Telling God’s Truth in Beautiful Ways
Artists have significant influence in everyday life, from the clothes we wear to the music we listen to. The Institute for Faith and the Arts (IFA) brings faith-filled artists to campus to share how they tell God’s truth in beautiful ways. One of our long-term goals is to share the structure of the institute with schools across the country. We also want to partner with Memphis organizations to bring nationally-known artists to our city for conferences on faith and the arts.
Upcoming Events
2024–25
September 30
Steve Gaskin – Spoken Word Poet
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Intercultural Arts and Media, Director
B.A. Indiana University Bloomington, 2008
M.A. Wheaton College Graduate School, 2018
Stevener serves as Director for Intercultural Arts and Media at Wheaton College. Through ICAM, Stevener advises Storytelling Project, College Union, and Student Media Team. He also serves within his church as Minister in Residence at Good News In The Neighborhood in Palatine, IL.
His desire is to give leadership, biblical vision, and strategic direction for student-coordinated performances, events, and media outlets – all while fostering cultural diversity, inclusion, and racial unity across campus.
As a passionate, God-fearing, fun-loving, reckless dreamer, he uses the arts to communicate an eternal message of love, hope, and redemption to all he engages. Through hip-hop and spoken word poetry, Stevener is charged to use his gifts for the glory of God, and the benefit of neighbor. Being that the message of the gospel and influence of the Holy Spirit radically transformed his heart, Stevener hopes to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through creative expressions and memorable conversations.
Past Artists

Phillip Vo
Musician, Song-writer

Danielle Sierra
Artist

Taylor Leonhardt
Musician, Song-writer

Propaganda
Poet, Political activist, Emcee

John Hendrix
Illustrator, Author

Belvédère
Band

Bartholomew Jones
Hip-hop artist, Emcee

Joe Sutphin
Illustrator

The Arcadian Wild
Band

Living Letters by Juliette Trafton
Actor

TWIN
Artists

Jacob Matthews (’12)
Photographer

JCKSN AVENUE
Band

Behold the Lamb of God
Christmas concert

The Sanctuary Praise Band

Jillian Edwards Chapman
Musician, Song-writer

Joseph Solomon
Spoken word poet

S. D. Smith
Author of The Green Ember series

Stephen & Juliette Trafton, Longing for Glory
Actors

Nick Michael (’06)
Video and Film Producer

Ronnie “Reconcile” Lillard
Musician

Ephraim Urevbu, Night on South Main Artist

Caleb Chapman
Musician

Amber McRee Turner (’89)
Author of Sway and Circa Now

Jason Gray
Musician, Song-writer

Andrew Peterson
Musician, Song-writer, Author

Moriah Peters
Musician, Song-writer