Peaceful families focus of lectures

The family as the center of peace in the world will be the theme of speakers at public lectures and workshops next week in the Mackey Marianist Lecture series at Chaminade University.

The speakers will be Susan Vogt, author of “;Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference”; and a family counselor who has worked in Roman Catholic family life education for 30 years, and her husband, Jim Vogt, former administrator for the national Parenting for Peace and Justice Network and current national director of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative.

All events will be held at the Mystical Rose Oratory:

» Wednesday, 7 p.m. Susan Vogt will lead a free workshop on “;Families Creating Circles of Peace, Family Tips for Getting Along”; based on Gospel values.
» Next Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. “;Think Globally, Act Locally”; will be the theme of a workshop by Jim Vogt on ways to implant Gospel values on justice and peace in communities and neighborhoods. The cost is $15 with advance registration and $20 at the door. Call 735-4801 or look at Web site Marianisthawaii.org.
» March 15, 4 p.m. The couple will speak on “;Upside Down Families, Challenges to Christian Families Today.”; It is free and no registration is required.

Thousands gather for Oahu event

“;Many yet One”; is the theme of the annual Hawaiian Islands Ministries conference that is expected to draw more than 4,000 people to events next week at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

About 40 Christian inspirational speakers, authors and ministers will present nearly 100 seminars on spiritual and scriptural subjects, as well as on practical and controversial issues that face congregations.

The Honolulu 2009 conference will open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Francis Chan will be keynote speaker, along with the Rev. Dan Chun, president and co-founder of Hawaiian Islands Ministries.

Workshops and general worship sessions will continue from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. A separate “;Youth Track”; of talks for teenagers is offered.

Some highlights:

» Christian musician Shawn McDonald will perform in an 8:30 p.m. concert Friday.
» Nationally known speakers will include John Rosemond, Tony Campolo, Ellie Lofaro, Paul Sheppard and Peter Chao.
» Kimberly Norris and Gregory Love will lead three workshops on preventing sexual abuse of children in churches and other organized child care.
» Nick Vujicic, who was born without limbs, will talk about “;Life Without Limits.”;
» Larry Langdon will talk about legal and tax issues facing churches and other nonprofits.

Conference admission is $259 at the door, with discounts available for pastors and their spouses, active military personnel, college students and youth. A one-session pass will be $30, and the Friday worship concert is $35. Information can be found at the Web page www.himonline.org or by calling 988-9777.

Program advances Dalai Lama's work

Nobel Peace Prize nominee Jane Roberts will be a keynote speaker at an all-day program of workshops, speakers and films Tuesday to celebrate the Dalai Lama's efforts for peace during 50 years in exile from Tibet.

“;Creating Peace Locally and Globally”; will be the theme of the free event in the Ching Conference Center, Eiben Hall at Chaminade University. The program is sponsored by the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists and Chaminade as part of the David W. Chappell Peace Program.

Some highlights:

» 11 a.m. Workshop on “;Speaking and Listening with Trust and Respect to Resolve Conflicts”; by Tracey Wiltgen, executive director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific.
» 12 to 1:30 p.m. “;Bullying at Work and How to Prevent It”; will be discussed by University of Hawaii ombudsmen Neal Milner and Susan Park.
» 2 p.m. UH professor Leslie Sponsel will speak on “;The Environmental Crisis in Tibet.”;
» 4 p.m. Margaret Goodheart, Margaret Brown and Nancy Pace lead a “;Conversation on International and Interfaith Women as Peace Leaders.”;
» 5:30 p.m. Jane Roberts will speak on “;Woman Power: Human Rights to Health, Education and Clean Environment.”; As co-founder of 34 Million Friends of the U.N. Population Fund, she was nominated in 2005 for a Nobel Peace Prize. She is author of “;34 Million Friends of the Women of the World.”;
» 7 p.m. A documentary film about the Dalai Lama, “;One Man vs. China,”; narrated by Dan Rather, will be shown.

Fundraiser aids Gaza victims

Charities that help people in Gaza will benefit from a fundraiser next Saturday sponsored by several religious groups and other organizations.

The program will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd. It will include Middle Eastern ethnic music, Palestinian folk dancing, poetry reading and a silent auction of handicrafts from Palestine and the Middle East. Middle Eastern snacks will be available.

Sponsors include the Friends of Sabeel Hawaii, the Muslim Association of Hawaii, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, St. Clement's Episcopal Church Global Ministry and the University of Hawaii Ethnic Studies Department.