Keynote Speaker: Okorie Kalu
Okorie met the Lord as a teenager through reading Christian Literature and received initial help through the Scripture Union. While in college he received help from Navigator Staff like Prof. Bob Taussig, Mike Treneer and Bernie Dodd. Okorie met Chi while teaching as Aeronautical Engineering and Chi was training to become a Pilot. Chi graduated to become Nigeria’s First Female Pilot. In 1982 Okorie as an intern staff with the Navigators served in Iowa State University. On return to Nigeria in 1993 Okorie and Chi got married and became one of first national staff of the Navigators in Nigeria.
Together they led campus ministries, pioneered new campuses, served on the Nigerian leadership team for many years. In 1994 Okorie and Chi went to Zambia as missionaries with their three children to build up a ministry started by other missionaries.
The ministry was greatly blessed by the Lord in the 8 years that they led and grew to become a strong nationally led ministry that has sent missionaries to other countries in Africa and Japan.
From Zambia Okorie and Chi returned to Nigeria and were invited to the Africa Regional Team with the responsibilities of leading English Speaking West Africa, Coordinating Students ministries and Staff development. Okorie has played a very key role in developing Strategies for implementing the Core for Africa and for many of the national ministries in Africa.
Okorie is a key conference speaker and has traveled throughout Africa speaking and teaching. Okorie has actively worked to network ministries in Africa with campus ministries in the US for partnerships.
Internationally Okorie’s contribution to the Navigators among other things include leading the effort in helping the Navigators respond Biblically to Poverty, Corruption and Injustice.
Chi, besides laboring alongside her husband is an accomplished career woman. She is nationally recognized with several awards like “Member of the Federal Republic of Nigerian. She is an inducted member of the Nigerian Women Achievers Hall of Fame and is listed and recognized as One of Nigeria’s 50 Greatest Women. She is a mother and homemaker. Together they have raised three kids and several relatives. Nkem is a PhD Student and Chi is a Graduate student. Okem is on his way to College.
Other Featured Speakers:
Kevin James
is the senior pastor of New Community Bible Fellowship in Cleveland OH. He and his wife Tanya founded the church on the principles of evangelism and discipleship over 20 years ago.
Rich Berry
serves with the Navigators as the director of Atlanta ministries and the National Director of African American Network. Richard and his wife Jane have been married for 42 years.