Presenters
John Nunes, President, Lutheran World Relief
John Arthur Nunes joined Lutheran World Relief (LWR), a $35 million global organization, as president and CEO in 2007. With a passion for service and deep commitment to LWR’s core values, John leads staff in 17 countries in working to end poverty, injustice and human suffering worldwide.
He has also served as a management consultant, and as an urban parish pastor and community organizer in Dallas and Detroit. A gifted public speaker, John is also a frequent keynote presenter.
“I believe deeply that God created everyone to live in justice, dignity and peace,” John says. “When people’s most basic needs, like food, water and shelter, remain unmet, they are unable to live out their true calling. By working alongside families and communities struggling to lift themselves out of poverty, LWR helps people around the world live into their full promise.”
Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, John grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and has lived in the U.S. since 1981. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland with Monique, who is an administrator for Baltimore Lutheran School, and John, Jr., the youngest of their five children.
Phyllis Tickle, Author
Phyllis Tickle is founding editor of the Religion Department of Publishers Weekly. One of the most respected authorities and popular speakers on religion in America today, she is often quoted and interviewed in many media outlets.
Phyllis began her career as a college teacher for 10 years before entering full time into writing and publishing. In 1996, she received the Mays Award one of the book industry’s most prestigious awards for lifetime achievement in writing and publishing, and specifically in recognition of her work in gaining mainstream media coverage of religion publishing.
A lay Eucharistic minister in the Episcopal Church and a senior fellow of Cathedral College at the National Cathedral in Washington, she is the author of more than two dozen books, including The Great Emergence, How Christianity is Changing and Why.
Phyllis is a founding member of The Canterbury Roundtable, and serves now on a number of advisory and corporate boards. She is the mother of seven children and, with her physician-husband, makes her home on a small farm in Lucy, Tennessee.
Celia Whitler, Singer/Songwriter
Celia Whitler is a singer, songwriter, author, speaker, friend, wife and mom. She enjoys a good laugh, a well told story, connecting with people through her music and through travels.
Celia holds degrees in Christian Education and Elementary Education from Centenary College of Louisiana. After college, she taught school for five years in the Louisiana and Texas public schools.
Celia felt a nudge to explore singing as a vocation. She began writing songs, recording music and singing concerts. Eventually, Celia elected to leave teaching as a profession and follow the less traveled road, devoting her full attention to the vocation of singing. CeIia wants people to know that “our life and our faith is an exciting and dynamic adventure – to share Christ’s message of unconditional love and to encourage others in their journeys.”
Celia began making recordings and to date has released eight artist projects. She has also sung for more than 1,100 concerts and events in 45 states, the D.C. area, Europe and a number of national church events.
Celia and husband, Ron, who is also part of the music team, make Nashville their home and have two sons. Any time not spent on the road or writing is family time.
