Creative Chapel

About Creative Chapel

Welcome to CREATIVE CHAPEL. A podcast exploring the vast landscape of Christian artistry. This show exists to help Christian creatives navigate their faith and their purpose, bringing them to the place where Jesus has called them to and giving them the tools to thrive in their vocation. Across denominations and disciplinary mediums, Creative Chapel is building a space where saints can gather and celebrate their walk with Christ with their God-given gifting - encouraging each other in their faith and in their craft. Creative Chapel is the place for inspiration, curation, and revelation.

Publisher

Chris Mac

Category

arts · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Jul 2026

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   Jesus and the Printmaker: Inside the work of Jory Mertens

   Chris Mac sits down with illustrator and printmaker Jory Mertens for Creative Chapel’s first conversation with a visual artist. Jory shares how he went from planning an art degree to a career built around storytelling through relief prints, and how his day job designing and printing boxes shapes his craft. They talk work-life balance for creatives, his journey between church traditions, and why he draws saints as heroes of the faith rather than demigods. That leads to the tragic folk story of Saint Guinefort, the dog saint, and a bigger question about emotion in Christian art. Jory then walks through his process, from German Expressionism to the thousands-of-dots mosaic Jesus print, and gives practical advice on landing commissions, pricing your work, and creating art that isn’t overtly Christian.

2. 

   20 Oct 2026

   From Mosh Pits to Ministry with Wolves At The Gate's Nick Detty

   Chris Mac sits down with Nick Detty, vocalist of the metalcore band Wolves at the Gate, mid-tour with Demon Hunter and Bloodlines. Nick shares the wild story of how a last-minute tryout turned into both a new vocalist and a life-changing moment of faith, why the band has stayed rock-solid since 2008, and how Christian metal bands are finally earning real respect in secular scenes. They dig into the band’s 2023 covers album, the sacred-vs-secular debate in Christian music, the concept and meaning behind their new record Wasteland — including the song “Letter Kills” and its ties to the story of Hosea — and what keeps a band this close after 15+ years on the road.

3. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Using Skateboarding and Beatboxing to Bring People to Christ with Trevor Heyd

   Chris Mac sits down with Trevor Heyd of Stay True Ministries — a traveling evangelist who reaches people through skateboarding and beatboxing. Trevor shares how a college talent show turned into a calling, the unforgettable story of a girl who almost took her life the night before hearing him speak, and a torn-out page of Psalm 139 he's given away more than once. They dig into what it really means to be "called" versus having a job or a hobby, the different ways people are wired to evangelize, and Trevor opens up about losing his wife to a rare illness and what it's looked like to lead his three sons through that season while still saying yes to ministry.

4. 

   28 Sept 2026

   From Depressed Freelancer to a New York Times Documentary with Joel McGinty

   Filmmaker Joel McGinty joins Chris Mac on Creative Chapel to share his testimony, from growing up Nazarene in Point Loma and receiving an early prophetic word about his future in film, to the Hollywood semester program, a rough three-year stretch as a freelancer in Chicago, and the lessons that got him through it. He reframes wilderness seasons as invitations to intimacy with God, explains what changed when he started walking onto sets as a son and ambassador instead of a performer, and tells the story behind Contaminated Memories, a documentary on wrongful convictions that ran as a New York Times Op-Doc. Then he shares how his Faith and Film networking group began with tacos in his backyard, and how to start a creative community of your own.

5. 

   21 Sept 2026

   From Gotee Records to Now: John Reuben's Full Career Story Pt.2

   Part 2 of this conversation with Christian hip-hop artist John Reuben (Gotee Records) dives deep into his career — from getting discovered at a youth camp open mic, to signing with Gotee alongside dcTalk's Toby Mac, to reckoning with being labeled "a Christian version of Eminem." John opens up about balancing silliness and deep introspection on the same album, his work voicing a kids'-curriculum robot, his first-ever puppet show in front of 5,000 educators, acting in Spencer Folmar's "The Days Are Evil" trilogy, and the full behind-the-scenes story of shooting "One Two Barbecue" together in a single day.

6. 

   15 Sept 2026

   What Does It Actually Mean to Be a Christian Artist? (Part 1) | John Reuben

   Part 1 of this two-part Creative Chapel conversation with Christian hip-hop artist John Rubin dives into the theory and philosophy of being an artist of faith. John and Chris trace their own connection back to a chance youth-camp show in the late '90s, then unpack big questions: what actually makes art "Christian," why the sacred-vs-secular divide is bad theology, the pressure on artists to double as evangelists, and why Christian film so often falls short on honesty and craft compared to secular film. They also touch on deconstruction, doubt, A.W. Tozer's theology of work, and — of course — whether "One Two Barbecue" counts as Christian art.

