MBU’s annual Fall Speaker Series occurred on Oct. 6-8 in Pillsbury Chapel. Classes were cancelled each day at 11 a.m. in order for students to attend.

Every day, thousands of children around the world are abandoned or kidnapped from their homes. Highlighting Orphan Awareness Month, the speaker of this year’s series will feature author Stephanie Fast. Abandoned by her mother at the age of five, Fast was deserted and left helpless during the Korean War. A missionary couple on a trip with World Vision adopted her a few years later, instilling the power of healing and love to Fast.

Today, Fast has become an advocate for all orphans and inspirational speaker. Her book featuring her story “She Is Mine” is now available to purchase or download.

To continue the Orphan Awareness on campus, this month’s art gallery showcased in the Pillsbury Chapel and Dale Williams Fine Arts Center will feature photography of orphans from around the world.

Many of the photos in the MBU art gallery come from MBU’s Senior Communications Specialist, Jenny Gravatt, who served orphanages in Haiti twice with teams from MBU.

“Meeting the children in the orphanages was an experience I will never forget,” Gravatt said. “The children’s happiness from the littlest things was amazing.

“They were so excited just to have people show them love and compassion.”

With Fast joining us as speaker, Campus minister Jonathan White said he felt the campus needed to have a practical way for students to get involved.

Donations can be made to Fast’s Destiny Ministries. Sponsoring a child, send support where needed and more through Holt International.