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Season One.

S01E01
Jess Disabatino: Does God Actually Care About The Arts?

  • In this premiere episode of the Renaissance Creative Leadership Podcast, Jessica welcomes Pastor Jess DiSabatino: lead pastor of Journey Church and a trusted voice in spiritual leadership. Their conversation traces a theological and pastoral vision for the arts, beginning with the biblical foundations of creativity and moving into practical ways churches can empower and commission their artists.

    Jess reflects on why creativity is not a luxury, but a calling rooted in the nature of God, the Creator. They discuss the role of imagination in discipleship, how art can be prophetic even when the artist isn’t aware, and why the Church must rediscover its role as a cultural cultivator rather than a cultural consumer.

    This episode sets the tone for the entire Renaissance movement, inviting leaders to see artists not as accessories, but as essential contributors to mission, community, and spiritual renewal.

    • Why the arts matter in the story of God and to the heart of God

    • Creativity as a theological inheritance and a spiritual work

    • How churches can create meaningful space for artists

    • What it means for art to be prophetic

    • The emotional and spiritual formation that happens through creativity

    • The Church’s responsibility to cultivate beauty

    • Why imagination is essential for leadership

    • The importance of commissioning, blessing, and sending artists

    • Navigating the tension between excellence and authenticity

    • Journey Church, Calgary

    • Renaissance Canada: supporting, resourcing & raising up artists across Canada

    • Biblical references discussed: Genesis 1 & 2, Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel), Exodus 31, Psalm 139, Isaiah 61

    • Bara: In Hebrew, the word "bara" (בָּרָא) primarily means “to create” in a way that makes something completely new or brings it into existence, often implying creation out of nothing. It is a unique verb specifically used in the Hebrew Bible to describe divine actions. For example, it is famously used in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth".

    • Asah: In Hebrew, asah primarily means "to do," "to make," or "to accomplish". It is a versatile verb used in contexts of creation, action, and obedience, such as making something, performing a task, or following commands. While the name "Asa," derived from this root, can mean "healer" or "physician," the verb asah itself is broader than just that specific meaning.

    • “Art as prophetic” - blended theological theme explored in Episode 001

S01E05
Joyce Rees: The Prophetic Nature of Art (Part I)

  • In this compelling installment, I speak with Joyce Rees about how art holds a prophetic nature—how creativity isn’t merely expressive, but can reveal truth, challenge cultural narratives, and awaken us to the presence of God in our midst. We explore how the artist’s role is tied to both intuition and courage, how the Church can partner with creatives in this prophetic vocation, and why the aesthetic dimension matters for mission, witness and community transformation.

    • Exploring the idea of an artist’s work being prophetic

    • Exodus 31: The construction and design of the tabernacle mirroring the creation of the garden of Eden being a dwelling place of God

    • The work of the artist can create an intersection for an individual to encounter the presence of God

    • Post-enlightenment; age of rationalism; bifurcation of scientific and reason

    • Commercialization of the arts; compromising artistry to rationalism and corporate identity vs. arts being the core of what the Creator intended

    • Dangers of thinking ‘too linear’ for pastors - can the pastoral work overlap with artistry?

    • Arts not as an extra but as an essential

    • Utility vs. Beauty

    • Is it heretical to claim that art has a prophetic nature if there are artists who do not know Christ?

    • Genesis 1:28: all humans as image-bearers

    • Art as Protest

    • Lack of developed theology around suffering and pain; lament

    • Painting: Hannah by Unknown

    • Composition: Gymnopedie by 20th Century French Composer Erik Satie

    • Sculpture: David by Michelangelo

    • Book: Walking on Water by Madeline L’Engle

    • Quote: “What we build, design, and depict on this side of eternity matters, because in some mysterious way, those creations will become part of the future city of God.” Art & Faith by Makoto Fujimura

    • Peter Reinhart: The Art of Baking Bread(2009, TED Talk)

    • Musician & Songwriter: Graham Ortt

    • Seventh Story Mountain by Thomas Merton

    • Correspondence: The Life You Saved May Be Your Own by Flannery O’Connor, Thomas Merton, Walker Percy, Dorothy Day

    • The Inklings: CS Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia), J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), Charles Williams (Descent into Hell), GK Chesterton (The Man Who Was Thursday), Honorary member: Dorothy Sayers (Playwright; The Man Born to be King)

    • “Aslan? He’s not safe. But he’s good.” The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis