GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 5, 2017 – Bethany Global, a division of Bethany Christian Services an organization committed to bringing and keeping families together, has announced renowned Christian author Jen Hatmaker as the keynote speaker for its inaugural Impacting Lives Across the Globe event. The event will take place Thursday, Sept. 14 at St. Cecilia Music Center at 7 p.m. and will raise awareness and support for the critical child welfare and family services Bethany Global provides throughout the world.

Impacting Lives Across the Globe will feature updates on Bethany’s social services initiatives overseas, including in-country foster care and adoption programs. Over the past decade, Bethany Global has provided essential support to countries around the world—including Ethiopia, Haiti, Albania and South Africa—in developing in-country child welfare services to help keep families together. Most recently, Bethany has introduced a foster care program in Albania and successfully placed the first child with a foster family in the history of the country.

Hatmaker is a sought-after speaker, a popular blogger and beloved author of 11 Bible studies and books, including New York Times Best Sellers, “For the Love” and “Of Mess and Moxie.” Additionally, she recently starred in an eight episode HGTV special, “My Big Family Renovation,” and pastors at Austin New Church with her husband Brandon.

“For our inaugural Impacting Lives Across the Globe event, we were in search of a keynote speaker who aligned with Bethany’s commitment to vulnerable children,” said Bill Blacquiere, president and CEO of Bethany Christian Services. “As an outspoken advocate for children in crisis, Jen Hatmaker was a natural fit with our goal of encouraging family preservation and strengthening families domestically and abroad.”

Tickets are available until the day of the event for $30 each. For every ticket purchased, a donor will match the amount, which will provide two months of essential needs to a family in Bethany’s Global Family Sponsorship ministry.

Tickets can be purchased at www.bethany.org/jenhatmaker. For more information on how to support Bethany’s global programming, visit www.bethanyglobal.org.

About Bethany Global Bethany Global, a division of Bethany Christian Services, is committed to taking its more than 75 years of experience in child protection and welfare work in the United States to 14 countries around the world. Bethany Global partners with in-country organizations and governments to establish in-country foster care and family preservation services. For more information on Bethany Global and the services provided around the world, visit www.bethanyglobal.org.

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