Beauty Through Faith Podcast

Summary Jacob Herold, Denver Coordinator for the Anselm Society, joins Beauty Through Faith to talk about vocation, jazz, hospitality, and the place of artists within the life of the Church. Drawing on his own journey as a jazz musician and Christian, Jacob reflects on learning to see artistic work not merely as permissible, but as a genuine calling under the kingship of Christ. The conversation also explores Christian witness in secular spaces, the role of hospitality in creative community, and Jacob’s work helping expand the Anselm Society’s presence in Denver. Colorado Kalos Salon Events The Anselm Society, Colorado Christian University, and the Kalos Arts Foundation have partnered to bring Echoes & Illuminations to the communities of Loveland and Denver, Colorado. Join us for an intimate salon style concert experience featuring original music by Gustav Hoyer alongside a custom lighting system that responds to the musicians in real time. As the music rises and falls, the light follows, inviting the audience to explore the space between sight and sound and discover what may be revealed through both. Loveland: Monday, October 5 7 PM at First United Presbyterian Church Denver : Tuesday, October 6 7 PM at Colorado Christian University School of Music Tickets start at $15. Seating is limited. Reserve your tickets here Links Anselm SocietyLearn more about the Anselm Society, its gatherings, guilds, events, and the growing Denver community. Jacob Herold — The Train in the RiverJacob’s recent project blends elements of Americana and folk music with jazz. Gift of JazzJacob also discusses his work helping produce concerts and events in the Denver area. Takeaways * Christ’s kingship extends to the arts, giving Christian artists freedom to pursue their work as a genuine vocation. * Vocation is more than a job; it is a calling rooted in the gifts and responsibilities God gives each person. * Christian artists can serve as witnesses in spaces where the Church may not always be visibly present. * Faithful presence in secular artistic communities requires humility, courage, and dependence on Christ rather than confidence in oneself. * Artistic work does not have to achieve fame, commercial success, or cultural prominence in order to be worthwhile. * Hospitality can itself become an artistic and Christian practice, creating spaces where people can gather, celebrate, create, and encourage one another. * The Church is strengthened when different gifts and callings are allowed to flourish rather than being forced into a narrow definition of ministry. * Jacob’s work with the Anselm Society reflects a desire to build communities where Christian artists can create, collaborate, feast, and pursue beauty together. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary Pianist Dr. Paul Barnes returns to Beauty Through Faith for a conversation on beauty, transcendence, artistic vocation, and the upcoming American Liszt Society Festival, Toward Re-Enchantment: Beauty as a Portal to the Sacred. Paul reflects on the role beauty has played throughout his life and career, and on why music can offer a point of encounter with the sacred even for those who do not share the same faith. The conversation also explores Liszt’s spiritual life, the importance of approaching unfamiliar art with gratitude and openness, and Paul’s own transition toward mentorship, teaching, and passing a lifetime of musical experience on to younger artists. Links 2026 American Liszt Society Festival — Toward Re-Enchantment: Beauty as a Portal to the SacredThe festival at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln brings together performances, lectures, contemporary music, and scholarship centered on beauty and transcendence. Festival information Festival Program and Presenter BiosView the 2026 program Festival RegistrationRegistration remains available for full-festival and single-day attendance. Registration and visitor information Paul BarnesLearn more about Paul’s performances, recordings, collaborations, and current projects.Paul Barnes — Official WebsitePaul Barnes — YouTube Fr. Alexander Schmemann — For the Life of the WorldPaul and Benjamin discuss this influential work and its vision of receiving creation as gift and offering it back to God. For the Life of the World — St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press Paul Barnes — “Liszt and the Cross: Music as Sacrament in the B Minor Sonata”A resource from Paul exploring the spiritual and sacramental dimensions of Liszt’s music.Read Paul’s Liszt and the Cross handout Tom Larson — “The Gift”Paul discusses his love for Larson’s music and his desire to champion the work of a longtime colleague. Larson’s site includes Paul’s performance of The Gift, with video by Peter Barnes. Watch The Gift and explore Tom Larson’s music Takeaways * Beauty can become a point of encounter with the sacred and a starting place for conversations across different beliefs. * Gratitude changes the way we receive both art and the world around us. * Great art allows us to encounter reality through another person’s vision and experience. * Liszt’s spiritual convictions and generosity toward other artists were central to his musical life. * Unfamiliar music rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to listen beyond our immediate preferences. * Artistic vocation includes not only creating and performing, but teaching, mentoring, and passing a tradition to the next generation. * Paul’s current season reflects a growing emphasis on gratitude, family, teaching, and making room for younger musicians. