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Lynne Hybels Nearly 6 million people have died in the ongoing civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Millions more have been displaced from their homes. Tragically, thousands of women and girls have been brutalized by rebels who use rape as a weapon of war. Lynne Hybels and Belinda Bauman will tell the stories of people they've met in the DRC—from victimized women to Congolese church heroes who offer hope and healing. Learn how you can use your voice to support local grassroots peacemaking in the DRC and also call for international political changes that will help the DRC. Be forewarned: you will be called to action! |
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Eugene Cho Ideas, dreams, and visions are nice but by themselves, they remain ideas, dreams and visions In fact, they don't change the world. Rather, people who faithfully and tenaciously pursue and implement their ideas change the world. |
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Brian Fikkert You want to seek justice for poor people? Fantastic! Unfortunately, good intentions are not enough. It is possible to hurt poor people in the process of trying to help them. Christians typically have faulty assumptions about the causes of poverty, resulting in approaches that do considerable harm both to poor people and to those trying to help them. This session explores the root causes of poverty and describes the surprising first step to seeking true justice. |
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Soong-Chan Rah In a triumphalistic culture, American Christianity can easily fall into the trap of seeking a humanistic form of justice. Assumptions of exceptionalism and a triumphalistic worldview results in a justice that is culturally-driven, rather than Biblically-driven. This session examines the key Biblical theme of lament and the necessity of lament in the embodiment of Biblical Social Justice. |
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Chai Ling Chai Ling shares openly and candidly about her remarkable journey. Learn how a woman's testimony opened Ling's eyes to the horror of gendercide in China. Learn, too, how God healed her from past traumas, igniting a passion in her heart for others in China and around the globe to experience full freedom in Jesus. Along with her team at All Girls Allowed, Chai Ling works to expose the injustice of the One-Child Policy in China, rescue girls and mothers, and bring healing to their families. |
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Nicholas Wolterstorff My Story: Starting from the Wronged in Thinking about Justice |
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Dr. Kimberlee Johnson Are you concerned about how perceptions of urban youth may affect how they are treated in the juvenile justice system? This session exposes the racial and economic disparities involved in decisions to waive juveniles to adult courts, disproportionate minority confinement in correctional facilities and detention centers, and disparities in sentencing. Implications of the Supreme Court’s recent Miller v. Alabama ruling on mandatory juvenile life without parole sentencing will also be presented. A discussion on a just and redemptive response to these issues will be included. |
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Peter Heltzel Join Ken Wytsma and Peter Heltzel in a provocative conversation about Jesus, Jazz and Justice. As jazz musicians improvise to make new music together, Christian leaders today need to improvise for love and justice.The dialogue will focus on their two new books on Jesus and Justice. Ken Wytsma, The Justice Conference founder, has a groundbreaking new book Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and Die for Bigger Things where he argues that if we "seek ye first the Kingdom" and God's justice we will find life, and life abundant. In Resurrection City: A Theology of Improvisation theologian Peter Heltzel explores the ways jazz can be a metaphor for seeking Shalom Justice in our world today. Seeing Ken and Peter in conversation with each other and the audience will be like being in a hip jazz club in Greenwich Village—an experience you won't want to miss. |
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Ken Wytsma Join Ken Wytsma and Peter Heltzel in a provocative conversation about Jesus, Jazz and Justice. As jazz musicians improvise to make new music together, Christian leaders today need to improvise for love and justice. The dialogue will focus on their two new books on Jesus and Justice. Ken Wytsma, The Justice Conference founder, has a groundbreaking new book Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and Die for Bigger Things where he argues that if we "seek ye first the Kingdom" and God's justice we will find life, and life abundant. In Resurrection City: A Theology of Improvisation theologian Peter Heltzel explores the ways jazz can be a metaphor for seeking Shalom Justice in our world today. Seeing Ken and Peter in conversation with each other and the audience will be like being in a hip jazz club in Greenwich Village—an experience you won't want to miss. |
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Claire Diaz-Ortiz In this session, Claire Diaz-Ortiz will outline the 5-step model for success on Twitter that she teaches in her book, Twitter for Good. The session will be jam-packed with tactical tips and tricks with the aim of taking your individual or organizational Twitter account to the next level. Come prepared with questions - and a pen! (You'll be note-taking furiously...) |
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Shayne Moore Slavery doesn't end without a fight. Good news, you have power. Join Shayne Moore and Kimberly McOwen Yim and learn the power available to all of us even within our everyday lives. (networking, resources, and story telling) |
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Leroy Barber What if the place where you are serving is a tough place? What if it's the last place you would have chosen? This is a look at how to incarnate Gods plan of justice from a difficult space. A look at God's heart for community development. This will inspire you to embrace the hard places and represent the common good of the Kingdom. |
