January 6-26, 2010: Schedule of Speakers

T.R. Reid

The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care

Underwritten by: Barnes & Thornburg

One of the nation’s best-known correspondents through his coverage of global affairs for The Washington Post, his books and documentaries, and his light-hearted commentaries on National Public Radio. Reid has written and hosted documentary films for National Geographic TV, for PBS Frontline, and for the A&E network. He is a regular on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and he has several books including, The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care, which comes out this summer. During the research for this book Reid went to ten countries to find out why all the other industrialized democracies manage to provide high-quality universal health care but still spend half as much as we do.

Arthur C. Brooks

The New American Culture War

Underwritten by: The Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation

Newly appointed president of the American Enterprise Institute, former professor of business and government policy at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Dr. Brooks' research and writing have investigated the connections between culture, politics, and economic life in America. In the past ten years, he has published five dozen academic articles, scores of magazine and newspaper essays, and seven books on subjects ranging from the economics of the arts to philanthropy to military operations research. His most recent books are Gross National Happiness, Social Entrepreneurship, and Who Really Cares, which discusses the surprising truth he discovered about compassionate conservatism after years of researching the giving trends in America.

Harvey Carey

Against All Odds

Underwritten by: Meijer, Inc.

Founder and senior pastor of Citadel of Faith Covenant Church, a congregation of 800 in Detroit, Michigan. Located in one of the poorest zip codes in America, Citadel of faith is committed to providing real solutions for people and communities in distress. Pastor Carey serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation, a non-profit providing social services, housing, and enrichment activities for youth and children. Pastor Carey, who grew up in the projects of southside Chicago, is an exceptional communicator, widely known for his ability to communicate the transforming truth of God's Word.

K. A. (Tony) Namkung

The Theology Behind Smart Diplomacy with North Korea

Underwritten by: Spectrum Health

An independent consultant on US/Asian relations, North Korea, and nuclear arms, known and highly respected by business and government leaders throughout Asia and the U.S. He serves as Asian advisor to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. He has traveled to North Korea nearly thirty times and for this presentation he will use his experience of dealing with North Korea over the past twenty years to reflect on current situations. Namkung is a 1967 Calvin alum.

Burl Cain

Moral Rehabilitation in an Immoral Environment

Underwritten by: Linda and Terry Van Der Aa

Prison Warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary. His steadfast rejection of a “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” mentality can be seen in the progressive, compassionate programs and sound correctional procedures he has implemented. The hallmark of his remarkable administration is his relentless efforts to help each inmate discover value and purpose in his life, to experience true freedom of the soul. His story is a story of hope and transformation in America’s bloodiest prison. He is the subject of the book Cain’s Redemption.

James K.A. Smith

Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation

Underwritten by: Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning

Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Congregational and Ministry Studies at Calvin College. He describes his work as “undertaken in the borderlands between philosophy, theology, ethics, aesthetics, science, and politics.” He is most interested in bringing critical thought to bear on the practices of the church and the church's witness to culture. Smith has written many books, and his presentation will be based on his most recent which was released in September 2009.

Syada Greiss

Journey To Empowerment: Stories from the Streets of Cairo

Underwritten by: John & Mary Loeks

Current member of Egyptian Parliament, Board Chairperson for the Association for the Protection of the Environment, Ms. Greiss works with the poor and marginalized Christian community of garbage collectors in Cairo. Her work focuses on environmental protection and the empowerment of women and children.

Jimmy Wales

Democracy and the Internet

Underwritten by: Van Wyk Risk & Financial Management

Founder of Wikipedia, one of the ten most visited web sites in the world. He is a U.S. Internet entrepreneur and wiki pioneer. Ranked 12th by Forbes Magazine in their first annual “Web Celeb 25” list and named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People”. In 2007 the World Economic Forum recognized Wales as one of its “Young Global Leaders.” Mr. Wales predicts that the Internet will democratize developing countries by making the world “flat”, opening markets, promoting cultural understanding, and giving developing nations the resources they need to compete in the 21st century.

Soong Chan Rah
in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Next Evangelicalism & the Changing Face of American Christians

Underwritten by: Christian Reformed Home Missions

The Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth & Evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He is the author of The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity (IVP, 2009). He served as the founding senior pastor of the Cambridge Community Fellowship Church, a multi-ethnic, urban, post-modern generation church in the Central Square neighborhood of Cambridge, MA. He currently serves on the boards of Sojourners and the Catalyst Leadership Center. He will be our speaker for Martin Luther King, Jr. day speaking on the vision for the multi-cultural church.

