- "Your gathering was a wonderful time for me. I felt like we were a band of warriors sitting on a mountain somewhere in a war-torn country trying to regroup and figure out our next move. And the sense of brotherhood that comes with that as we nursed our battle wounds and received strength from each other was real. And today I feel more equipped to run back to the front lines and keep up the fight. Thanks for laying yourself out there on the rocks of our faith and our sweet love of our Lord and providing this much needed retreat and refuge. Dennis said that he felt refreshed by it. I say the same. And more. Your event was a connection of minds and hearts filled with the love of Christ who desperately want to use the gifts we've been given to bring light to the world and peace to the soul. And when you can hold hands with others who embrace a common vision and reflect your own attempts to reveal Truth, then you gain this deep strength that comes from knowing your not alone in the battle. So I say thanks, brother. I want you next to me as we as we go back down into the fray--you covering my back and me covering yours.  May God hold you and yours and your vision in his strong arms."

-"Thanks again for last week. All week I believe God was working in between my ears and in my spirit. I don't think I can pin it all down yet, and maybe never, but I know some directions changed for me last week. The symposium was a huge part of that, and I can't thank you enough for putting it all together. I love the work you are doing, and I'm praying that God continues to bless you and your family."

- "Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much getting to be involved with the Symposium meant to me.  I came away from the weekend not only with the sense that I've talked through some issues, but more importantly with the charge to write more and the sense of community with other writers of Faith.  But the unexpected also happened.  I received healing.  This past few months - with the building frustration of not finding work and not knowing where God wants me - it's been rough for me to keep my relationship with Him strong.  I've felt as though he's been "hiding His face from me" (from the Psalm we read on sunday).  Though I've had the head knowledge that all I've needed to do was seek him more, I haven't done it - it hasn't been in my heart.  The sunday service clenched it.  I got it, when I got the message from him in our quiet time - I've been hiding my face from Him. I just wanted to thank you for everything."

-"Thank God for Art Within, which addresses the problem by developing writers whose voices imaginatively challenge our culture. This is a program that deserves our support."

- “I have been to faith/art conferences perhaps a dozen times, and this, for me, was the best at fulfilling both elements.  I was stimulated, and affirmed, and challenged — which I think is the hallmark of any Christian Community.  One of the many highlights was hearing and speaking with David McFadzean -- what a coup to have him attend.  Another was getting to know the team at Art Within.  I feel a relationship has been cemented; and I am eager to forward faith-based writers and scripts to Atlanta.  I was impressed with how far and fast Art Within came with just your first symposium and with just your first of your 23 commissioned/staged scripts.  Oh, and one other thing.   That weekend, during a group prayer time, God healed a deep wound in my heart.  This whole experience, in fact, was “Extreme Grace” for me.”

-“Twenty years ago I founded Pacific Theatre, with a mandate to create theatre which explores the spiritual aspects of human experience.  I quickly came to believe that, as important as that endeavor might be to the cultural health of Vancouver, we could play a far more significant role  in the culture at large by developing playwrights and producing their new  works, in order that their ideas, their faith, their perspective might have  the opportunity to be heard beyond the walls of my own theatre and begin to  permeate - and shape - the culture beyond our own community.  We have created many new works, several of which have gone on to be performed in theatres throughout North America.  But the fact remains that the day-to-day demands of running a theatre company which produces a full subscription season of plays makes it difficult to do the best job possible of continually developing new work: there are just too many distractions.  I believe that Bryan Coley's Art Within initiative to serve as a play development resource for companies like mine is brilliant in its innovation and clarity.  He and his creative team have remarkable dramaturgical skills, and an immense passion for playwrights and the creation of new scripts.  The idea that they would focus their resources primarily on development, avoiding the distraction of an extensive production schedule, and that I could focus my company's resources on the production of new work without constantly stimulating and monitoring in-house play development programs, is inspired.  I believe this initiative could result in a substantial increase in the amount of exciting and varied new work that finds its way onto professional stages throughout North America - work that has something substantial to offer our communities.”

  -"I just wanted to connect and tell you all how much the symposium meant to me. Really. I'd like to, but I have not sorted it all out yet. All I can say is it was a powerful time. I appreciate so much the openness of the group. I felt a part of things immediately. What you're doing is a good thing and I am grateful to be a part of it."

- "Thanks for an utterly amazing week."

  -"Being a playwright and being a Christian sometimes you're a bit of an anomaly...you're in between worlds.  You need support.  You need great criticism.  You need prayer.  You need a vehicle to share.  You need to see people who are better than you.  That's how you grow.  The conference has been like an aesthetic dream.  We've discussed and wrestled with the ideas of what it is to be a Christian and what it is to bring your faith to your work.  We've seen first-rate readings by professional actors of our plays...the best reading I've ever had done of my plays...I'm gonna look forward to coming back next year.  My thanks to Art Within and God bless you guys!"

- “I believe in Art Within, both as an organization and in its mission. Totally. Our world could benefit from a hundred Art Withins. And I believe in you, Bryan. God obviously has His hand on you in this marvelous work you're doing. It was nothing short of inspirational at the symposium to watch how He's using you. And ALL of your staff is absolutely wonderful.”

  - “I just had to write you a note to thank you earnestly for including me in the symposium, and for working so hard to make it such a meaningful time for all of us.  For me, it was a life changing experience—by that I mean, I hadn’t realized what God was doing—I hadn’t realized how theatre could be such an important way the Lord is using—and wants to use—to bring people to Him.  I hadn’t realized that God was calling me to write plays—To make it a greater focus in my life.  I cam away from the symposium with a clearer vision and with a bigger vision for how the Lord could use me.  I’ve decided to let go of some things, some goals I had, that were taking my time and energy and keeping me from being able to spend more time writing.  And I just wanted you to know that the Lord used you to communicate these things to me.  Thank you for listening to His calling on your life.”

  - "At some point it's possible that many of us on that stage--and other people as well--may look back at our Conference last week as historic, because we will realize that it was the beginning of a group which has had the power to change the landscape of theatre. The founding members of the Chrysostom Society talk that way about that organization, and it seems to me a model of how a nurturing group can support and empower writers. Think of Eugene Peterson and Phil Yancy and Walt Wangrin and Luci Shaw and Bob Siegel, for example. And there are others--including me--whose work has been lifted by the sense that we have brothers and sisters who support us and care how well we do. I believe the yearly Conference and the commissioning you're doing could have that kind of effect on the theatre literature of the 21st Century."