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Gerry Breshears We will use Scripture to develop the canonical concept of the synonyms, justice and righteousness, are both about relationships in community of God, others, self, and the rest of the world. This biblical definition is the basis of all Christian justice work. |
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Lisa Sharon Harper |
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Jenny Yang Immigration is not only a hot topic in Washington, DC but has significant ramifications for the church in the United States as well. What does justice for the immigrant look like and how can we use our voice to advocate for positive changes to our immigration laws? This session will explore the opportunities churches have to serve immigrants in local communities but also provide tools for engagement with elected officials to pass needed reforms to our immigration laws. This session will also provide details around the emerging G92 college campus immigration movement and the “I Was A Stranger” Challenge. |
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Matthew Soerens Immigration is not only a hot topic in Washington, DC but has significant ramifications for the church in the United States as well. What does justice for the immigrant look like and how can we use our voice to advocate for positive changes to our immigration laws? This session will explore the opportunities churches have to serve immigrants in local communities but also provide tools for engagement with elected officials to pass needed reforms to our immigration laws. This session will also provide details around the emerging G92 college campus immigration movement and the “I Was A Stranger” Challenge. |
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Noel Castellanos Explore the heart of a prophet who established a movement that advocated for under-resourced communities by taking a new approach to leadership, developing integral partnerships, and implementing a relocation strategy. |
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Brenda Salter McNeil Based on the book of Esther, this seminar will challenge young emerging leaders to identify the pressing social and political issues of our day, and develop practical strategies they can use to pursue justice and reconciliation in their spheres of influence. |
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Mimi Haddad Both egalitarians and complementarians oppose abuse and injustice. Both believe their position is biblical. Yet, do both foster gender justice equally? This workshop will consider the historical and biblical evidence. |
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David Bronkema Should evangelical Christians use their influence to shape U.S. foreign policies on global poverty and other issues? Is there a biblical approach to advocacy? How can we strategically “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10) while sharing the saving news of Christ? How might we be changed in the process? |
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Amy Hewat What does the Bible say about human trafficking, and how does it direct us to act? Scripture is replete with examples that can be used to teach us about how God views exploitation, and how we are to respond as followers of Christ. Not surprisingly, many Christians have felt a call to respond, but sometimes their sincere efforts can be short-sighted or misguided. Thus, this pre-conference session is intended to help address the possible pitfalls of anti-trafficking efforts by providing solid insights, biblical perspectives, as well as principles for engagement. |
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Abraham George God is passionate about justice. And God’s plan for ending injustice is through the Church, His people, courageously bringing His love and light to those suffering from the darkest forms of violence, oppression and injustice. IJM is on the front-lines of liberating people from the injustices of slavery, sex trafficking, property grabbing, and many other forms of violent oppression. And IJM is passionate about mobilizing the global Church to live out its calling of doing justice. This seminar will focus more on what IJM is doing in the world to mobilize churches and how you and your church can get involved in doing justice in your community and with IJM. |
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Dr. Melanie Joy Why should we care about food justice or animal suffering when humanitarian issues like global poverty, sex trafficking and clean water effect millions of people everyday? The philosopher Adorno once said “the condition of truth is to allow suffering to speak.” What is the truth about eating animals and why is this such a compelling ecological, environmental and social justice issue? Dr. Melanie Joy will present her captivating talk “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows” based on her award winning book of the same name. Dr. Joy, a social psychologist, will explain “Carnism” the invisible belief system that shapes our perceptions of the meat, eggs and dairy we eat and how it conditions us to unknowingly act against our core values, our own interests and the interests of others. John Roche, will introduce Dr. Joy and briefly share his faith journey into food justice & factory farming and how a call to conscience should have at its heart the act of bearing witness and of speaking out for “the least of these.” |
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Mike Caba This session focuses on some of the key distinctions between two major economic systems, capitalism and socialism, and how they each understand and apply the concept of social justice in the economic sphere. Further, an outline of Biblical economic principles is put forth for consideration, followed by an overview of Christ’s higher calling to those who seek to follow his unique perspective on life. |
