Thomas Kemper of Global Ministries to Discuss Deeper Meaning of His First-Hand Experience as a Survivor of Istanbul Airport Attack
Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) August 18, 2016 -- Thomas Kemper, the general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, who was in Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport when terrorists attacked, killing 40, will share his deeply emotional experience of that event and the aftermath at a National Press Club Newsmaker news conference at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 19, 2016, in the Murrow Room.
Kemper is general secretary of Global Ministries, the worldwide mission agency of The United Methodist Church, which has operations and partners in more than 125 countries. Because of the Istanbul attack, he has been inspired to remind us all of our common humanity, bridge the distrust of others, and encourage his organization and his church to follow that same direction with the goal of leading us all to a more peaceful world.
“Our presence in Istanbul was not a political act,” he wrote in a CNN opinion post, further identifying most of the people he saw taking cover as Muslims. “We were there as humans, and we felt that we all wanted to live. We all wanted to have a future, and we all wanted to see our families again.”
Kemper will be discussing the events of the bombing as they happened, with a broader message of hope and understanding where people of all faiths can stand together as one against acts of hate, violence, and terror whether they happen overseas or in American cities such as Orlando, Dallas or Chicago.
The National Press Club is located on the 13th Floor of the National Press Building, 529 14th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20045. As with all Newsmaker events, this news conference is open to credentialed media and Press Club members, free of charge. No advance registration is required.
Contact newsmaker event host David Hodes, 202-596-5037, dhodes11(at)gmail(dot)com.
About the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church
The General Board of Global Ministries is the worldwide mission agency of The United Methodist Church. Founded in New York City in 1819, Global Ministries today supports 340 missionaries in 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects and partners in a total of 125 countries. Learn more about Global Ministries by visiting http://umcmission.org or follow http://www.facebook.com/GlobalMinistries and http://www.Twitter.com/UMCmission.
Mary Andreolli, United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, http://umcmission.org, +1 919-356-4488, [email protected]
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