Summary: Hundreds of college students from the United States and Canada are expected to attend Calvin's fifth-annual Faith and International Development Conference from Thursday through Saturday, February 4-6, 2010.
From Thursday through Saturday, February 4-6, 2010, Calvin's campus will be filled with hundreds of like-minded students from all over North America.
The student-run Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) will be held at Calvin College for the fifth straight year. The conference gives students an arena to explore passions and share ideas about international development issues from a Christian perspective.
"The conference is a unique opportunity for students and practitioners to come together," said Rebecca Garofano, one of the students organizing this year's conference. "We discuss international issues, learn from one another's experiences, push each other to think critically about vocation, and reflect deeply upon the role of our faith in all of these areas. It's an exciting conversation to be a part of," she added.
This year's conference is themed, "Participation: Walking Humbly and Turning Tables."
Participants will consider the mandate that Christ's followers hold, to participate in the restoration of God's creation as shown in Ephesians 5:2:
"And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
This year's group of FIDC speakers come with a wide range of international development experience. One of the speakers, Leymah Gbowee, was an important participant in the Liberian women's peace movement, featured in the documentary film "Pray the Devil Back to Hell." The women's remarkable struggle for peace resulted in the first democratic election of a female head of state anywhere in Africa.
The conference also features representatives from more than 20 development organizations, around 50 different small group breakout sessions, and several opportunities for spiritual reflection led by minister, activist and author Dr. Ron Sider.
For a complete list of speakers and more information on the conference, visit www.calvin.edu/go/development-conference.
For a short video (1:15) of last year's conference, visit http://www.vimeo.com/3187155.
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Received on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:03:48 -0500
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