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary Dr. Eliot Grasso returns to Beauty Through Faith for a conversation on attention, silence, artistic practice, and human formation. Together, Eliot, Benjamin Harding, and Gustav Hoyer explore how beauty invites us to slow down, become more present, and resist a culture of distraction. The conversation also turns to Eliot’s current work in music and education, before closing with a thoughtful discussion on AI, human agency, and why true learning and creativity require practice, participation, and transformation. Links Gutenberg CollegeLearn more about Gutenberg College, its programs, conferences, and upcoming events. Soli Deo Gloria: The Life and Legacy of Johann Sebastian BachBy Greg Wilbur Eliot contributed the introduction to a new edition of this biography exploring Bach’s life, faith, and artistic vocation. Smithsonian Folkways / Archival Recording Takeaways * A life ordered toward beauty begins with attention — particularly the attention required to truly love another person. * Silence is not merely the absence of noise; it can create space for reflection, discomfort, curiosity, and transformation. * Encountering art is an active experience. Listeners are invited not merely to consume sound or images, but to notice, question, and attend. * Learning cannot be reduced to receiving information. Practice is formative because it changes the person doing it. * Good teaching creates space for students to wrestle with questions rather than simply repeat someone else’s conclusions. * Artistic creation is more than the production of an object. The process of making can itself be an act of love, obedience, discovery, and formation. * Eliot’s work in Irish traditional music, composition, teaching, and education reflects a common concern: helping people become more attentive, thoughtful, and fully human. * Artificial intelligence raises important questions about the difference between persons and tools, particularly when human language such as “thinking” or “creating” is applied to machines. * AI may function as a tool, but it cannot do the formative work of practice on behalf of a human person. * Christians are called not merely to acquire information, but to be transformed — becoming increasingly conformed to Christ through faithful participation in the life God has given them. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary What role does beauty play in drawing us toward God? In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Benjamin Harding welcomes acclaimed poet, essayist, and Orthodox Christian Dr. Scott Cairns for a rich conversation about poetry, prayer, suffering, and the pursuit of truth. Scott reflects on his journey from a Baptist upbringing into the Orthodox Church, the transformative beauty of the Divine Liturgy, and the profound influence of the Church Fathers, Dostoevsky, Annie Dillard, and Greek poetry. Together they explore why great poetry should open readers to wonder rather than certainty, how prayer and artistic practice shape one another, and why beauty is not merely decorative but a means of encountering God. Whether you’re a poet, musician, painter, or simply someone seeking a deeper spiritual life, this conversation offers timeless wisdom on cultivating attentiveness to truth, goodness, and beauty. Links & Resources Books by Scott Cairns * Against Certainty * Correspondence with My Greeks * The End of Suffering: Finding Purpose in Pain * Short Trip to the Edge: Where Earth Meets Heaven – A Pilgrimage to Mount Athos * Lacunae Referenced Resources * The Philokalia * The Jesus Prayer * The Trisagion Prayers * Mount Athos * Simonopetra Monastery * Eighth Day Books (Wichita, Kansas) Referenced Authors & Thinkers * Fyodor Dostoevsky * St. Isaac the Syrian * St. Athanasius * St. Gregory Palamas * Annie Dillard * Simone Weil * Constantine P. Cavafy * Frederica Mathewes-Green * St. Mary of Egypt Key Takeaways * Beauty is not an escape from reality—it is one of God’s primary ways of drawing us toward Himself. * Great poetry opens us to mystery rather than reducing truth to simple conclusions. * Prayer and artistic practice both require faithful daily discipline, even when inspiration is absent. * The Orthodox tradition emphasizes participation in the mystery of God rather than mastering Him through explanation. * Reading deeply is a conversation across generations, allowing us to enter into dialogue with writers who came before us. * Suffering, united with Christ, can become a means of transformation rather than despair. * Language is never exhausted; the richest words continue to reveal new depths each time we encounter them. * Christian artists are called not merely to illustrate ideas but to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty with humility. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Gustav Hoyer welcomes poet, educator, and editor Joffre Swait back to the podcast to discuss two of his newest books: Word Horde: An Anthology of Poems Every Christian Should Know and We Bring Pomegranates, his first full-length collection of original poetry. Their conversation explores why poetry matters for Christians, how language itself reflects God’s creative order, and why reading poems aloud transforms the way we encounter beauty. Joffre shares the philosophy behind curating an anthology centered on truth, goodness, and beauty, reflects on the role of English as a uniquely poetic language, and reads one of his own poems, I Can See the Cascades From Here. Together they consider poetry not as something to consume quickly, but as a lifelong companion that forms the imagination and deepens our love for God. Links & Resources Joffre Swait * Joffre Swait on Substack * Word Horde: An Anthology of Poems Every Christian Should Know * We Bring Pomegranates * Roman Roads Press Referenced Authors & Thinkers * C.S. Lewis * Gerard Manley Hopkins * John Milton * Percy Bysshe Shelley * Samuel Taylor Coleridge * Alfred, Lord Tennyson * Thomas Traherne * Edward Taylor Key Takeaways * Poetry is meant to be experienced with both the mind and the body by reading it aloud. * Great poetry offers gifts rather than merely displaying artistic skill. * Christians can approach poetry as a means of spiritual formation and delight, not simply academic study. * Language itself reflects God’s creativity, and learning to love language can deepen our appreciation for beauty. * An anthology should have a clear point of view rather than pretending to be completely objective. * The best poetry continues to shape us long after we’ve finished reading it. * Original poetry can become an act of hospitality, inviting readers to see the world with renewed wonder. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Gustav sits down with author, artist, and founder of Creo Arts, Winfield Bevins, to explore the profound connection between beauty, faith, and creative work. Winfield shares how art and beauty played a central role in his own journey to faith, becoming a means of grace during a difficult season of his youth. From his early encounters with painting to a life-changing moment by a lake in East Tennessee, Winfield reflects on how beauty awakened longing, pointed him toward God, and shaped his vocation as an artist, pastor, writer, and advocate for Christian engagement with the arts. The conversation also explores Winfield’s book, How Beauty Will Save the World: Recovering the Power of the Arts for the Christian Life, and the mission of Creo Arts to inspire beauty, goodness, and truth by connecting artists, patrons, churches, and communities. Together, Gustav and Winfield discuss why the arts matter for spiritual formation, why Christians are called not only to create but to behold, and how the church might recover its historic role as a patron and steward of beauty. Key Themes * How beauty and art shaped Winfield’s journey to Christian faith * The role of creation, longing, and transcendence in spiritual awakening * Why human creativity is not competition with God’s creation, but participation in it * The meaning of co-creation and Tolkien’s idea of “subcreation” * Why beholding beauty is a spiritual practice * How the arts help Christians slow down, listen, and become more fully present * Winfield’s book How Beauty Will Save the World * The mission and work of Creo Arts * Why churches should recover their role as patrons of the arts * The hope for a new Christian renaissance rooted in beauty, goodness, and truth * Winfield’s own work as a painter and printmaker * The importance of encountering art in person, not only digitally Featured Guest Winfield Bevins is an author, artist, teacher, and founder of Creo Arts, an organization dedicated to inspiring beauty, goodness, and truth by forming communities where art and faith flourish. His work encourages artists, churches, and patrons to recover the power of the arts for Christian life and cultural renewal. Links * Creo Arts * How Beauty Will Save the World: Recovering the Power of the Arts for the Christian Life by Winfield Bevins * Winfield Bevins’ artwork and writing * Father of Lights by Junius Johnson Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this special preview episode of Beauty Through Faith, Gustav Hoyer is joined by members of the Kalos Arts Ensemble ahead of their upcoming salon concert at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Souderton, Pennsylvania. Together, they explore what makes chamber music unique, why live artistic experiences matter in an increasingly digital world, and how the pursuit of beauty points us toward deeper truths about God and ourselves. The ensemble reflects on the intimate nature of chamber music, the role of beauty in the Christian life, and the special lighting design that will accompany the performance. Whether you’re a lifelong classical music enthusiast or attending your first concert, this conversation offers a glimpse into the heart behind the salon experience and an invitation to participate in a living, breathing encounter with beauty. Event Information Souvenirs & Passions Saturday, May 30, 20267:00 PMSt. Peter’s Anglican Church Featuring: * Original chamber music by Gustav Hoyer * An immersive synchronized lighting experience * Intimate salon-style performance * Conversation, fellowship, and reflection on beauty and faith Tickets Here. Key Takeaways * Chamber music invites listeners into a conversation rather than a spectacle. * Live artistic experiences offer a uniquely human connection that cannot be replicated digitally. * Beauty, truth, and goodness ultimately find their source in God. * Music unfolds through memory, inviting listeners to actively participate in the experience. * Every performance is unique, shaped by the musicians, audience, and moment. * The salon format creates space for deeper engagement with both art and community. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this wonderful episode of Beauty Through Faith, Gustav Hoyer and Benjamin Harding are joined by Dr. John William Trotter and five students from Wheaton College to discuss The Messiah Project — an innovative and deeply embodied presentation of Handel’s Messiah. Together, they explore beauty, sacred music, community, artistic formation, and the role of embodiment in worship and performance. The conversation moves from theology and Baroque dance to personal testimonies of healing, prison ministry, artistic calling, and the transformative power of communal art-making. Featuring reflections from Donovan Williams, Lillian Evans, Kurt Hoyer, Crystal Curtis, and Hannah Morris, this episode offers a powerful glimpse into how beauty can awaken longing for God. Links & Resources * Messiah Project trailer * Messiah Project (original 2024) * Messiah Project 2026 * Link to Messiah Project 2026 website * Wheaton College Conservatory of Music * Wheaton College Concert Choir Featured Student Guests * Donovan Williams * Lillian Evans * Kurt Hoyer * Crystal Curtis * Hannah Morris Referenced Thinkers & Artists * Fyodor Dostoevsky * C. S. Lewis * Dietrich Bonhoeffer * George Frideric Handel Key Takeaways * Beauty is often experienced as remembrance rather than discovery * Sacred music can become an embodied and communal act of worship * Handel’s Messiah contains profound theological and emotional depth beyond its cultural familiarity * Art-making is most transformative when rooted in community rather than individualism * Prison ministry revealed how deeply sacred music can resonate when received without cultural expectations * The pursuit of beauty is inseparable from the pursuit of truth and ultimately from the pursuit of God * Christian artistic formation involves humility, vulnerability, and shared spiritual life Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our mission, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Gustav Hoyer and Benjamin Harding sit down with poet Kilby Austin to explore how beauty, suffering, and faith intersect through poetry. Drawing from Scripture, hymnody, and personal experience, Kilby reflects on the role of art in helping us perceive and pursue God more clearly. Links & Resources Kilby Austin * Substack * Prisca Publishing (faith-based publisher) Kilby’s New Book This way to Warmth * This Way to Warmth Referenced Poets and Thinkers * Gerard Manley Hopkins * Emily Dickinson * Abraham Kuyper * Junius Johnson Key Takeaways * Poetry can be both deeply sensory and intellectually grounded * Hymnody plays a powerful role in shaping our understanding of beauty * Suffering can act as a signpost pointing us toward God * Beauty is not separate from faith, it is a way of pursuing God Himself * Each person reflects something unique about God’s nature Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our mission, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Benjamin Harding is joined by Joe McHugh—artist, educator, and longtime advocate for craftsmanship and beauty—to explore the role of art in shaping both the human person and the life of faith. Joe reflects on his early formation as an artist, his years teaching in public schools, and the ways beauty became a lifelong pursuit rooted in both discipline and worship. Together, they discuss the relationship between skill and expression, the loss of craftsmanship in modern art education, and the cultural shift away from beauty toward abstraction, utility, and self-expression. This conversation also explores the deep human need for beauty, the tension artists face in academic and cultural spaces, and the ways technology and convenience can distance us from embodied, meaningful artistic experience. Joe offers a compelling vision for recovering beauty—not as luxury, but as something essential to human flourishing and spiritual life. This episode is especially for artists, musicians, educators, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how beauty, craft, and faith intersect in a modern world. Links & Resources Website: Joe’s Website Fly Fishing & Classes: St. Pete’s Fly Shop (Fort Collins, CO) Featured Artists (mentioned): * Matthew McHugh — University of Northern Colorado * Jonathan McHugh — Painter & Professor References * Johann Sebastian Bach — Cello Suites * Gustav Mahler — Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”) * Bill Frisell — Jazz Guitar Performances * Claude Monet — Impressionist Landscapes Key Takeaways * Beauty is not subjective chaos—it is grounded