7. 

   7 Sept 2026

   He Edited Justin Bieber's Videos — Then God Interrupted His Career

   On this episode of Creative Chapel, host Chris Mac sits down with Jordan Orme — YouTuber, video editor, and co-host of the Editing podcast, whose editing work includes Justin Bieber music videos and much more. Jordan shares how a magical first editing experiment turned into a full career, the fear-driven mindset that fueled his early success, and the moment mid-career when he heard God ask him a simple, redirecting question. They get into a chaotic (and unexpectedly miraculous) car-giveaway shoot with TikTok creator Jimmy Darts, the real toll creative work can take on a marriage, and Jordan's new project, Jordan Kale — a show built around people living out radically unfiltered faith.

8. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Recovery, leadership, and being a truthful storyteller with Paul Giret

   On this episode of Creative Chapel, host Chris Mac sits down with Paul Garrett, a San Diego-based filmmaker, cinematographer, editor, and director. Paul shares his raw testimony of addiction and the art scene, a health crisis that reshaped his faith, and his unlikely path from barista to full-time filmmaker. They dig into servant leadership on set, praying with cast and crew of all beliefs, why Christian art needs more truth and less "sanitized" polish, and Paul's two upcoming documentaries — one on a cosplay-repair ministry at Comic-Con, and one exploring the Christian hardcore music scene.

9. 

   24 Aug 2026

   From Skate Videos to Feature Films: Spencer Whiteout’s Creative Journey

   LINKS: PRE-ORDER A SHIRT HERE: https://www.maccreativeco.com/store (https://www.maccreativeco.com/store) CHECK OUT THE PRINTING OX: https://www.theprintingox.com/ (https://www.theprintingox.com/) The Spencer Whiteout Podcast: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0TSyyEp6IiA4PwbhtOJerC?si=1be59173abe84e14 (https://open.spotify.com/show/0TSyyEp6IiA4PwbhtOJerC?si=1be59173abe84e14) Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@spencerwhiteout/ (https://www.youtube.com/@spencerwhiteout/) Space Waves: Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdXBjwJ9Z_g&t=3193s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdXBjwJ9Z_g&t=3193s) Buy // Support - https://linktr.ee/spacewavesfilm (https://linktr.ee/spacewavesfilm) Beast Mode (The Making of Space Waves) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu3RO0nIHy8&t=522s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu3RO0nIHy8&t=522s) Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spencer_whiteout/ (https://www.instagram.com/spencer_whiteout/) ___ What happens when your faith, creativity, and ambition collide? In this episode of Creative Chapel, Chris sits down with filmmaker and podcaster Spencer Whiteout for a wide-ranging conversation about growing up Christian, discovering filmmaking through skateboarding, serving overseas, navigating forgiveness, and building an independent creative career. Spencer shares how a difficult friendship breakup during a ministry trip to China ultimately inspired his feature film Space Waves, a story about friendship, bitterness, forgiveness, and growing up. He also opens up about making a feature film with a small crew, limited resources, prayer, and a roughly $50,000 budget—and why he believes independent creators don't have to wait for Hollywood to give them permission to tell their stories. The conversation also explores the tension between being bold about your faith and being wise about what you share, navigating cancel culture, creating Christian art that reaches beyond the traditional Christian audience, and the importance of developing your craft without compromising your convictions. Spencer also reveals his vision for building a connected Whiteout Cinematic Universe, shares what is inspiring him creatively right now, and reflects on the lessons he's learned from five years of podcasting.

10. 

