"I'm delighted that we are hosting the 2nd Annual Transformational Development Conference, especially on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of our MBA in Economic Development program that we are celebrating this year," said Dr. David Bronkema, Director of Development Programs at Eastern University.  "I am looking forward, as I know many others are, to getting together with so many who have been working to combine evangelism and social concern in all kinds of development projects, and to talk about what has worked well and where the challenges are."

The Transformational Development Conference gathers a community united by God's call to end physical and spiritual poverty worldwide. The Conference is a platform for participants to engage in honest conversation that names common hopes and signals the challenges faced. The intent of the Conference is to continue to draw a diversity of voices (including those who have yet to realize how relevant their gifts are) to the conversation and to engage them for change.

"We need these kinds of spaces so that we can reflect on how to be better stewards of the resources that God has given us in this field of transformational development, and to encourage each other and hold each other mutually accountable," Dr. David Bronkema said.  "It will be a great time of fellowship and learning!"

Rene Padilla is a founding member of the Latin American Theological Fellowship and the Kairos Foundation in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After serving as the International President of Tearfund - U.K. and Ireland, Padilla is now the President of the Micah Network and Executive Director of Ediciones Kairos.

Jaisankar Sarma serves as the Vice President for Transformational Development with World Vision International.  Sarma's work focuses on sustainable development of local communities, impact measurement, program evaluation, and promoting knowledge management in nonprofit, humanitarian organizations.

Lisa Sharon Harper is the co-founder and Executive Director of NY Faith & Justice, a movement of churches, organizations and individuals dedicated to following Christ, uniting the church, and ending poverty in New York through spiritual formation, education, and direct advocacy. She has written several plays and co-founded the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) Youth Theater "Laugh and Learn," a youth-based improvisational comedy troupe, and the USC School of Theatre Neighborhood-Turn Project.

The Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University, is the Founder and President of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE). He has worked to create, nurture and support programs for "at-risk" children in cities across North America, and has helped establish schools and universities in several developing countries. He is the author of 35 books and has served American Baptist Churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is an associate pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.

Benjamin Homan, President/CEO of Food for the Hungry, is also an ordained Presbyterian elder, lay-preacher and a former Vice President of Covenant Theological Seminary. He is the former Chair of the Alliance for Food Security, the past President of AERDO (Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations), and past chair of USAID's Advisory Committee. He has served on the faculties of Chaffey College, Biola University, the University of Nebraska and the University of California-Irvine.

For more information about speakers, registration and Conference schedule, visit: www.tdconference.org

For information about Eastern University, visit: www.eastern.edu