in order, craft, and form * Artistic skill and discipline are essential, not optional, to meaningful expression * Modern art culture often prioritizes concept over craftsmanship, to its detriment * People are deeply hungry for beauty, even if they cannot always articulate it * Encounters with beauty—through nature, music, or art—can be deeply healing * Art is not merely self-expression, but a form of participation in something greater * Technology and convenience risk distancing us from real, embodied artistic experience * The church has an opportunity—and responsibility—to recover a vision of beauty * Teaching art is not just technical formation, but personal and human formation * Faithful artists are called to pursue excellence with humility, integrity, and purpose This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Benjamin Harding and Gustav Hoyer are joined by Cori Belle, pianist, teacher, and creator of Commonplace Beauty, to explore what it means to pursue beauty faithfully in both the church and the world. Cori reflects on her formation as a musician, her journey as a Christian artist, and the ways beauty is discovered not only in virtuosity and performance, but in discipline, obedience, community, and everyday life. Together, we discuss excellence in art, resistance artists face in modern worship culture, the loss of musical formation in the church, and how artists can steward their gifts with courage and humility. This episode is especially for artists, musicians, and thoughtful Christians wrestling with how faith, craft, and beauty intersect over a lifetime. Links & Resources: * Website: https://coribelle.com * Album: Commonplace Beauty * Substack: At Home with Classical Piano * Instagram: Follow Cori for teaching resources and visual curriculum inspiration Music Link: * Johannes Brahms — Intermezzo, Op. 118 No. 2 * Charles Ives – The Alcotts (from the Concord Sonata) Key Takeaways * Beauty is not accidental — it is pursued through discipline, patience, and obedience * Artistic excellence is not opposed to faith; it can be an act of worship * The church has historically valued training and beauty — recovering this matters * Shared encounters with beauty can be deeply formative and communal * Faithful artists often live in tension between the church and the world * God frequently works through discomfort, not convenience * “Commonplace beauty” is found in daily faithfulness, not perfection Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Benjamin Harding and Gustav Hoyer chat with composer and educator Lincoln Hanks for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation on beauty, time, faith, and the vocation of the artist. Lincoln shares how his understanding of beauty was shaped by childhood imagination, sacred music, and the writings of C.S. Lewis, especially the idea of fleeting “glimpses of joy” that point beyond the temporal world. Drawing from his experience as a composer, pianist, and academic leader, he reflects on how music can suspend time, gesture toward eternity, and invite listeners into contemplation. The conversation explores Lincoln’s compositional influences, from Renaissance polyphony and Orthodox chant to modern figures like Olivier Messiaen, and how these traditions inform works such as Liza Sinesti and Monstre Sacré, written in collaboration with pianist Paul Barnes. They also discuss the relationship between the church and contemporary sacred art, the role of beauty outside the worship service, and what it means to serve faithfully as an artist in both sacred and secular spaces. Whether you’re a composer, performer, theologian, or simply a listener drawn to beauty, this episode offers a thoughtful meditation on art as a window into eternity. Links Lincoln Hanks * Official Website: https://www.nlincolnhanks.com(Music, biography, and contact information) Collaborators & Influences * Paul Barnes – Pianist and commissioner of Liza Sinesti and Monstre Sacré * Olivier Messiaen * C. S. Lewis - Surprised By Joy Institution * Pepperdine University – Where Lincoln serves as Dean of the Fine Arts Division Topics * What the pursuit of beauty means for a Christian artist * C.S. Lewis, childhood imagination, and “glimpses of joy” * Time, tempo, and atemporality in music * Messiaen, color, gesture, and musical transcendence * Orthodox chant, Renaissance counterpoint, and sacred listening * Writing Liza Sinesti with pianist Paul Barnes * The church’s relationship to contemporary sacred art * Serving faithfully as an artist beyond the worship service * Lincoln’s current work as Dean of Fine Arts at Pepperdine * Advice for young composers discerning their vocation Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