    17 Aug 2026

    The Five-Fold Ministry and Art: What We're Getting Wrong

    In this second solo episode of Creative Chapel, host Chris Mac tackles a question a lot of Christian creatives quietly wrestle with: is art only valuable if it evangelizes? Chris pushes back on the idea of art as a "Trojan horse for the gospel," walks through Ephesians 4:11's five-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers), and makes the case that reducing every creative work to an evangelistic tool actually limits its potential to minister — to believers and non-believers alike. He leans on Francis Schaeffer's Art in the Bible and Paul's "I planted, Apollos watered" framework from 1 Corinthians to reframe how creatives can think about purpose, calling, and audience. Shoutout to this episode's sponsor, The Printing Ox — preorder the new Creative Chapel shirt (Revelation 4:11 design) linked below. Timestamps: 0:00 – Cold open: the core questions of this episode 0:45 – Trying the solo format again 1:26 – The common claim: art as an evangelism tool 2:26 – Critiquing the "Trojan horse for the gospel" framing 3:19 – Why forcing art into apologetics feels inauthentic 6:27 – Reading Francis Schaeffer's quote from Art in the Bible 7:14 – 1 Corinthians 3:6: Paul, Apollos, and God bringing the growth 8:17 – The K-pop Demon Hunters example 9:23 – Early-listener subscribe ask 9:40 – Evangelism as a process: seeds, watering, growth 11:02 – Jesus's parables as worldview storytelling 12:24 – Ephesians 4:11: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers 13:24 – Critiquing five-fold ministry "personality test" culture 15:16 – What if an artist were called to be a prophet or pastor? 16:04 – Can artwork itself be pastoral, apostolic, or prophetic? 17:01 – Printing Ox sponsor shoutout 18:15 – A quick summary of the gospel itself 18:50 – Ministering to needs beyond a strict gospel message 20:05 – Referencing Forrest Frank's Dawn Patrol 20:54 – Art as therapy & the value of unseen work 21:02 – Creating for an audience of one 22:37 – Encouragement: your work matters, even if it's not evangelism 24:37 – What's inspiring Chris: Keith & Chance the Rapper's new song 25:18 – Shoutout to Josh Nadeau / Sword and Pencil 26:34 – Creative Chapel Instagram DM shoutout 27:01 – Outro & Communion Church shoutout #CreativeChapel #ChristianArt #FaithAndCreativity #ChristianFilmmaker #FiveFoldMinistry #ChristianCreatives #TheologyOfArt #ChristianPodcast

11. 

    10 Aug 2026

    What Does the Bible Actually Say About Art? (Solo Deep Dive)

    In this first-ever solo episode of Creative Chapel, host Chris Mac digs into two deceptively simple questions: how does the Bible define creativity, and what does Scripture say about the purpose of art? Along the way he unpacks the difference between the Hebrew words for "create" (bara) and "make" (asah), what that distinction means for how God values human craftsmanship, and how Jesus's miracles — from multiplying loaves and fish to turning bread and wine into communion — model both. He also explores Imago Dei, art as an act of pleasure and communication rather than utility, and closes with a challenge: your life itself is your greatest work of art. Shoutout to this episode's sponsor, The Printing Ox — preorder the new Creative Chapel shirt (featuring Revelation 4:11) linked below. https://www.maccreativeco.com/store/p/the-solace-vessel-56faa (https://www.maccreativeco.com/store/p/the-solace-vessel-56faa)

12. 

    3 Aug 2026

    The Craft of Coffee and Running a Faith-Based Business with Efren Esqueda

    On this episode of Creative Chapel, host Chris Mac sits down with Efren, owner of Shepherd's Coffee in San Diego, for one of the most raw and honest testimonies the show has featured. Efren opens up about growing up in poverty surrounded by addiction, encountering Christ as a teenager, and watching his mother miraculously healed after doctors gave her six months to live. He also shares the harder chapters — a failed first business, a spiral into addiction and suicidal thoughts, $60,000 in IRS debt, and the moment on a warehouse floor that changed everything. From there, the conversation shifts into the craft of coffee itself — origins, processing, roasting science — and what it looks like to run a faith-forward business in a industry that doesn't always welcome it. Shoutout to this episode's sponsor, The Printing Ox — preorder the new Creative Chapel shirt linked below. https://www.maccreativeco.com/store (https://www.maccreativeco.com/store)

13. 

    27 Jul 2026

    Horror, Theology & Storytelling: A Fuller Seminary Professor's Case for Watching Scary Movies

    On this episode of Creative Chapel, host Chris Mac sits down with Kutter Callaway — associate professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, host of the podcast Be Afraid, and author of the upcoming book on horror and theology. Kutter unpacks why so much "Christian art" ends up being bad art, why the horror genre might be one of the most theologically rich spaces in film right now, and why he — a lifelong horror-avoider — ended up building an entire podcast around walking into terrifying places. They cover the economics behind formulaic Christian movies, the concept of artists as "border stalkers," why you can't get to Easter without Good Friday, and how a new generation of YouTuber-filmmakers (Backrooms, Obsession, Iron Lung) is reshaping the industry from the outside in. Shoutout to this episode's sponsor, The Printing Ox — preorder the new Creative Chapel shirt linked below.

