Global Business for the Healing of the Nations

Christian businesspeople around the world have long supported the work of the church, helped build flourishing communities, and contributed to economic-development efforts through their entrepreneurship, management, and investments. Therefore, Christian business scholars, business schools, and business institutions have an opportunity to collaborate with their global colleagues to create new understandings and innovations, advance the Kingdom of God, and serve the world in new ways. Business as an institution is uniquely suited to help us realize sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

Keynote Speaker

Sebastian Văduva

Dr. Sebastian Văduva teaches at The Griffiths School of Management & IT within Emanuel University of Oradea in Romania. He was born in Romania, moved to the US in 1989, but returned in 2004 as a business missionary. He has an undergraduate in marketing, an MBA in international business, a PhD in global entrepreneurship, a PhD in public administration, and a habilitation in international management. He has co-authored over 15 books, 50 academic articles, and 12 conference proceedings. He is also the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Ethics in Entrepreneurship and Technology. Sebastian started his first company at 17, and with various partners, has started over 25 startups. He is an international conference speaker and advises business, NGO, and political leaders. He has a regular TV and radio program and is involved in several civil society initiatives. His motto is “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” is married to Lois, and together they have a daughter, Evelina.

Schedule

10:00 AM Welcome and Worship

10:30 AM Margaret Nkem Isebor & Adaora I. Onaga; Lagos Business School of the Pan Atlantic University; Nigeria; “A Toolkit for Christian Businesspeople in Environments with Widespread Corruption or Extortion”

11:10 AM Transition

11:20 AM Sue Halliday & Alan Discua Cruz; Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology & Lancaster University Management School; United Kingdom; “Exploring a Better Understanding of Christian Stewardship in Business to Demonstrate how Businesses Might Be Christ’s Agents of Renewal in the World at the Individual, Organisational, and Societal Levels”

12:00 PM Transition

12:10 PM Lunch

1:30 PM Vahagn Asatryan; Redeemer University; Canada; “Interfaith Virtue Ethics from Christian-Muslim Perspective: Fostering Trust and Flourishing in Diverse Marketplaces”

2:10 PM Transition

2:20 PM Bethany Duthie & Patrick Duthie; Eastern University; United States; “Protection from Protectionism: Christ-Centered Policies that Champion the Global South”

3:00 PM Transition (coffee and cookies available)

3:10 PM Adedoyin Isola Lawal & Lere Amusan; Bowen University; Nigeria; “Examining the Nexus among Religion, Entrepreneurship, and Social Change: Evidence from Diaspora Africans”

3:50 PM Break

4:00 PM Closing Keynote: Dean Sebastian Vaduva; Griffiths School of Management & IT; Emanuel University of Oradea; Romania: Disciple making: the Christian response to the global challenges of the 21st-century

4:40 PM Closing Remarks

5:00 PM Transition to CBFA 2024

Lodging and Registration

The Summit will occur at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin University. A block of discounted hotel rooms has been reserved there for Summit attendees, and are available until October 1 for booking directly through the Prince Conference Center.

Summit registration is closed.

Lunch will be provided for Summit attendees on October 31. The Prince Conference Center provides complimentary breakfast for hotel guests.

Travel

Authors are encouraged to apply for B-1 visas at their United States Consulate or Embassy as soon as possible, in light of the long waits for interviews that prevail in many cases.

Attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the Summit. The nearest airport is Gerald R. Ford International Airport (airport code GRR), which is roughly ten kilometers (six miles) away, and is served by American, Delta, and United airlines. Convenient ground transportation is available from the airport to the Prince Conference Center via taxi or rideshare service.