As we come to the close of the year, we want to invite you to consider making a year-end gift to support the work of the Kalos Arts Foundation This short video is a reflection from our Executive Director, Gustav Hoyer and Board Member and Secretary Benjamin Harding, on what it means to give to an organization like Kalos and why generosity plays a vital role in bringing beauty into the world. At Kalos, we believe that God discloses His beauty not only through the created order, but through His people and the works of excellence they pursue. When these works are nurtured, they become windows, gateways, through which others may encounter Him When you give to Kalos, your donation is not just a transaction. It is enablement. Your gift directly supports artists who are engaging their faith professionally and offering their work to the world with care, integrity, and excellence. Through your generosity, you help shape the kinds of art, conversations, and cultural contributions that fill our communities Many of us already spend money on entertainment after the moment of creation has passed. Giving to Kalos allows you to invest earlier—to participate in the formation of work that reflects God’s truth and beauty before it exists. In giving, you are making a statement about what you value and the kind of world you want to help form As we close out the year, we are asking for your help to continue this work. Your year-end donation directly supports artists, events, and programs that bring beauty into public life and point beyond themselves to God. If you believe in this mission, we invite you to give today. Support our mission by clicking here. Thank you for supporting the mission of Kalos Arts Foundation. Happy Holidays and we hope you have a great year. In Christ, Kalos Art Foundation Thanks for reading Beauty through Faith! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Benjamin Harding and Gustav Hoyer engage with Dr. Chelle Stearns, an independent scholar and musician, to explore the relationship between beauty, music, and theology. Together, they reflect on how beauty is defined through the face of Christ, how music forms faith beyond utility, and why artistic vocation is often misunderstood within church contexts. The conversation delves into musical dissonance, the philosophical and theological legacy of composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, and the role of listening as a form of spiritual formation. Drawing on composers including Haydn, James MacMillan, and Henryk Górecki, Chelle shares how music can become a language of prayer—especially in experiences of lament, suffering, and transformation. Throughout the episode, listeners are invited to consider how deep listening can reshape theological understanding and open new pathways for faith. Links More about Chelle * The Seattle School Books and Articles * Handling Dissonance: A Musical Theological Aesthetic of Unity — Chelle Stearns * Till We Have Faces — C. S. Lewis * Real Presences — George Steiner * Academia.edu Composers & Works * Joseph Haydn — The Seven Last Words of Christ * James MacMillan — Seven Last Words from the Cross * Henryk Górecki — Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) * Arnold Schoenberg Institutions & Organizations * George MacDonald Society * University of St. Andrews (Institute for Theology, Imagination, and the Arts) * Museum of the Bible * Society for Christian Scholarship in Music Takeaways * Beauty is not decorative but formative. * Beauty can clarify or obscure what we truly need, depending on how it is pursued. * Music offers a language of prayer when words fail. * Artistic vocation is often misunderstood when judged primarily by utility. * Dissonance reflects the complexity of human experience and faith. * Listening deeply is itself a spiritual discipline. * Music can create encounters that precede explanation or belief. * Lament and suffering can be voiced truthfully through sound. * Engaging unfamiliar music can expand theological imagination. * Faith is shaped not only by doctrine, but by encounter. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Benjamin Harding sits down with Vinicius Barbosa Pippa, a gifted film composer and musician. Together, they explore the nature of beauty, the pursuit of meaning, and the way these have shaped Vinicius’s life and vocation. Vinicius reflects on his music-filled childhood in Brazil, his artistic formation, and his path into film scoring in the United States. He shares how faith reshaped his creative life, the interior challenges he’s faced in the industry, and the profound themes behind his recent work on the documentary Live Not By Lies. Their conversation weaves through creativity, truth, spirituality, and the transformative role of beauty. Links: • Vinicius’s Substack Publication (the headquarters of his creative work): • Vinicius’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/vinicius.barbosa.pippa/ Takeaways * Beauty found Vinicius through music from a young age. * His father, a doctor, was a passionate musician. * Vinicius pursued music formally in his teenage years in Brazil. * He was inspired by 70s British classic rock, especially Led Zeppelin. * Film music has always been a significant influence on his work. * Vinicius learned Brazilian rhythms to stand out as a drummer. * His approach to composition is intuitive, influenced by his drumming background. * He experienced a spiritual emptiness despite career success. * Vinicius’s faith journey began after moving to California. * He wrote songs for the documentary ‘Live Not By Lies’ inspired by real-life stories. Beauty through Faith is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you for listening to Beauty through Faith! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

