Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is on about being an ordinary radical. Between visiting Iraq during the war and helping out in Calcutta with Mother Theresa, he lives in Philadelphia in The Simple Way community he helped start. Shane is also a keynote speaker at NCYC09.

A young American activist and evangelist, Shane is an incredible Christian speaker in demand around the world; he loves the circus; and is a founding member of The Simple Way - a Christian community based in urban Philadelphia working to change the world one loving act at a time. The Simple Way is committed to simplicity, spirituality, hope, and sometimes a bit of non-violent civil disobedience.

Shane is also the author of The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical. “We love God, love people, and follow Jesus”, writes Shane. “We are about ending poverty, not simply managing it. We give people fish. We teach them to fish. We tear down the walls that have been built up around the fish pond. And we figure out who polluted it.”

Shane says “Many spiritual seekers have not been able to hear the words of Christians because the lives of Christians have been making so much horrible noise. It can be hard to hear the gentle whisper of the Spirit amid the noise of Christendom.”

“As an evangelical, the only way I know to invite people into Christian faith is to come and see. After all, I’m not just trying to get someone to sign a doctrinal statement, but to come to know the love, grace and peace in the incarnation of Jesus, and now in the incarnation of the body, Christ’s church. Let me show you Jesus with skin on.”

For photos and more information about Shane visit http://www.thesimpleway.org/shane/

Shane’s book The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical (Zondervan, 2006) is available from UniChurch Books (http://unichurch.victas.uca.org.au/) and other good Christian book stores. His new book, Jesus for President is also available.

Robyn Whitaker was 18 when she knew that she wanted to be minister. From country churches to high school chaplaincy, Robyn is big on youth ministry. She’s also a keynote speaker at NCYC09.

Robyn’s background as a chaplain and a long history in youth ministry makes Robyn one of the anticipated highlights at NCYC09. Robyn makes faith and theology accessible and engaging in everyday language, and will be a challenging and inspiring for all who hear her.

Robyn is a great role model for young women in ministry, and is passionate about sharing the gospel. As a keynote speaker, Robyn will help unpack the convention themes in light of the gospel call to discipleship.

After completing university studies in science and theology, Robyn ministered in rural Victoria and as Chaplain at Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne. She’s now doing a doctorate in New Testament studies at the University of Chicago.

Amie’s call was to ‘follow Christ, serve the people’. Surrounded by government corruption, abductions and brutal killings, she works on the front line of human rights and social justice issues in the Philippines. Amie is also a keynote speaker at NCYC09.

Amie is a church peace advocate and activist from the ecumenical movement in the Philippines. She is an example of how to integrate faith into concrete responses in the world, and has a disturbing message for comfortable Christians - a message that opens up avenues for resistance and solidarity.
Amie came to her calling as an activist through her participation in the Church and her commitment with the poor and oppressed has only intensified over the years. As she immersed herself in places where people were experiencing demolition of their homes, where students could not study due to lack of funds, where communities were harassed by the military, and where poverty had a glaring impact on every aspect of life, Amie knew that she had to leave her studies behind and follow in the footsteps of Christ.

Amie is excited to be with the youth in Australia. She aspires to help young people develop their passion for life the issues around them, and she equally hopes to inspire them to join the world movement for peace and justice.  As a youth who responded to God’s call in her life, Amie easily bridges the gap with youth who are looking for their own call in God’s plan.

Amie is a grassroots teacher on societal issues, an inviting storyteller of life in the Philippines, and a firm believer in God’s call to youth today. And always, in her amazing stories of the situation in the Philippines, she connects with the hopes and aspirations of young people.