A WCIU Webinar with Scott Bessenecker
Thursday, March 31, 2022, 1 pm PST
Join our online community and WCIU Alumni, Scott Bessenecker as we tackle some deep waters for a conversation about holding both joy and suffering. Scott will present words of wisdom from his vast experience with InterVarsity then will be joined by friends, Rev. Fr. Benigno P. Beltran, SVD, Mandy Trusty of InterVarsity, and, our very own, Dr. Viv Grigg for a time of insightful discussion. We anticipate that this will be both a challenging and fruitful topic for us to dive into.
Scott Bessenecker is the Director of Global Engagement & Justice for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and author of several books, including The New Friars: The Emerging Movement Serving the World's Poor. He sends students each year on short-term experiences around the world to explore the intersection of the Christian faith with justice. You can follow some of Scott’s thoughts on his blog www.overturningtables.com
Round Table Respondents
Rev. Fr. Benigno P. Beltran, SVD
The Rev. Fr. Benigno P. Beltran, SVD, was born June 5, 1946 in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. Ordained in 1973, Fr. Beltran received his Doctorate in Theology from Gregorian University in Rome in 1985, and was Scholar-in-Residence at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago from 1985- 1986. Author of numerous publications, he won the Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Award in 1988 for “The Christology of the Inarticulate.” His most recent publication is “ Smokey Mountain: Ravaged Earth and Wasted Lives.” Currently the parish priest for the Parish of the Risen Christ in Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Manila, Fr. Beltran has spent over a quarter of a century working with the “scavenger residents” living atop of the third largest untreated garbage dump in the world. He has helped to organize, house, educate and empower a community that truly embodies living on “the margins of society.” With a foundation of spiritual and value formation, Fr. Beltran has helped the people of his unique parish to help themselves, finding self-respect and hope.
Mandy Trusty (Des Moines, Iowa)
I’m the InterVarsity Link Staff Coordinator for Latin America. In this position, I am assisting with connections between InterVarsity/USA and the 20 IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) movements in Latin America. I served for 4 years with the local movement in Nicaragua. InterVarsity Link currently has a team of 8 staff serving with 5 different countries: Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Panama.
Dr. Viv Grigg
Dr. Viv Grigg is the Director of our Master’s in Urban Transformational Leadership Program (MATUL). He has pioneered churches, development and advocacy agencies among the urban poor since the 1970’s in Manila, Calcutta, São Paulo, and Los Angeles. He is the author of 7 books on urban issues, numerous published articles, and is a pioneer of global urban networks. In addition to teaching, he leads the Encarnação Alliance, a global network of urban poor movement leaders.