Joffre Swait on Poetry, Language, and the Gifts That Shape the Soul

Joffre Swait on Poetry, Language, and the Gifts That Shape the Soul

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 [https://joffreswait.substack.com/] * Word Horde: An Anthology of Poems Every Christian Should Know [https://romanroadspress.com/store/wordhoard-anthology/] * We Bring Pomegranates [https://joffreswait.substack.com/i/178149301/we-bring-pomegranates-poems-from-moscow-idaho] * Roman Roads Press [https://romanroadspress.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoolfa2tf7Ev_eFHEfRl9TjhUHOp0kfr-yyn21BBmNDkwN8HXhKN] 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 [https://beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Winfield Bevins on How Beauty Will Save the World

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 [https://www.creoarts.org/] * How Beauty Will Save the World: Recovering the Power of the Arts for the Christian Life [https://www.amazon.com/How-Beauty-Will-Save-World/dp/1964817102/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0] by Winfield Bevins [https://www.amazon.com/How-Beauty-Will-Save-World/dp/1964817102/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0] * Winfield Bevins’ artwork and writing [https://winfieldbevins.com/] * Father of Lights [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Lights-Theology-Beauty-World/dp/1540962490] by Junius Johnson [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Lights-Theology-Beauty-World/dp/1540962490] 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 [https://beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Special Salon Preview: Why Live Beauty Matters

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 [https://kalosarts.org/store/p/souvenirs-passions]. 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 [https://beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Dr. John William Trotter on The Messiah Project, Community, and the Pursuit of Beauty

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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjSJb_13wRQ] * Messiah Project (original 2024) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU8j18DNeOE] * Messiah Project 2026 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdTVRpLGPxc&list=RDzdTVRpLGPxc&start_radio=1] * Link to [https://www.wheaton.edu/wheaton-college-conservatory-of-music/ensembles/concert-choir/messiah-project-tour-2026/]Messiah Project 2026 [https://www.wheaton.edu/wheaton-college-conservatory-of-music/ensembles/concert-choir/messiah-project-tour-2026/]website [https://www.wheaton.edu/wheaton-college-conservatory-of-music/ensembles/concert-choir/messiah-project-tour-2026/] * Wheaton College Conservatory of Music [https://www.wheaton.edu/wheaton-college-conservatory-of-music/] * Wheaton College Concert Choir [https://www.wheaton.edu/wheaton-college-conservatory-of-music/ensembles/concert-choir/] Featured Student Guests * Donovan Williams * Lillian Evans * Kurt Hoyer * Crystal Curtis * Hannah Morris Referenced Thinkers & Artists * Fyodor Dostoevsky [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fyodor-Dostoyevsky] * C. S. Lewis [https://www.cslewis.com/us/] * Dietrich Bonhoeffer [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer] * George Frideric Handel [https://www.britannica.com/biography/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 [https://beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Kilby Austin on Poetry, Suffering, and the Pursuit of Beauty

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 [https://substack.com/@kilbyaustin] * Prisca Publishing (faith-based publisher) [https://www.priscapublishing.com/about] Kilby’s New Book This way to Warmth * This Way to Warmth [https://www.priscapublishing.com/shop/p/this-way-to-warmth] Referenced Poets and Thinkers * Gerard Manley Hopkins [https://poets.org/poet/gerard-manley-hopkins] * Emily Dickinson [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-dickinson] * Abraham Kuyper [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abraham-Kuyper] * Junius Johnson [https://www.juniusjohnson.com/] 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 [https://beautythroughfaith.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]