14. 

    20 Jul 2026

    From Church Videos to Super Bowl Commercials with Chris Francis

    On this episode of Creative Chapel, host Chris Mac sits down with Chris Francis — an award-winning commercial director with two Super Bowl spots in the past two years and a career built directing campaigns for major national brands at Raindrop Agency. Chris opens up about growing up as a pastor's kid, his unconventional path from church media team to top-tier ad agency director, and what it actually looks like to stay rooted in faith while working in secular entertainment. They dig into what it means to be a "border stalker" as a Christian creative — staying present in spaces that need light instead of retreating from them — the burnout that can come from working in church media, and why God cares more about your participation than your perfection. Chris also shares what's currently inspiring his own creative work, from A24 films to a psychiatrist's take on dopamine and the theology of work. If you're a creative trying to figure out how faith and career actually fit together, this conversation is packed with hard-won insight. Check out Chris's resource for creatives, Church Film School — link below. Follow Chris at his commercial site, chrisfrancis.tv (http://chrisfrancis.tv), and on Instagram @_francois.

15. 

    14 Jul 2026

    Can Faith Based Films deliver Hard Hitting Truth? The Burden of Filmmaking with Spencer Folmar

    PRE-ORDER A SHIRT HERE: https://www.maccreativeco.com/store (https://www.maccreativeco.com/store) CHECK OUT THE PRINTING OX: https://www.theprintingox.com/ (https://www.theprintingox.com/) LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: https://www.hardfaith.org/ (https://www.hardfaith.org/) ___________________________________ Spencer Folmar never read the Bible until he was 21. Now he's a film director, seminary graduate, and the creator of the Hard Faith Film Festival — making movies about God that are too raw for Christian circles and too Christian for Hollywood. In this episode, Spencer shares his wild conversion story (he went to Bible school in New Zealand mostly to disprove it), how he built a filmmaking career around hard faith films, what happened on the set of Generational Sins that left his non-believing cast asking if God was real, and why he's making a three-film trilogy on suicide prevention called The Days Are Evil. We also get into Saint Nick of Bethlehem hitting #1 on Angel Studios, collaborating with Daniel Roebuck, and why Spencer believes the method of making a film is just as much ministry as the finished product. 🌐 hardfaithfest.com (http://hardfaithfest.com) | hardfaith.org (http://hardfaith.org)

16. 

    6 Jul 2026

    The Truth About Being a Christian Actor: How God Opened Doors to Angel Studios with Venus Monique

    Can you pursue acting, filmmaking, and Hollywood without compromising your faith? In this episode of Creative Chapel Podcast, Chris Mac sits down with Christian actress and entrepreneur Venus Monique to talk about navigating the entertainment industry while staying rooted in Christ. From working on faith-based productions—including projects connected to Angel Studios—to building a thriving acting career and mentoring other Christian performers, this conversation is full of practical wisdom for actors, filmmakers, musicians, writers, producers, and creatives who want to honor God through their craft. Whether you're dreaming of acting professionally, creating films, writing stories, producing music, or building a creative business, this episode offers biblical encouragement alongside real-world career advice. In this episode, you'll learn: How to become a successful actor What it's really like working on Christian film productions Faith and Hollywood: myth vs. reality Why Christian creatives need community Acting tips for beginners The business side of acting How to find your calling as a creative Building a creative career without compromising your faith Entrepreneurship for Christian artists Following God's purpose in entertainment If you're a Christian musician, actor, filmmaker, content creator, entrepreneur, or artist between 18–40, this conversation will encourage you to pursue excellence while keeping Christ at the center of everything you create. Subscribe to Creative Chapel for weekly conversations helping Christian creatives build excellent careers without compromising their faith. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Creative Chapel 01:30 – Meet today's guest 04:00 – Breaking into acting and filmmaking 09:30 – Faith in Hollywood: What people get wrong 15:30 – Can Christians work in secular entertainment? 22:00 – Why acting is more than pretending 30:00 – Finding your calling as a creative 37:00 – Entrepreneurship for Christian artists 46:00 – Building community for Christian actors 50:00 – The business side of acting 56:00 – Practical advice for aspiring actors 1:01:00 – Final encouragement for Christian creatives

17. 

