The Power of Poetry and Presence
A Coffee Break Conversation with Gill Sotu
In a world moving fast, where neighborhoods often feel like drive-throughs and our calendars more crowded than our porches, it can be hard to slow down enough to listen. Not just hear, but really listen. To ourselves. To our neighbors. To the Spirit at work among us.
But that’s exactly what poetry invites us into.
In this Coffee Break conversation, Tim Soerens sits down with Gill Sotu, a Navy veteran, poet, playwright, DJ, and teaching artist based in San Diego. Many in our community know Gill from his moving performances at Inhabit, where his words have helped us see our neighborhoods, and our neighbors with fresh eyes.
If you care about presence, belonging, and the quiet power of paying attention, you’ll want to make time for this one.
What You’ll Hear in This Conversation
The moment Gill realized he was a poet
Gill shares how performing at a slam in LA helped him realize he belonged, and why holding on to small moments of affirmation keeps him grounded.What it looks like to build a vocation around words and wonder
From prisons to playhouses, Gill reflects on the hustle of a working poet’s life, and how creativity shows up in the everyday.How poetry can serve the Church
Gill explores how poetry can open up space for truth-telling, curiosity, and connection—whether in worship, formation, or community life.Practical ideas for hosting local poetry nights
Hear how open mics can help churches listen well to their neighbors and surface new voices from within the community.
Watch the Preview Below 👇
“Poetry is the history of the human heart. If the Church wants to listen deeply, poetry is a good place to start.”
Take the Next Step
This isn’t just a conversation. It’s an invitation.
What would it look like to host a poetry night in your neighborhood? To create space, not for slick performances, but for honest words and shared stories? As Gill reminds us, most people just want to be heard. What if the Church could be the place where that starts?
What poem is already being written in your neighborhood, and who needs to be invited to speak it out loud?