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Jodina Hicks The United States is the #1 incarcerator in the world, we incarcerate more people per population than any other country. We are 18th in education. 1st in incarceration. We comprise 5% of the world’s population and 25% of its incarcerated population. 1 in 99 Americans are in prison, for a total of 2.2 million, up from 300,000 in 1970. Yet we are at the same level of homicides as we were in 1966 and the same crime rate we had in 1969. Poor urban communities that face dire poverty are met with vast resources of the police and court systems, but with lacking educational and social resources. Is there hope for reform? |
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Jeremy Courtney Violence, poverty, and religious struggles threaten to unmake the world around us. But followers of Jesus are not meant to find ourselves wringing our hands, without action or prophetic witness to our neighbors and enemies whom God so loves. Jeremy will host a conversation about the Christ-like impulse he calls "preemptive love" at the intersection of Good News, good works, and enemy-love, fueled by God-sized stories of his team's life and work in Fallujah, Baghdad, and across Iraq. Jeremy is the founder and executive director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. |
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Lindsay Nobels Learn how to utilize Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other social media networks to build trust in and expand the awareness and reach of your cause. By accessing the tools and looking at examples -- both positive and negative, we'll help you create a vision for harnessing social media for good. |
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Nathan George When we talk about money in our churches we only ever talk about our giving, and studies show how only 3% of income is given. We almost never talk about how the other 97% is a justice, discipleship and kingdom issue. Imagine what the church could achieve if it understood and acted upon the biblical mandate to live simply and buy ethically. Trade as One’s founder, Nathan George will explore the biblical basis for a new ethic in our consumption, and discuss ways that the church can get engaged. |
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Melissa McCreary The higher education system plays an integral role in shaping American society. It educates the next generation of leaders, business professionals, teachers, politicians, etc. Furthermore, it serves as a launching point for many students to enter the"real world," as we've have so fondly come to refer to post-grad life. This session will take a detailed look at our education system (its mission, values, goals and outcomes) and ultimately analyze the extent to which higher education shapes our culture— for better or worse. |
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Micah Bournes Join several leading spoken word artists for this Poetry Slam sponsored by RELEVANT Magazine where the winner earns the opportunity to perform live in the closing session of The Justice Conference on Saturday night! |
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Rick Gerhardt |
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Sandra Morgan What does the Bible say about human trafficking, and how does it direct us to act? Scripture is replete with examples that can be used to teach us about how God views exploitation, and how we are to respond as followers of Christ. Not surprisingly, many Christians have felt a call to respond, but sometimes their sincere efforts can be short-sighted or misguided. Thus, this pre-conference session is intended to help address the possible pitfalls of anti-trafficking efforts by providing solid insights, biblical perspectives, as well as principles for engagement. Divided into two segments the pre-conference begins with a big-picture presentation entitled "The Truth about Sex Trafficking." This presentation will make the connection between sex trafficking and prostitution, confront the notion of "sex work," and advocate for transformational ministry efforts that address not only victims but which also confront the demand for commercial sex. The discussion will continue by delving into how we must “Redefine the Front Lines” in the war on modern day slavery, and provide a Biblical best practice model for community engagement. |
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Peter Harris Using A Rocha case studies from around the world this session will take a biblically informed look at the connections between environmental justice and poverty, business and agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. |
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Rev. Alexia Salvatierra Hosted by World Vision, this session will discuss the biblical foundation for public policy advocacy and will equip participants to take concrete steps in the work of justice. The training will introduce a model for mobilizing churches to engage in advocacy as a valued aspect of mission and will introduce participants to World Vision's Beyond 5 campaign, which seeks to end preventable deaths of mothers and children under the age of five in developing countries. |
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Cyprien Nkiriyumwami Nearly 6 million people have died in the ongoing civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Millions more have been displaced from their homes. Tragically, thousands of women and girls have been brutalized by rebels who use rape as a weapon of war. Lynne Hybels and Belinda Bauman will tell the stories of people they've met in the DRC—from victimized women to Congolese church heroes who offer hope and healing. Learn how you can use your voice to support local grassroots peacemaking in the DRC and also call for international political changes that will help the DRC. Be forewarned: you will be called to action! |