    6 Jul 2026

    How God Transforms Your Creativity: Faith, Filmmaking & Finding Your Calling With Nathan Presley

    Can Christians create great art without making "Christian content?" Can your creativity glorify God even if your work never mentions His name? In this episode of Creative Chapel Podcast, filmmaker Nathan Presley joins Chris Mack for a deep conversation about faith, filmmaking, creativity, and what it means to pursue artistic excellence while following Jesus. Nathan shares his journey from feeling called to filmmaking at a young age, battling fear and creative paralysis, producing award-winning films, and learning that the best Christian art doesn't begin with trying to preach—it begins with abiding in Christ. Whether you're a Christian musician, filmmaker, producer, songwriter, visual artist, writer, content creator, or entrepreneur, this conversation will challenge the way you think about creativity, calling, and excellence. Together they discuss: How to overcome creative fear and perfectionism Why Christian creatives often struggle with identity The difference between creating for God vs. creating with God Should every Christian artist make explicitly Christian art? How faith naturally shapes great storytelling Lies Christian creatives often believe Breaking free from legalism and unhealthy church culture Creativity, conviction, and following the Holy Spirit Making meaningful films that reach mainstream audiences Building a creative career while keeping Christ at the center If you've ever wondered how to balance faith, ambition, artistic excellence, and business, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and biblical encouragement. Subscribe for weekly conversations helping Christian creatives build excellent careers without compromising their faith. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Meet Nathan Presley 02:30 – Nathan's testimony and calling to filmmaking 09:30 – Surrendering dreams and trusting God 13:30 – Creating with God instead of for God 18:00 – Bringing God into the creative process 22:00 – Faith, storytelling, and meaningful films 32:00 – Why great Christian art starts with abiding in Christ 36:00 – Convictions, creativity, and the Holy Spirit 44:00 – Church culture, legalism, and personal convictions 49:00 – Overcoming fear, perfectionism & creative paralysis 50:30 – Things Christian creatives need to outgrow 56:00 – Christian art vs. "Christian" art 1:02:00 – Nathan's upcoming projects & resources 1:03:30 – Final encouragement for Christian creatives

18. 

    6 Jul 2026

    From Sweeping Floors to Reach Records: Music Industry Secrets Nobody Talks About With Miguel Avila

    How do you know if God is calling you into music? How do you build a career without compromising your faith? In the very first episode of Creative Chapel Podcast, Chris Mac sits down with producer, artist, engineer, and songwriter Miguel Avila to unpack his journey from making beats in his bedroom to producing music for TV & Film, working alongside artists connected to Reach Records, and discovering what it really means to operate in God's calling. This conversation is packed with practical advice for Christian musicians, producers, rappers, worship leaders, songwriters, and creatives who want to honor God while building a sustainable creative career. Miguel shares hilarious tour stories, lessons from failure, his testimony of faith, how God led him through depression and uncertainty, why serving in the local church matters, and how obedience opened doors into the music industry—including placements with major brands and networks. If you're a Christian creative between 18–40 trying to balance faith, purpose, music, and career, this episode is for you. In this episode you'll learn: How to discover your God-given calling Why serving comes before success Lessons from building a Christian hip-hop career Music production advice for independent artists How TV & Film sync placements work What it takes to work with major Christian artists Why humility opens more doors than self-promotion Finding purpose beyond performance Growing as a Christian musician in today's industry Whether you're making beats, writing songs, leading worship, producing music, filming videos, or simply trying to follow God's direction in your creative life, you'll leave encouraged and challenged. Subscribe for weekly conversations helping Christian creatives build excellent careers without compromising their faith. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to the Creative Chapel Podcast 00:40 – Meet Miguel Avila 01:30 – From church beats to TV & Film production 02:35 – Embarrassing beginner music stories 04:10 – How Flight School started 06:00 – Funny tour stories & life on the road 10:30 – Miguel's faith testimony 16:15 – Discovering God's calling through music 20:15 – From performer to teacher 23:00 – Should every Christian creative work in church ministry? 29:00 – Learning through serving in the local church 31:00 – TV & Film placements and career growth 34:30 – Operating in the gifts God gave you 38:00 – Humility, opportunities & industry relationships 41:00 – Depression, obedience & moving to Atlanta 52:30 – Working with Reach Records artists 58:00 – Breaking into the Christian music industry (continues)

19. 

    6 Jul 2026

    Welcome to Creative Chapel - your source for inspiration, curation, and revelation.

    Learn about the heart behind Creative Chapel. A podcast exploring the vast landscape of Christian artistry. We want to be the place for finding Christian artists to be inspired by. Platforming new talent and voices that are pursuing God with their giftings and advancing the Kingdom. Tune in weekly to discover your next favorite Christian creative, maybe one day you'll be here yourself!

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.