2026 Festival of Faith and Writing has ended

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2026 Festival of Faith and Writing

LORI MELTON

The Sanctuary at Bear Creek

Spiritual Director, Owner, Host

lorigmelton.com

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About me

Spiritual Director, Author of 2025 Penguin Random House Spiritual Formation Release, Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God.

Host of the Sanctuary Stirrings Podcast
Owner/Director of The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center in Allegan, MI

Wife of Bryan for 40 years this September,
Mother of 6 adult children and Nana of 5 grands!

9:00am EDT

Exhibit Hall Open Prince Conference Center, Great HallNavPress • Plough • Eighth Day Books • Englewood Review of Books • Lake Drive Books • Broadleaf Books • Slant Books • The Christian Century • Eerdmans Publishing Company • Taylor University: Making Literature 2027 Conference • Relief: A Journal of Art and Faith • Evelyn DeKorte/Diane Ford • Baker Publishing Group • Redbud Writers Guild • Collegeville Institute • PLNU M.A. in Writing Program / Last Syllable Journal • Reformed Journal • The Windhover Literary Journal • Orion Magazine • Leslie Leyland Fields/Memoir Masterclass • Mark Mattison • Moody Global Media • Healing Medicine • Whitworth University MFA • Read. Pray. Write. Podcast • Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry • Baylor University Press • Menno Media / Herald Press • InterVarsity Press • Solum Literary Press • The Perkipery Press • Kregel Publications • Wipf and Stock Publishers • Wildhouse Publishing • The Rabbit Room • Wesley Theological Seminary • Western Theological Seminary • Religion News Service • Ashland University, MFA in Creative Writing Registration Prince Conference Center, Fireside Room

11:00am EDT

Boxed Lunch pickup (pre-orders only) Knollcrest Dining Hall

12:30pm EDT

Opening Plenary Session - Speaking the Hard Truths Van Noord ArenaLaurie Halse Anderson

2:30pm EDT

The Invitation of Desert Literature: Meeting Ourselves and God in Bleak Places Prince Conference Center, Board RoomA. Muia

4:00pm EDT

How the Stories Find Us Covenant Fine Arts Center, AuditoriumAriel Lawhon

5:30pm EDT

Evening Plenary Session - The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World Van Noord ArenaRobin Wall Kimmerer

9:00am EDT

Seen & Heard: Character, Authenticity and Connection Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital HallChristine Byl

10:30am EDT

Faith, Imagination, and the Marketplace: Writing and Publishing Christian Genre Fiction  Prince Conference Center, Willow RoomStephanie Broene • Janyre Tromp • Kellie VanHorn

11:45am EDT

As You Please: Writing From a Place of Joy Prince Conference Center, Willow RoomKate Albus

12:30pm EDT

Lunch On or Off-Campus

2:30pm EDT

Talking To Strangers: How To Ask Better Questions, Get Better Answers, and Even Get The Reluctant Haters To Tell You Something Useful Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital HallDean Nelson

4:00pm EDT

How to Write Good Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital HallSarah Perry

5:30pm EDT

Evening Plenary Session - The Garden Has Faith in You Van Noord ArenaRoss Gay

9:00am EDT

The Art of Fashioning the Soul Prince Conference Center, Willow RoomLanta Davis

10:30am EDT

A Conversation with Barbara Brown Taylor Covenant Fine Arts Center, AuditoriumBarbara Brown Taylor Writer Websites That Dazzle Publishers Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital HallMargot Starbuck

11:45am EDT

From Manuscript to Marketplace Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital HallAlexis DeWeese • Pete Ford • Jeremy Wells

12:30pm EDT

Lunch On or Off-Campus

2:30pm EDT

A Conversation with Sarah Perry Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital HallSarah Perry

4:00pm EDT

Sacred Traces: Writing the Texture of Religious Experience ChapelAaliyah Bilal • Melody S. Gee

5:30pm EDT

Closing Plenary Session - Coming Down to Earth: The Embodied Word Van Noord ArenaBarbara Brown Taylor