2022 Speakers

Angela Williams Gorrell

The Gravity of Joy

Monday, January 10
Underwritten by: Holland Home and Howard Miller Company

In her book The Gravity of Joy, author and professor Angela Gorrell pulls from her own search for authentic Christian joy as she reflects on our collective need for a counteragent to despair. In her talk she will articulate a vision for communities that yearn for joy in response to tragedy and work together to find it.

L. Gregory Jones

Trusting Institutions: Rediscovering the Power of Christianity’s Surprise

Tuesday, January 11
Underwritten by: Howard Miller Company and the de Vries Institute for Global Faculty Development

Known for his books on forgiveness, Christian leadership, and social innovation, L. Gregory Jones is passionate about reshaping cultures within and across organizations. He will be discussing the significance of institutions in the spread of Christianity and why trust is so important in renewing them (and developing new versions of them) today.

Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers

Keeping it Nuanced: How to Have Grace-filled Political Conversations

Wednesday, January 12
Underwritten by: Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity & Politics

Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers are popular podcasters and authors who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum but have proven that people from opposing political perspectives truly can have calm, grace-filled conversations about politics.

Reuben Miller

Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration

Thursday, January 13
Underwritten by: I.C.N. Foundation

Like he does in his book Halfway Home, Reuben Miller will help us explore the American justice system with a critical lens as he shows how parole is structured to keep classes of Americans impoverished, unstable, and disenfranchised and leaves men, women, and communities fighting a system designed for them to fail. He unpacks laws, rules, and regulations that extract a tangible cost not only from those working to rebuild their lives, but also our democracy.

Rick Steves

Why Travel Makes Us Better Global Citizens

Friday, January 14
Underwritten by: Covenant Living of the Great Lakes

Rick Steves is a popular public television host, best-selling guidebook author, and outspoken activist who encourages people to broaden their perspectives through travel. For over 40 years he has been traveling, researching, and teaching and will share his experiences as he talks about being better global citizens.

Note: this speaker will be joining us virtually

LaTasha Morrison

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation

Monday, January 17
Underwritten by: Larry and Mary Gerbens & Liza and Khan Nedd

Be the Bridge raises awareness about racial inequality and systemic injustice in the United States and trains ambassadors from churches and ministries to educate, start respectful discussions, and build interracial and cross-cultural relationships. Founder LaTasha Morrison is a certified trainer in cultural intelligence and unconscious bias and will share her knowledge and expertise on fostering racial reconciliation.

Max Stossel

We’ve Been Sneaking into Your Brain: The True Impact of Social Media

Tuesday, January 18
Underwritten by: Miller Johnson

Stossel speaks with students, parents, and educators around the world about social media's impact on our lives and how we can mitigate it. As a former media strategist and social media employee, he brings a unique and valuable perspective on the role of technology in our society.

Stossel will also be offering an Encore event at 7 p.m. EST (in person only). 

Encore Event with Max Stossel

Tuesday, January 18

Admiral James Stavridis

Geopolitical Security Concerns in a Technologically Transforming World

Wednesday, January 19
Underwritten by: Bruce & Mary Okkema and the Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation

From 2009 to 2013, Admiral James Stavridis led the NATO Alliance in global operations as Supreme Allied Commander; he was responsible for cyber security and counter piracy. Admiral Stavridis is a sought-after expert in geopolitics—particularly relations between the U.S. and China.

Colum McCann

Making Peace with Stories

Thursday, January 20
Underwritten by: Patrick and Maria O’Hare

International bestselling author Colum McCann braves the darkness within his stories’ subject matter in order to reach the light on the far side, and his mission is to help others do the same. Through his global charity Narrative 4, young people across 20 states and 12 countries have shared over 48,000 stories in order to develop a generation of radically empathetic leaders.

N.T. (Tom) Wright

Galatians in Three Dimensions

Friday, January 21
Underwritten by: Center for Excellence in Preaching

As one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars, NT Wright is well equipped to lead us through the book of Galatians and help us understand it on three different levels.

Note: this speaker will be joining us virtually

G. Sujin Pak

Wrestling with the Word: Biblical Interpretation through Church History

Monday, January 24
Underwritten by: The Stob Lecture Series

Throughout her teaching and research, G. Sujin Pak has explored the history of biblical interpretation. To succeed in this endeavor, she learned to master a variety of perspectives as well as the social contexts where those perspectives emerged. She teaches others to do the same.

Pak will also be speaking at the Stob Lecture Colloquium at 4 p.m. EST.

Simply Three

Simply Three in Concert & Conversation

Tuesday, January 25
Underwritten by: Holland Litho Printing Services

The electrifying string trio of Glen McDaniel, Nick Villalobos, and Zack Clark, together known as Simply Three, will present a concert and conversation. By reshaping convention through a style of genre hopping, the trio continues to seek the true essence of classical crossover with original works as well as innovative arrangements that showcase their technical virtuosity and heartfelt musicality.

Simply Three will also be offering an Encore event at 7 p.m. EST (in person only). 

Encore Event with Simply Three

Tuesday, January 25

Col. Nicole Malachowski

Harnessing Headwinds of Change

Wednesday, January 26
Underwritten by: Barnes & Thornburg, LLP

Colonel Nicole Malachowski draws on stories from her career and personal life to inspire audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent, empowering them with three key beliefs: Failure and risk are the price of entry for achieving something great, sometimes you need to yield to overcome, and don’t lead a scripted life.

Brad Montague

Becoming Better Grownups

Thursday, January 27
Underwritten by: GMB Architects + Engineering and Samaritas

Brad Montague is a writer and director on a mission to create stories that cultivate empathy and imagination in kids and former kids. As the creator of the hit web series Kid President, he has ample experience to draw from as he talks about what it looks like to amplify good in our own lives and in the places we live and serve.

Gary Schmidt

In the Tangles of Our Minds: Why Stories Move Us

Friday, January 28
Underwritten by: Calvin Center for Innovation in Business and Pioneer Construction

A renowned storyteller, Schmidt is the best-selling author of children’s literature and young adult fiction including Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, The Wednesday Wars, and Okay for Now. With decades of experience, he will share what it takes to tell stories that impact who we are as we use storytelling to figure out and live with our humanity.