Using the image and symbol of the alma mater, makes the case for Christ-centered education in an Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition that conceptualizes our network of schools as alma maters, or nourishing soul-mothers that are the Seat of Wisdom. This case involves thinking carefully about a nonviolent interpretation of the Christian gospel that asserts itself in the face of Constantinian Christianity. (Job 28:12)

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, Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics at AMBS, is an educator-activist-doer. Her own teaching career got its start in a family of educators and has led to teaching roles at Goshen College, AMBS, and for the last five years at Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind. Her scholarship endeavors include being one of three founding editors of the Prophetic Christianity Books Series, a project focused on cultivating the scholarship of those connected to the Black Church, the Historic Peace Church and progressive Evangelicalism. In addition to teaching, writing, and editing, Malinda has served as interim pastor in New York City, and worked as a peace and social justice activist in Washington, D.C. She calls herself an “epicurious localvore, she enjoys worship and prayer that involves our senses, and she loves to knit.

PhD, Union Theological Seminary, New York, 2013
MPhil, Union Theological Seminary, New York, 2009
MAPS, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 2001
BA, Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., 1996

Nelson Okanya, EMS Alum, closes the annual in Chapel Gathering at . Okanya serves as President of and speaks on Inspiring the Next Generation for Mission Engagement.

Nelson Okanya is president of Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM). He was born and raised in the Mennonite community in Kenya, where he interacted with the EMM mission community in Nairobi. He participated in numerous short-term cross-cultural mission experiences and is a 2002 MDiv graduate of EMS. Nelson served for almost six years as pastor of the multi-cultural; multi-national Capital Christian Fellowship congregation near Washington D.C. Among his areas of interest is Anabaptist witness and mission. He is excited about unique mission opportunities and challenges in the 21st century. Nelson enjoys engaging in postmodern and inter-cultural dialogue with a special interest in the next generation and the church as narrative-formed transforming community.

The provides resources to annually bring to the campus of the college and seminary a noted lecturer to address pertinent topics in the area of Christian evangelism and mission for the stimulation and development of a vision for evangelism and missions for the students, faculty and staff of ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø.

Nelson Okanya, EMS Alum, opens the annual in University Chapel. Okanya serves as President of and speaks on An Embodied Witness. He begins his talk with a short .

Nelson Okanya is president of Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM). He was born and raised in the Mennonite community in Kenya, where he interacted with the EMM mission community in Nairobi. He participated in numerous short-term cross-cultural mission experiences and is a 2002 MDiv graduate of EMS. Nelson served for almost six years as pastor of the multi-cultural; multi-national Capital Christian Fellowship congregation near Washington D.C. Among his areas of interest is Anabaptist witness and mission. He is excited about unique mission opportunities and challenges in the 21st century. Nelson enjoys engaging in postmodern and inter-cultural dialogue with a special interest in the next generation and the church as narrative-formed transforming community.

The provides resources to annually bring to the campus of the college and seminary a noted lecturer to address pertinent topics in the area of Christian evangelism and mission for the stimulation and development of a vision for evangelism and missions for the students, faculty and staff of ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø.