From workshops to plenary sessions, this year’s Summit features many of the most compelling and knowledgeable voices in the Christian adoption and orphan care movement. Catch an early look at eight speakers whose keynote remarks will complement the 75+ nuts-and-bolts workshops planned for Summit VII!
Russell Moore
Russell D. Moore is the Senior Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. The grandson of a Mississippi Baptist preacher, Dr. Moore is also a preaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, where he ministers weekly. Dr. Moore writes and speaks frequently on topics ranging from the Kingdom of God to the mission of adoption to a theology of country music. He is a senior editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity and also blogs regularly at Moore to the Point, russellmoore.com. Dr. Moore’s latest book is Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, and he is working on the forthcoming, Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ. He and his wife Maria have four sons: Benjamin, Timothy, Samuel, and Jonah.
Florence Muindi
Florence has served the needy as a health and development professional for the last 20 years, the last 12 of which was in cross cultural missions, as a career missionary. In line with her displayed passion and effective strategy of holistic ministry, Florence participates as a public speaker in key international health and missions forums. Florence graduated from the University of Nairobi medical school in 1988. She holds an MD as well as an MPH degree. She has been trained in Switzerland and Belgium in specialized public health interventions and project designs. A trained professional counselor, she also has a diploma in urban poor theology. She is a graduate in corporate governance and a member of the commonwealth association of directors. As the International Director and President of LIA, Florence facilitates the mission of the organization in implementation and development, overseeing support raising, advocacy, strategic plans and budgeting. Florence and her husband Festus with their two teenage boys have served as a “career cross cultural missionary family” for the last twelve years.
Karyn Purvis
Dr. Karyn Purvis earned her doctorate in developmental psychology, specializing in serving at-risk children, and she has spent the last ten years developing research-based interventions for those children. She is a former foster mother with a personal and professional calling to create a welcoming, loving environment for children who come from “hard places.” She serves as an expert witness in court cases of child abuse, testifies for state and national legislation, and speaks frequently to national and international groups. Recent trips have taken her to varied national groups from trainings for judges and CPS workers, to training international parents and professionals in England, Iceland, Scotland, Romania, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. She has eight grand children, two of which are adopted.
Luther Ellis
Luther Ellis was with the Detroit Lions for nine years and with the Denver Broncos for one year. He is a two time pro bowl selection, NCAA all American from the University of Utah. His nickname during his time in Detroit was “Pass Rushing Luther”. He was given the title of “The Strongest Man in the NFL” by Muscle and Fitness Magazine. Luther has eleven children, six of which are adopted. His father is American, mother Samoan. Luther is known for his integrity, honor, heart for family and children. He is a God fearing man and supports several Christian organizations and adoption agencies.
Dennis Rainey
Dr. Dennis Rainey is the President and the cofounder of FamilyLife (a subsidiary of Campus Crusade for Christ) and a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. Since 1976, he has overseen the rapid growth of FamilyLife Conferences on marriage, parenting and marriage conferences. He is also the daily host of the nationally syndicated radio program “FamilyLife Today.” Dennis was the recipient of the National Religious Broadcasters Radio Program of the Year Award for 1995 and 2003. In the past, Dennis has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Evangelical Council for ECFA. Dennis has spoken at FamilyLife Conferences across the United States, internationally, and for Promise Keepers, YPO University and Fellowship Forum, as well as at FamilyLife’s events. He has testified on family issues before Congress and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. Dennis is the author/co-author of more than a dozen books including Staying Close, which was selected in 1990 as the outstanding book on marriage and family and he was presented the Gold Medallion Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dennis and Barbara have six children, three sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, five granddaughters and seven grandsons. They live near Little Rock, AR.
Angela Minter
Angela Minter is a born again Christian who made the Jesus Christ the Lord of her life in 1995. Angela is happily married to her high school sweetheart, Parnell of 22 years and mother of 3 outstanding children, Ryan Parnell, , and Isaiah Angela and Parnell also have two children in heaven that they lost through abortions. Angela lives a life of Faith, Hope, Love, Righteousness, Peace, Joy, Boldness and Purpose. She is known as a person who is “on fire for God,” and is sold out to Jesus, walking in the love of God toward others. Angela considers herself a living example of the scripture, “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.” Prior to her involvement in protecting the sanctity of life Angela was a licensed outside sales representative for a major corporation for 16 years. Angela is President and CEO of Sisters For Life, a 501 (c)3 organization inspired by God. Sister’s For Life is dedicated to defending the lives of pre-born babies, and supporting women of all races, but African American women in particular, due to the fact that black women make up approximately 12% of the population. However, statistics show they have over 34% of the abortions in the United States. Sisters For Life is also committed to advocating for family values. They are determined to stand for truth according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Brian Fikkert
Dr. Brian Fikkert is a Professor of Economics and the founder and Executive Director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. He has been a consultant to the World Bank and is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland—College Park and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.
Carolyn Twietmeyer
Carolyn Twietmeyer and her husband Kiel are parents to 13 wonderful children. The Twietmeyers have adopted from Ethiopia three times (two sibling groups of three children) because they recognized the vitality of keeping orphan siblings together and minimizing their losses. One of their children is HIV+ and another is diagnosed with stage 4 AIDS. Carolyn is Founder/ Executive Director of Project HOPEFUL, an organization dedicated to educating, encouraging, and enabling families and individuals to advocate for and adopt children with HIV/AIDS. Carolyn advocates for orphans by speaking at various conferences around the country, and has been featured in national and international publications, radio, and on television news shows.