The Azusa Conversation Gathering
Date: March 18, 2010Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Location:
Topics:
 Moderator:Doug Birdsall
Panelists:Dr. John Huffman, Jr.
Dr. Salter McNeil earned her Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary). She received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from North Park University, where she is currently a Scholar in Residence. Through her speaking, teaching, and writing, Dr. Salter McNeil boldly declares a vision that unites, transforms, and brings healing to people from every tribe and every nation. Together with her husband, Dr. J. Derek McNeil and their two children, she stands at the forefront of an international movement to advance the Kingdom of God to all nations.
Prior to entering ministry, Nikki spent several years working as an engineer in Silicon Valley. She developed medical devices for the treatment of heart disease and other coronary diseases. Nikki shared her experiences with 20,000 delegates at the Urbana Mission Convention in 2003. She is also a co-editor of More than Serving Tea, a collection of essays, stories and poems looking at the intersection of race, gender, and faith for Asian American women.
Mrs. Tada has authored over 45 books, serves on a number of advisory boards, and has received awards and honorary graduate degrees from colleges, universities, and seminaries. She has served on the National Council on Disability under two U.S. administrations and is currently serving on the Disability Advisory Committee to the US State Department. She is also Founder and CEO of Joni and Friends, a non-profit organization founded in 1979 to accelerate Christian ministry in the disability community through various outreach and church training programs. Joni and Friends has distributed over 38,000 wheelchairs worldwide through Wheels for the World. In 2008, the ministry will hold 20 Family Retreats across the US for families affected by disability. In 2007, the ministry moved into its new headquarters, the Joni and Friends International Disability Center (IDC). The IDC serves a global network of disability ministry organizations, including NGOs on every continent. Joni and her husband, Ken, have been married since 1982. They reside in Calabasas, California. |
Doug Birdsall was installed as the Lausanne Executive Chairman in 
Dr. John A. Huffman, Jr. is former pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California. He currently serves on the boards of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Christianity Today International. He has written nine books and each week 5,000 of his printed sermons are mailed worldwide. He and his wife, Ann, have three daughters.
Brad Lomenick is Executive Director and key Visionary of Catalyst, a movement of young leaders. Over the last 15 years, he has built a reputation as a key networker and convener of leaders. Prior to running Catalyst, Brad was involved in the growth of the nationally acclaimed Life@Work Magazine and did management consulting with Cornerstone Group. More recently he has served in a number of roles for INJOY and now GiANT Impact. For several years after college, he rode horses for a living on a ranch in Colorado, and was even struck by lightning while installing a barbed wire fence, which some believe has given him powers equal to several of the Super Heroes. He hopes maybe someday he can be a professional golfer, or have his own hunting show.
Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a renowned speaker, author, and thought-leader in the field of racial, ethnic, and gender reconciliation. Dr. Salter McNeil has over 25 years of ministry experience. She is called to the healing of people and the healing of nations.
Dr. Wess Stafford is an internationally recognized advocate for children in poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion is one of the world's largest Christian child development agencies, partnering with more than 65 denominations and thousands of local churches in order to serve more than one million children in 24 countries. Though he’s earned degrees from Moody Bible Institute, Biola University, Wheaton College, and Michigan State University, his life experiences are what have uniquely prepared him for his role at Compassion International. He is the author of Too Small to Ignore: Why Children Are the Next Big Thing.
Nikki A. Toyama-Szeto serves as the Program Director for Urbana09, a student missions conference that gathers 20,000 students from 120 different countries. Nikki oversees the development of the plenary sessions, which include worship, speakers, dancers, media, and theater teams. She consults and speaks for a variety of campuses, churches, and organizations and currently sits on the board of Mission Year. 
Joni Eareckson Tada has lived in a wheelchair for over 40 years due to a diving accident at age 17. She is recognized on a first-name basis around the world after the publication of her internationally best-selling autobiography, Joni, and the full-length feature film, JONI, produced by the film outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. 
