There are few things more invigorating than seeing young people reflect God’s heart in their passions and priorities. So I’m thrilled about the upcoming conference at Taylor University that will focus on ways Christians can serve vulnerable children and communities with well-informed love.
I’ll have the privilege of addressing the Taylor University student body on the Friday leading into the conference. The conference on Saturday, October 3, will feature keynote addresses from Jena Lee Nardella, founder of Blood:Water Mission (who deliver a powerful message at CAFO2015) this past May; Susan Hillis, Senior Advisor for Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Johnny Carr, author of Orphan Justice. Breakout sessions will be led by Sharen Ford, Carissa Woodwyk, J.R. Briggs, Jeromy Smith. Meanwhile, Hope for Justice will help students think about ways to care for vulnerable children locally, nationally, and internationally. The conference will close with a concert by singer-songwriters Jenny & Tyler.
Registration is open to the public, so if you’re near central Indiana, check it out! In addition, if you have an organization nearby and would like to set up an exhibit table (it’s free), you can contact [email protected].
Perhaps even more significant in the long-run, Taylor has also developed a minor in the study of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), which includes interdisciplinary courses on developmental psychology, behavior management, global health, justice, philanthropy, etc. Taylor students have the option of participating in an OVC practicum and then spending a year in a “Living Learning Community” focused around this topic. Many Taylor students have attended the CAFO Summit and are now partnering with CAFO on a variety of research initiatives.
With the CARE conference and these initiatives, Taylor is fast becoming a center of scholarship and practice in the field of orphan care.