2026 Festival of Faith and Writing: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

Scratching the Creative Itch: Art, Curiosity, and the Myth of the Renaissance Man

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT

Andrew Peterson explores the joys and perils of a career as a multidisciplinary writer and artist.

Book signing follows in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby 
(Please note: This is the only book signing for Andrew Peterson.)

Speakers

Andrew Peterson

Recording artist, songwriter, producer, filmmaker, publisher and award-winning author of The Wingfeather Saga, and memoirs The God of the Garden and Adorning the Dark, Andrew Peterson is also founder and president of The Rabbit Room. He launched Shining Isle Productions to produc... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

Concurrent Session, Solo Session

10:30am EDT

A Language for Grief: Words for What the Heart Must Speak 

Friday April 17, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

From deathbeds to deliveries at a level 1 trauma center, J.S. Park noticed a common thread of frustration as he tended to thousands of patients over a decade as a hospital chaplain: Patients and families plagued by a lack of “grief literacy” due to a pervasive fear of discussing loss. With story, stats, metaphor, and poetry, Park discusses how we can use words to honor our losses, and why, especially now, we need the language to talk about our collective and communal grief.

Book signing follows in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby

Speakers

J. S. Park

J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, published author, and online educator. He serves a 1000+ bed hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center, providing grief support and end-of-life care.

J.S. has been interviewed by CNN, CBS News, Good Morning America, and The Today Show for his work in dea... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

Concurrent Session, Solo Session

11:45am EDT

Holy Hurt

Friday April 17, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT

Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

Spiritual trauma can leave lasting wounds—shaping how we trust ourselves, our bodies, and the sacred. Dr. Hillary McBride uses psychological theory, narrative, and empirical data to explore the impact of high-control belief systems, the process of deconstruction, and how agency can open a path toward wholeness, meaning, and spirituality wide enough to hold life's complexity.

Book signing follows in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby

Speakers

Hillary McBride

Dr. Hillary McBride is a registered psychologist, a researcher, and podcaster, and mother, with expertise including trauma, embodiment, psychedelic psychotherapy, and the intersection of spirituality and mental health. Hillary makes her home in Victoria, Canada.

Friday April 17, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

Concurrent Session, Solo Session

2:30pm EDT

Listening for the Lyric

Friday April 17, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

Join a panel of songwriters as they reflect on the creative and spiritual dimensions of their craft. Through conversation about inspiration, artistry, and the power of music to express faith and human experience, this session invites attendees into a deeper appreciation of how songs are made and what they can mean.

Book signing follows in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby
(Please note: Andrew Peterson will not be signing books after this session.) 

Speakers

Amanda Held Opelt

Amanda Held Opelt is a speaker, songwriter, and author of the books Holy Unhappiness and A Hole in the World, which was selected by Publisher's Weekly as one of the best books of 2022. Amanda spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors. She lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband and two young daughters... Read More →

Andrew Peterson

Jess Ray

Jess Ray is a singer-songwriter, producer, and creative supernova based in her beloved home state of North Carolina. Crafting a new wave of music for those seeking God, Jess blends fresh sonic style with timeless truths, delicately weaving it all together with the realities of the human experience... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

Concurrent Session, Panel Session

4:00pm EDT

Reporting Across the Divide

Friday April 17, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

In this moderated conversation, these seasoned journalists explore the challenges of reporting at the intersection of politics and religion in a polarized era: covering culturewar issues, writing about people across political and theological divides, and staying faithful to the principles of their craft while reflecting on how personal worldview shapes their work.

Book signing follows in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby

Speakers

Eliza Griswold

A celebrated author, poet, and New Yorker reporter covering religion, politics, and the environment, Griswold is the author of Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church, a finalist for the National Book Award, and Amity and Prosperity: One Fa... Read More →

Kathryn Post

Kathryn Post is an award-winning national reporter for Religion News Service (RNS). Based in Pittsburgh, Kathryn covers topics such as religious "nones," religious higher education and abuse in religious contexts. She joined RNS in 2021 after earning a Master of Arts in Religion from... Read More →

Astead Herndon

Journalist Astead W. Herndon is a host and editorial director at Vox, where he helps lead politics coverage across text, video, audio, and social media platforms. Previously at The New York Times, he distinguished himself as a sharp, accessible voice on American politics, hosti... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Auditorium

Concurrent Session, Panel Session

9:00am EDT

10:30am EDT

11:45am EDT

2:30pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

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