糖心Vlog

Luminaries and lovers of the literary arts convened on October 22, 2025, for Inkwell in Malibu, an evening of celebrating faith and storytelling through readings of poetry and essays, along with live music performed by Los Angeles鈥揵ased band Dear Delight, food, and fellowship. 

Held at 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 Drescher Graduate Campus patio, Inkwell in Malibu featured readings by Daniel Nayeri, author of Everything Sad Is Untrue; Paul J. Pastor, poet and author of The Locust Years; Eniola Abioye, singer-songwriter and poet; and Coby Dolloff, poet, essayist, and executive writer in 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 Integrated Marketing Communications department.

Hooten Wilson opening the event

, professor of great books and humanities and Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books, hosted the evening in partnership with Conor Sweetman, director of innovation at Christianity Today and curator of the organization's held across the globe. Hooten Wilson welcomed attendees with the prayer 鈥淗ealer鈥檚 Vocation,鈥� by Brewer Eberly:

"We remain your poems, your small and beloved creations, each word and line chosen with precision and delight. How wonderful is the touch of your hands warming and molding my heart. How difficult is the sharpness of your pen editing my life with cuts I don't expect, redirecting me into stories I could never have written myself." 

Following Hooten Wilson鈥檚 opening, Abioye shared a selection of original poems that encouraged listeners to find greater purpose and peace through faith in Jesus Christ. 鈥淟eave your dead things at the door / Bring in your youth and your fresh perspective,鈥� Abioye read from her poem, 鈥淲elcome Home.鈥�

Pastor sharing his poetry

Pastor then presented his poetry from both recent and forthcoming publications, including titles such as 鈥淭he Crystal Hand,鈥� 鈥淢ontana Seeds,鈥� 鈥淣ine Kinds of Blindness,鈥� and 鈥淲aking the Salamander鈥濃�攁 section from an upcoming project. While touching on the sacredness of literature within Christian spirituality, Pastor explained how storytelling has served as a conduit for fellowship across human history. 

鈥淓very culture, every nation, every place in the world has had poets, has had people who do things with words to make images and make pictures in our minds,鈥� Pastor said following his reading. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing thing to enjoy remembrance and to keep the lore of our people alive, then to add to the stock of available reality.鈥� 

Nayeri presenting the keynote messsge

Following a statement from Sweetman affirming the event鈥檚 resonance with the purpose of the Inkwell gatherings, Nayeri continued the evening by discussing the importance of bravery, a topic he deemed relevant for the current state of the world. Recalling his mother鈥檚 attendance at underground churches before his family鈥檚 immigration to the US, Nayeri provided a nuanced view of bravery, suggesting that true bravery is rooted in surrendering to God鈥檚 wisdom and living in devotion to His purpose. Divine wisdom, Nayeri said, allows one to enter a state of humility in which God鈥檚 regard is prioritized over personal impulses, guiding one鈥檚 decisions accordingly.

鈥淭hose who act bravely are those who have habituated their minds toward something greater than themselves,鈥� Nayeri reasoned. 鈥淚n His company, we set our sights on things so completely beyond this world that our petty fears will give away to such bravery in small and great moments of crisis that we will hardly consider anything a challenge.鈥� 

Dolloff addressing the audience

Closing the reading period, Dolloff shared two original works which included the poem, 鈥淓ucharistic Miracle.鈥� Dolloff鈥檚 latter piece, drawing upon classic literary works such as 鈥淭he Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock鈥� by T. S. Elliot, touched on a writer鈥檚 awareness of the limits of language and the gaps in communication between what is intended and what is said. He nonetheless encouraged his audience to, in faith, continue the pursuit of fellowship and interaction, sharing that all people, even through mishaps and shortcomings, are united as instruments for God鈥檚 greater purpose. 

鈥淚f [our words] catch any glimpse of this One that lasts, perhaps in some small way, our little tries, our little halfhearted efforts, will someday, somehow be made whole,鈥� Dolloff read, 鈥減erhaps our little shattered, broken pieces of glass are being pieced together into a window beyond our comprehension by One who has the words of the life to come.鈥�

Inkwell in Malibu attendees mingling

After Dolloff鈥檚 closing, attendees were welcomed to mingle with one another and the authors. Many of the evening鈥檚 audience included faith-based writers, publishers, and literature enthusiasts visiting from across the nation, along with students who traveled from neighboring universities. 

From Long Beach, California, Anna Lynch deemed the event 鈥渢ruly transcendent.鈥� She continued, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone came out of that event as the same person they were when they arrived.鈥� 

Echoing Lynch鈥檚 sentiments, Lauren Amaro, 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 communication divisional dean and associate professor of communication studies, added, 鈥淚 found my mind and spirit reaching toward a sweeter imaginary of the Church and our God than I have for a while.鈥� 

Alexis Ragan, founder and editor in chief of the local literary journal Vessels of Light, expressed, 鈥淭here is something sublime about gathering by the open, expansive coast at night on the basis of embodied poetry and storytelling,鈥� She continued, 鈥淚 felt that the evening became a warm, transformative space where Christ鈥檚 light could be intimately felt through the people and the life-changing words offered.鈥