Immaculee Ilibagiza

Left to Tell: A Story of Forgiveness in Rwanda

Underwritten by: Peter C. Cook

Immaculee is a native of Rwanda and was a college student at the National University of Rwanda in 1994 when her life transformed dramatically during the Rwanda genocide. She and seven other women huddled silently together in a cramped bathroom of a local pastor’s house for 91 days! During this horrific ordeal Immaculée lost most of her family but survived to share her story and her miraculous transition into forgiveness and a profound relationship with God. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Left to Tell and the follow up story Led by Faith. She has appeared on 60 Minutes and has been featured on CNN, EWTN, Aljazeera, and many other domestic and international networks. She was also recently featured in Michael Collopy's Architects of Peace, a project which includes Mother Teresa, Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, and the Dalai Lama.

Richard De Vos, Sr.

Ten Phrases

Underwritten by: Huntington Bank

A renowned speaker, Rich DeVos has appeared before hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. His recorded talk, “Selling America,” received the Alexander Hamilton Award for Economic Education from the Freedom’s Foundation. He has written four books: BELIEVE!, Compassionate Capitalism, Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life and most recently Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People. He is the Cofounder of Amway Corporation and chairman of the NBA Orlando Magic.

Max McLean

From Screwtape to the Gospels: A Life of Faith in the Theatre

Underwritten by: Israels Designs for Living

His one-man dramatic production of C.S. Lewis’ classic The Screwtape Letters has been sold out to audiences over the last year and wowed critics in New York, Washington , D.C., and most recently Chicago. The National Review said McLean was “both charming and gruesome… an outstanding piece of work.” McLean has recorded three audio versions of the Listener’s Bible. He also hosts the daily radio program Listen to the Bible, which airs on over 670 affiliates worldwide. McLean is the founder of Fellowship for the Performing Arts. For this presentation he will perform sections of Genesis, Mark's Gospel and The Screwtape Letters.

*Note this presentation will not be archived on the web or recorded due to contractual restrictions.

George Ayittey

African Solutions for African Problems

Underwritten by: Holland Litho Printing Services

Ghanaian economist at American University, recognized authority on Africa and Economic Development, and author of the influential book Africa Unchained . He has coined the term “the Hippo and Cheetah generations” referring to the old and new African elites. He focuses on bottom-up economics through “Cheetah Enterprises” – projects starting at the grassroots level that enable Africans to improve their quality of life. He speaks passionately about empowering Africans to take back Africa.

Kimberly Dozier

Breathing the Fire: Reflections of a Foreign News Correspondent

Underwritten by: GMB Architects + Engineers

CBS Foreign News Correspondent and Best -Selling author, Ms. Dozier has reported extensively from locations around the world. Her assignments have included the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the hunt for Osama bin Laden, the crisis and refugee exodus in the Balkans, the Northern Ireland peace process, and the Khobar barracks bombing in Dhahran among others. On Memorial Day 2006 while covering a story in Baghdad she became the victim of a car bombing. Her fellow reporters, as well as an Army captain and Iraqi translator were killed. The only survivor, Dozier was seriously wounded, recovering only after multiple surgeries and seemingly endless months of physiotherapy. She recounts the journey to full recovery in her powerful, best-selling memoir Breathing the Fire: Fighting to Report and Survive the War in Iraq. Ms. Dozier currently reports from the White House, delivering the latest news on the Obama administration and new foreign policy developments.

Archbishop Elias Chacour

Unity Within Diversity: Myth or Reality?

Underwritten by: The Center for Excellence in Preaching

As a child, Elias Chacour lived in a small Palestinian village in Galilee.  The townspeople were proud of their ancient Christian heritage and lived at peace with their Jewish neighbors.  But in 1948 and ’49 their idyllic lifestyle was swept away as tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed and nearly one million were forced into refugee camps.  As an exile in his native land, Elias began a years-long struggle with his love for the Jewish people and the world’s misunderstanding of his own people, the Palestinians.  He is convicted by the haunting words of the Man of Galilee: “Blessed are the Peacemakers”.  Father Chacour has become an ambassador for non-violence. He has a vision and passion to build peace through education and is the founder of the Mar Elias Educational Institutions, open to all the children of Israel; Jewish, Christian and Muslim.   He has received many international peace awards and been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions.  He is the author of Blood Brothers and We Belong to this Land. Father Chacour is the Archbishop of the Melkite Catholic Church in Haifa, Israel.