This spring, we invite you gather with us in Dallas, TX at our 2025 Partner Summit. Together, we will press into Jesus' call in John 16:33 to Take Heart as we connect with like-minded partners and World Relief staff, learn from global voices and celebrate the Lord's continual movement through his church.
Location:
Highland Park Presbyterian Church
3821 University Blvd
Dallas, TX 75205
Schedule
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
5:30 pm – Registration Opens
6:30 pm – Session 1
7:30 pm – Bevi's & Bites optional
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
8:00 am – Bevi's & Bites optional
9:00 am – Session 2
11:00 am – Breakout Session 1
12:30 pm – Lunch & Table Talks
2:00 pm – Breakout Session 2
3:30 pm – Coffee Break
5:00 pm – Session 3 & Dinner
Event Speakers
Lanre Williams-Ayedun MA MPH is the Senior Vice President of International Programs at World Relief leading a team of over 1,000 employees serving in 11 countries. With over 20 years of experience in developing community-based programs, Lanre’s career spans experience in public health, micro-finance, agriculture and disaster response. Lanre recently advised the World Bank Group on the creation of a faith and development research agenda, and in 2022 was named an Emerging and Developing Global Executive (EDGE) fellow by the World Trade Center Institute. Lanre also serves as a board member, coach and advisor for several organizations. She is a sought-after public speaker on faith and development with a master’s degree from George Washington University in International Development and Public Health and a certification in Human Centered Design from Johns Hopkins University. Lanre speaks four languages and currently lives in Sterling, Virginia with her husband Yomi.
Matthew Soerens serves as Vice President of Advocacy and Policy for World Relief and the National Coordinator for the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition of evangelical organizations of which World Relief is a founding member. He is the co-author of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate (InterVarsity Press, 2018), Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis (Moody Publishers, 2016) and Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church (InterVarsity Press, 2022). He is a graduate of Wheaton College (IL), where he also has served as an adjunct faculty member for the Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership graduate program. Matthew also earned a Master’s degree from DePaul University. He lives with his wife Diana and their four children in Aurora, Illinois.
Dennis Mwangwela serves as Director of Integral Mission for World Relief’s International Programs. With over 20 years of experience in international development, he provides technical support to World Relief’s country offices, focusing on building staff capacity to mobilize and engage local churches and communities so that they can address diverse vulnerabilities in their communities. Dennis is passionate about church and community-led transformation through belief and mindset changes. Born and raised in Malawi, Dennis has been married to his wife, Agnes, for 26 years, and they have four children.
Scott Arbeiter
More info coming soon
Travel/Accommodations
The World Relief team is excited to see you in Dallas! We hope these travel suggestions help as you plan your trip to the Church Partner Summit.
Airport Options
Love Field Airport (DAL)
4.1 miles from the Church Partner Summit
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
20.2 miles from the Church Partner Summit
Suggested Hotels
Hyatt House Dallas/Lincoln Park
3.5 miles from the Church Partner Summit
8221 North Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75225
1-214-696-1555
Home2 Suites by Hilton Dallas Medical District Lovefield
5.4 miles from the Church Partner Summit
4866 Harry Hines Blvd
Dallas, TX 75235
1-469-466-9000
Registration
World Relief is honored to have you join us for our second Partner Summit! In order to best track responses, we ask that each individual register separately.