In this conversation, Wes Hurd discusses the nature of authentic artwork, emphasizing that it originates from a deep, often mysterious place within the artist. He explains how this inner creativity manifests on the canvas, sometimes beyond the artist’s control, resulting in unique marks and imagery that reflect the artist’s true self. About Wes Hurd Odyssey of These Days Paintings About the McKenzie Study Center BIOGRAPHY Wesley Hurd was born in Claremont, California in 1946. He studied fine art and art education at Southern Oregon College graduating in 1967. Wesley and his family have lived on the west and east coasts of the U.S. and London, England. He and his wife, Carol, have lived in Eugene, Oregon since 1977. He began his present studio practice in 1989. He has a graduate degree in theology and a Ph.D. in education concentrating in educational philosophy and social thought. He received his M.F.A. in painting from the University of Oregon in 2000. Wesley was a recipient of two graduate fellowships at the University of Oregon. He has taught as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Oregon. He is an adjunct tutor at Gutenberg College, Eugene, Oregon. Wesley is currently a free-lance lecturer and mentor specializing in modern and contemporary visual art and serves as Director of BlueTower Arts Foundation also in Eugene, Oregon. Takeaways Wes Hurd’s journey in art began in Claremont, California. Beauty has always been a vital center to his concerns. Art serves as a special language for human expression. The McKenzie Study Center was pivotal in his artistic development. Art can bridge conversations between believers and non-believers. Hurd’s work addresses both beauty and darkness. Forgiveness and mercy are beautiful aspects of life. Artistic expression can lead to community engagement. Hurd’s artistic style has evolved over decades. The response to his work from the church community has been overwhelmingly positive. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Beauty Through Faith podcast, host Gustav Hoyer engages with pianist Rebekah Stiles to explore the intersection of art, beauty, and faith. They discuss the significance of beauty in the Christian tradition, the role of different musical traditions, and the impact of church and secular contexts on artistic expression. Rebekah shares her insights on the importance of the performer in music, the communal aspect of art, and her future pursuits in both the church and the broader artistic community. Rebekah Stiles at Cairn University Rebekah Stiles at the Csehy Summer School of Music Biography Originally from Souderton, PA, Rebekah Stiles is a pianist and educator working at the intersection of theology and the arts. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Piano Performance and Bible from Cairn University and a M. Mus. and D.M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a performer and collaborator, Stiles has exercised her versatility in the solo, chamber, and church settings. Her recent solo recitals have featured the works of Liszt, Schubert, Rameau, Janáček, Bartók, and Barber, and she has given solo performances both locally and internationally. In 2019, she received first-place honors in the Crescendo International Music Competition, delivering a winner’s performance at Carnegie Hall. In 2022 and 2023, she participated in the Piano Plus Festival in Xanthi, Greece, and she has performed in masterclasses with Arnaldo Cohen, the Naughton Duo, Behzod Abduraimov, and Emanuel Ax. As a collaborative musician, Stiles has performed three times as soloist with orchestra, performing with the Cairn Symphony Orchestra in 2019 and with the UNL Symphony Orchestra in 2022 and 2023. During her time at Cairn, she specialized in piano duet repertoire, and she has since expanded her scope to encompass a wide variety of works, including George Walker’s Music for 3, Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G minor, and the world premiere of Heinrich Biber’s complete rosary sonatas for viola and continuo, transcribed by Gabriel Forero. She has also led a fruitful career as a church pianist since 2013. Stiles currently works as a member of the adjunct music faculty at Cairn University as well as an Affiliate Artist, maintaining a private studio and teaching courses in piano pedagogy, performance, and theology of worship. From 2020-2024, she held graduate teaching assistantships and fellowships from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she served as an instructor of record within the Keyboard Skills program. In addition, she served for two years as Assistant Coordinator for the Lincoln Community Piano Experience, a recreational group piano course for adults. As studio assistant to Dr. Paul Barnes, she has regularly taught privately on the undergraduate level, as well as conducting studio classes and serving as lecturer in the graduate Piano Literature course. Outside of academia, Stiles has served as faculty for the Lied Center Piano Academy, as well as the Csehy Summer School of Music. She also takes joy in working with private students of all levels, and she manages an independent piano studio in the Bucks County area. As a scholar, Stiles is deeply interested in the intersection of worldview and art, specifically