October 1, 2019
Wheaton College’s Human Needs and Global Resources Symposium takes place October 6-8. This year’s theme, “Radical Discipleship: Loving Jesus in All of Life,” was inspired by the life and legacy of Rev. John R.W. Stott.
Wheaton College is hosting the 15th annual Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) Symposium October 6-8. This year’s theme, “Radical Discipleship: Loving Jesus in All of Life” takes a page from the late Rev. John R.W. Stott’s final book The Radical Disciple: Wholehearted Christian Living.
Throughout the three days, the symposium will celebrate three commitments that Stott, an Anglican priest and theologian who died in 2011, held dear. Those include strengthening global church leadership, broadening Christian social engagement and demonstrating that creation care is integral to discipleship.
“Rev. Dr. John R.W. Stott’s words, ministry and life communicated the radical simplicity of deep conversion integrated with wholehearted discipleship,” said Associate Director of HNGR Dr. James Huff. “We hope that people leave the symposium understanding that following Jesus is meant to be lived out in very ordinary ways in their present situations and contexts,” Huff said.
This year, the symposium will host eight speakers, all of whom were affected by Stott in different ways over the course of their lives. For instance, Fuller Theological Seminary President Dr. Mark Labberton was Stott’s research assistant. Rev. Dr. Christopher J.H. Wright is the International Ministries Director the Langham Partnership, an organization that Stott founded in 1969 with the aim to biblically equip leaders and pastors to multiply disciples throughout the global church.
Other speakers include Jason Fileta of Tearfund USA, a Christian organization seeking to end poverty. Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst, a missionary with Resonate Global Mission and Lalbiakhlui “Kuki” Rokhum of the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief. Also speaking are Rev. Dr. David Zac Niringiye from the Institute for Religion, Faith, and Culture in Public Life in Uganda, Dr. Myrto Theocharous of Greek Bible College, and Wesley Crawford of Christ Church Anglican.
Laura S. Meitzner Yoder, the John Stott Endowed Chair of Human Needs and Global Resources, will give her inaugural John Stott lecture after her appointment to the endowed chair, accompanied by Associate Professor of Music Dr. Shawn Okpebholo, who will unveil several new arrangements of African-American spirituals—work funded by the John Stott Endowment in Human Needs and Global Resources, which also funds the symposium.
The HNGR Symposium is free and open to the public. Many of the sessions will be held in the Billy Graham Center’s Barrows Auditorium. For more information or to RSVP, please visit the symposium website.
Learn more about Wheaton College’s Department of Human Needs and Global Resources here.