will learn the basics of wheel throwing in an environment where they
are free to fail—and to enjoy the process of learning from each failure. Turning theory
into masterful practice will take the rest of our lives ... we have 90 minutes! Sessions
cover the basics of centering and the theory behind how to efficiently move the clay
into a desired form. Aprons provided. Seating is highly limited; first-come, first-served. Additional sessions offered (see below).
-Loren Howard, Southern Adventist University ceramics instructor
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 2 p.m. and March 23 at 4 p.m.
-Loren Howard, Southern Adventist University ceramics instructor
*This session is also being offered on March 23 at 2 p.m. and March 23 at 4 p.m.
Workshop: What a Character! ("Unite" Room)
For those hoping to develop a new story character, get to know an existing character
more deeply, explore a portion of your own personal story, or even those needing to
break through a wall of writer's block—this session is for you. We will learn a few
quick tips on developing a character monologue and then try our hand at writing one
before sharing with other session guests, as time allows.
-LaEsha Sanders, MFA, Southern Adventist University English professor
-LaEsha Sanders, MFA, Southern Adventist University English professor
Tuesday, March 24, 6-7 pm
Dinner On Site for Registered Guests (fellowship hall)
Enjoy conversations with conference guests over an Olive Garden pasta dinner (included
with registration) before heading into the sanctuary for our Matt Maher concert!
Tuesday, March 24, 7:30-9 pm
Closing Concert
Matt Maher Performance (Sanctuary)
Matt Maher will perform a full concert to close out the Illuminate Arts + Faith
Conference. A nine-time Grammy nominee and three-time Dove Award winner, Maher has
written many popular songs, such as “Lord, I Need You,” “Because He Lives,” “Hold
Us Together,” and “Your Grace Is Enough.”
Concert is included with your full conference registration.
If you know others who would like to join you for this special performance, individual tickets for just the concert may be purchased online ($25).
Concert is included with your full conference registration.
If you know others who would like to join you for this special performance, individual tickets for just the concert may be purchased online ($25).
Tuesday Night Performance
The amazing Matt Maher will close out our 2026 Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference with a full concert!
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The outline below is a simplified version of each day's schedule for the 2026 Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference.
MONDAY, MARCH 23
8-9 am / Check-In / Lobby
9-10:30 am / Session #1 / Breakout Rooms
11 am / Plenary / Sanctuary
12-2 pm / Lunch (on-site meal for ticket holders)
2-3:30 pm / Session #2 / Breakout Rooms
4-5:30 pm / Session #3 / Breakout Rooms
5:30-7:30 pm / Dinner (on your own)
7:30-9 pm / Performance, Other Options / Sanctuary and Breakout Rooms
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
9-10:30 am / Session #1 / Breakout Rooms
11 am / Plenary / Sanctuary
12-2 pm / Lunch (on your own)
2-3:30 pm / Session #2 / Breakout Rooms
4-5:30 pm / Session #3 / Breakout Rooms
6-7:30 pm / Dinner (on-site meal for ticket holders)
7:30-9 pm / Closing Concert / Sanctuary
The Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference is made possible by generous support from event sponsors. Thank you!
