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speakers
Academy | Plenary |
Going Deeper | Practices for Learning
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Rev Dr Banner Makan is the Executive
Director of Christian AIDS National Alliance (CANA), a
Delhi-based networking, capacity building and advocacy
organisation with a special focus on HIV & Vulnerable
children. He founded the El Shaddai Resource Centre, planted
two churches and also pastored several churches. Banner
holds a BA (Hons) and MA in History, and received his
theological training from Fuller Theological Seminary in
California, USA. |
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Peter Empson says, "I became an
evacuee at the age of 5 in World War 2; at school I
successfully failed all my exams; I became a believer during
military service; qualified as a commercial pilot; went to
Bible college; became a missionary pilot in Africa for 15
years; qualified and worked as a social worker in Scotland
for 7 years; joined a Christian youth organisation in 1987
and starting children’s work with children at risk mainly in
London. In the last 16 years I have offered leaders’
training globally (in over 20 less developed countries) and
helped write 4 basic courses to help train children’s
workers to be trainers. I am married with 4 children." |
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Arthur Thangiah is a pastor with the
Bombay Baptist group of churches based in Mumbai, India,. A
Bachelor’s degree holder in computers, Arthur has worked in
IBM and other computer companies for several years before
entering the full-time ministry in 1995. Presently, he
oversees six churches and also heads the Sahaara Charitable
Society, a community services division of the church which
has more than 50 projects among commercial sex workers,
prisoners, juvenile homes, visually challenged women, slum
children etc. He is also the co-ordinator of Mumbai
Transformation Network which seeks to unite pastors, leaders
and influencers across Mumbai to bring transformation to the
city. Arthur is married to Blossom and together they have
two grown-up children, Victor and Cheryl. |
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Jeff Anderson and his wife Mary Ann
are from Minnesota, USA. They have been serving with Action
International Ministries in the Philippines for 22 years
working with street children and their families, disaster
relief and development. Jeff is the Director of ACTION
Philippines and Mary Ann is Personnel and Publications
Director. They have two children, Amos (26) and Micah Ann
(23). Jeff has authored or edite numerous publications and
papers, including Restoring Children of the Streets: A Guide
for Mobilizing and Equipping God's People Around the World.
He also serves on the steering committee of the 180°
Alliance: United Global Action with Street Children strategy
group for ministering to street children around the world in
cooperation with Viva. |
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Dr Lavanya Suneetha is a scientist
with a doctorate in biochemistry. In 2004, Lavanya and her
husband Dr Sujai, a medical doctor, felt God’s calling to
move from their leprosy work to HIV/AIDS. Together they
started Nireekshana ACET (AIDS Care Education & Training)
which care for over 1700 people affected by HIV/AIDS
including their families. Currently, she oversees its
Research and Training programs. Dr Lavanya and Dr Sujai have
2 daughters, Rachel Supriya (19) and Naomi Vishaka (17). |
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Leanne Palmer
Information not available. |
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Wendy Strachan works as the
Children’s Ministries Coordinator for Scripture Union
International, responsible for the training and resourcing
of SU staff across the globe, as well as the development of
global partnerships and initiatives. Wendy is now based in
Brisbane Australia, but previously worked in Kenya as
Children’s Ministries Coordinator for SU Africa with its
diverse ministries (from children’s camps and clubs, to work
amongst street children, child soldiers and refugee
families, and a biblically-based AIDS education program in
schools). Wendy holds a degree in Educational Studies from
the University of Queensland, and has completed
post-graduate studies in counseling and psychology. She
taught children with special needs in her home state of
Queensland and in a secondary school in Papua New Guinea. |
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Ian de Villiers is Asia Co-ordinator
for Viva, working together with networks to find the best
ways to enable the Christian faith community to bring hope
and transformation to children at risk. He is a qualified
social worker and enjoys working with children and young
people of different ages, especially in understanding and
valuing their stories. He is married to Katharine, and they
have 2 small girls, Joanne and Gail. They are part of the
faith communities at Bangsar Lutheran Church in Malaysia and
St Ebbes, Oxford in the UK. |
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Marcus Young is a 4th generation
missionary to SE Asia. His family was at he forefront of two
historical church movements in Burma in the early 1900’s.
With this powerful family history and a generational calling
on his own life, Marcus has worked in missions since he was
a young man. For the past 14 years, Marcus and his wife
Alyxius have found creative ways to reach restricted access
areas in SE Asia. They have been able to plant new churches,
translate the scriptures, develop economic programs, open up
homes and schools for orphans and raise up a team of
national leaders. One of their primary interests in the
region is orphans and youth at risk. In their work with
child soldiers, they have been able to rescue several
hundred children out of the army. They have taken 120
children out of the armies to date. Marcus is perceptive and
penetrating voice on social justice issues as they relate to
the church in our day. |
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Jennifer Stivers has worked in
non-profit management and program development for the last 7
years. After graduating from the University of California
Davis with bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and
Economics, Jennifer spent three years working with
grassroots non-profits and NGOs in China and Southeast Asia.
Jennifer also has experience in affordable housing/real
estate, grant writing and consulting. She worked as research
analyst for Geneva Global, Inc. in Asia before joining
Divine Inheritance. Jennifer is passionate about issues of
social justice, especially as they relate to human
trafficking and youth-at-risk. Jennifer is committed to
uniting a heart of compassion for the oppressed with a
professional skill-set spent on their behalf. Jennifer will
continue to work with Divine Inheritance as she begins
graduate studies at George Washington University in
Washington DC next year. |
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