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Lisa Thompson What does the Bible say about human trafficking, and how does it direct us to act? Scripture is replete with examples that can be used to teach us about how God views exploitation, and how we are to respond as followers of Christ. Not surprisingly, many Christians have felt a call to respond, but sometimes their sincere efforts can be short-sighted or misguided. Thus, this pre-conference session is intended to help address the possible pitfalls of anti-trafficking efforts by providing solid insights, biblical perspectives, as well as principles for engagement. Divided into two segments the pre-conference begins with a big-picture presentation entitled "The Truth about Sex Trafficking." This presentation will make the connection between sex trafficking and prostitution, confront the notion of "sex work," and advocate for transformational ministry efforts that address not only victims but which also confront the demand for commercial sex. The discussion will continue by delving into how we must “Redefine the Front Lines” in the war on modern day slavery, and provide a Biblical best practice model for community engagement. |
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Paul Hurckman For justice to be transformational, we must be willing to enter into the suffering of others, allowing both our worldview and lifestyle to be changed. This session will look at how Venture Expeditions has used biking, hiking and running, for over a decade, to transform communities. We will discuss how we can challenge our ourselves, organizations, campuses and churches to move past advocating for others, toward a deeper response to justice. A response that changes the way we spend our time, money, and influence - toward a life marked by physical, social, and financial sacrifice on behalf of others. And, you will find out what wearing spandex has to do with the justice. |
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Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy Should evangelical Christians use their influence to shape U.S. foreign policies on global poverty and other issues? Is there a biblical approach to advocacy? How can we strategically “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10) while sharing the saving news of Christ? How might we be changed in the process? |
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Jonathan Blackburn Should evangelical Christians use their influence to shape U.S. foreign policies on global poverty and other issues? Is there a biblical approach to advocacy? How can we strategically “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10) while sharing the saving news of Christ? How might we be changed in the process? |
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Jim Martin God is passionate about justice. And God’s plan for ending injustice is through the Church, His people, courageously bringing His love and light to those suffering from the darkest forms of violence, oppression and injustice. IJM is on the front-lines of liberating people from the injustices of slavery, sex trafficking, property grabbing, and many other forms of violent oppression. And IJM is passionate about mobilizing the global Church to live out its calling of doing justice. This seminar will focus more on what IJM is doing in the world to mobilize churches and how you and your church can get involved in doing justice in your community and with IJM. |
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Linda Van Voorst How do you teach a child about justice? In this session, you will be equipped to teach a child about Biblical justice and why this matters to God. We will also take an up-close look at moral development in children, including Biblical perspective, age-appropriate topics, and ways to incorporate moral development. |
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Joe McGarry This session will be a brief investigation into the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, with a specific emphasis on how he theologically understood the church to be a primary agent for social justice in the world. It will look at how he understands the church’s responsible action for the Other to stem from the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, and as a reflection of Christ’s ongoing work in the world. |
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Dr. Paul Louis Metzger As a Christ-follower passionate about justice issues, you’re no stranger to hard realities and difficult relationships. Neither was John M. Perkins when he was nearly beat dead by white police officers, neither was Dietrich Bonhoeffer when he conspired against Hitler, and neither was Mother Theresa as she broke bread with lepers. We can learn from these pillars of justice work just how hard the going can get. We can also learn from these saints of the faith what propelled them through the devastation of failed efforts, the abandonment by friends, and the dismissal of society. Come to this session to gain a long-haul perspective for your justice movement, learning what’s needed to sustain it ‘til kingdom come. |
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Kim Yim Slavery doesn't end without a fight. Good news, you have power. Join Shayne Moore and Kimberly McOwen Yim and learn the power available to all of us even within our everyday lives. (networking, resources, and story telling) |
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Keith Wright Many of the assumptions that drive how we in the Global North seek to advance global justice are already obsolete. The world is changing more rapidly than ever. We have a decision to make: embrace a new reality or see our relevance and impact fade. This pre-conference session will outline the primary dynamics of change that we must navigate to be part of impacting the world as never before. |
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Sandra Van Opstal Join several pastors, scholars, activists and emerging voices within evangelicalism to take a provocative look at the continuing lack of diversity at evangelical events and conferences and discuss both theological and practical considerations in helping represent the people of God more accurately in how we plan and present speakers and artists from the front of the room. |
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Laurence Tom Join several pastors and other voices from the Philadelphia region to discover what God is up to in and around the city of brotherly love. Collaborate to create new ideas about key practices or rhythms in the renewing and restoring of humanity in cities.
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Don Golden World Relief colleagues Don Golden and Cyprien Nkiriyumwami break down the history of injustice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With personal stories of those affected and those working for change, and by exploring the policy and human consequences of Western involvement, the session will help followers of Jesus understand the root causes and what local churches can do to make a difference. |
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Cyprien Nkiriyumwami World Relief colleagues Don Golden and Cyprien Nkiriyumwami break down the history of injustice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With personal stories of those affected and those working for change, and by exploring the policy and human consequences of Western involvement, the session will help followers of Jesus understand the root causes and what local churches can do to make a difference. |
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Lilian Samaan What if Half the Sky did justice? Hear what three women are doing to bring justice across the United States and Africa. Understand why they do it, and how, and listen to their invitation to change the world as you are, where you are. |
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Beth Birmingham What if Half the Sky did justice? Hear what three women are doing to bring justice across the United States and Africa. Understand why they do it, and how, and listen to their invitation to change the world as you are, where you are. |
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Sondra Shepley Join several pastors, scholars, activists and emerging voices within evangelicalism to take a provocative look at the continuing lack of diversity at evangelical events and conferences and discuss both theological and practical considerations in helping represent the people of God more accurately in how we plan and present speakers and artists from the front of the room. |
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Lisa Sharon Harper |
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Mae Cannon |
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Dr. Paul Louis Metzger |
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Sandra Van Opstal |
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Soong-Chan Rah |
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Anielka J. Munkel |
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Michael Matheson Miller |
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John Sowers |
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Elaine Russo In the 40 years since Roe vs. Wade was passed by the Supreme Court legalizing abortion in the United States, over 50 million babies have been aborted in our very own communities. Learn how you can take on the biblical mandate to protect life by fighting for justice for the unborn and cultivating a compassionate response to their mothers. Hear stories of lives saved and hearts changed in the battle for LIFE! Elaine is the Executive Director of the HOPE Pregnancy Center in Philadelphia which is surrounded by some 15 abortion facilities.
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Max Finberg In a tribute to the late Richard Twiss, we will examine the original sins of America — our treatment of our Native American and African American brothers and sisters — through the Biblical lens of justice. We will also look at the resources of the White House’s Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships as ways of addressing the injustice of poverty and providing ladders of opportunity to the least among us. We will also discuss the value of partnering with government to combat injustice, and look at the resources of The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships as ways of addressing the injustice of poverty and providing ladders of opportunity to the least among us.
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Michael Wear In a tribute to the late Richard Twiss, we will examine the original sins of America — our treatment of our Native American and African American brothers and sisters — through the Biblical lens of justice. We will also look at the resources of the White House’s Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships as ways of addressing the injustice of poverty and providing ladders of opportunity to the least among us. We will also discuss the value of partnering with government to combat injustice, and look at the resources of The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships as ways of addressing the injustice of poverty and providing ladders of opportunity to the least among us.
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