the musical implications of major theological rifts within Christendom. Her doctoral dissertation, “Creed and Variations,” explored the musical trichotomy of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant traditions, featuring select works of J. S. Bach, Olivier Messiaen, and Arvo Pärt. Takeaways: The pursuit of beauty is fundamentally a pursuit of God. Beauty in art should transcend superficiality and reflect deeper truths. Art and theology are inseparable in the exploration of beauty. Different musical traditions offer unique expressions of beauty. The role of the church is vital in supporting artistic endeavors. Art can serve as a bridge to communicate spiritual truths. Performers play a crucial role in bringing compositions to life. Engaging with secular contexts can be an evangelistic opportunity. Christian art should challenge and provoke thought. The communal aspect of art reflects the nature of the Trinity. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

The recording of today’s episode has an interesting backstory. Among many things, I am a piano technician. On the day of this recording I was tuning in southeastern Pennsylvania in Bucks County. I found the perfect, quiet rural road to pull over and record this conversation. It was idyllic. There was a farm house nearby - looked to be from the colonial era. Well - Gustav Hoyer and I began the conversation with our guest and a truck pulled up beside me. A white pickup with a man who asked, “Everything ok? I work here and got a call saying that there was a car parked on the side of the road.” Now keep in mind that this is a public road and I am safely off to the side. I assured the driver that I was fine and was just recording a podcast. At this point it is occurring to me that this farm house might be the home of someone very famous. I had seen pictures of this house in the paper recently and it was beginning to click that this could indeed be Bradley Cooper’s home. Then about 10 minutes later, the same driver came by and asked me to take off - that since I had a clear line of sight to the house and that this was private property I needed to leave. I assured him that I was recording a podcast on my phone and that if I could have about 5 minutes more I would indeed leave and apologized for any trouble I may have caused. It was an adventure, friends. And then - I called my sister who is a realtor. She said that it also could have been a home purchased by Taylor Swift in that location… The lengths and bounds that we go to on Beauty through Faith are immeasurable but we will continue to attempt to bring you great content to encourage you to seek and pursue beauty through faith! Welcome to Beauty through Faith; the podcast of the Kalos Arts Foundation. I’m Benjamin Harding. Today’s episode is a conversation with the founder of the Christos Collective, Sandy Ceas. Sandy is a brilliant artist who has had many different kinds of career paths from fashion design to educator at Colorado State University to founding the Christos Collective to being an internationally recognized artist with her work featured globally. The Christos Collective is a wonderful organization whose mission is to: To cultivate artists of Christian faith to embrace their vocation as ambassadors of the Holy Spirit, and impact culture through their art and art practice. You find out more information about Sandy and the Christos Collective via https://christoscollective.org In this episode of Beauty Through Faith, Benjamin Harding, Sandy Ceas, and Gustav Hoyer explore the intricate relationship between beauty, art, and Christian faith. Sandy discusses the challenges and responsibilities of artists in conveying truth and goodness through their work, emphasizing the importance of beauty as a tool for spiritual engagement. The conversation delves into the role of art in the church, the need for quiet contemplation in a noisy world, and the stewardship of beauty in both secular and sacred contexts. Sandy shares her journey from fashion design to fine art, highlighting the transformative power of art in communicating God’s message. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Beauty Through Faith! I’m your host, Benjamin Harding. Today we are joined by Dr. Junius Johnson—theologian, author, and lover of story. Dr. Johnson is a featured speaker at our Beauty Through Faith Conference happening this weekend in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Johnson has written profound works including Father of Lights and On Teaching Fairy Stories, and you can explore more of his work at his website: www.juniusjohnson.com. In today’s conversation led by Gustav Hoyer, our executive director, we’ll dive into his vision of how beauty, imagination, and the life of faith intersect in ways that awaken wonder and renew the soul. He gives a little preview of what is happening this weekend too! ✨ And friends—don’t wait. The Beauty Through Faith Conference is just days away! We’ll gather with musicians, scholars, artists, and pastors for a rich time of conversation, encounter, and fellowship. Get your tickets today at www.kalosarts.org. Let’s get into this inspiring conversation with Dr. Junius Johnson. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe