Mark Woods will be hosting Catalyst Live 2016

You know when you meet someone for the first time and have a captivating conversation with them? The kind of person you could listen to for hours?

We’ve got 13 scintillating people just like that speaking at Catalyst Live 2016.

And you are going to want to know every one of them. All have interesting backgrounds and fascinating things to say. They come from all over the world and will give a global perspective on everything from faith to technology, worship music to science, poetry to art. They will challenge and surprise you and make you think.

So who’s speaking? Here’s the full list:

Vinoth Ramachandra – The Sri Lankan theologian, social critic and author is never dull. “Expect to be provoked,” he says. “I hope to be able to deliver stimulation and healthy provocation.”

Samuel Escobar – Yes, the legendary Latin American theologian will be at Catalyst Live! He made his name through his involvement in the Lausanne movement and writing influential books such as The New Global Mission. He is widely respected for his wise insights on mission today.

Anneke Kaai – Anneke is a Christian artist based in the Netherlands. She will be showing and talking about her abstract, symbolic paintings, many of which have biblical themes.

Miyon Chung – If there was ever a person born that fits the description ‘global citizen’, it is Miyon. Born in South Korea and now living in the US, this talented theologian teaches in seminaries all over the world and works at the respected Morling College in Australia.

Steve Stockman – Steve is a brilliant poet, music critic and a minister in Northern Ireland. He’s award winning too! Check out his blog to get a flavour for his style of writing and sense of humour.

Nigel Crook – Mr Robot! Nigel Crook is Head of Computing and Communication Technologies at Oxford Brookes University where he leads research in cognitive robotics. He will be speaking with a robot on stage. Not to be missed!

Shadia Qubti – A Christian Palestinian Israeli, Shadia is involved in many initiatives encouraging Palestinian women and youth to advocate for peace. This is your chance to hear from someone working for reconciliation in one of the most complicated conflicts today.

Elie Haddad – Wise, humorous and inspiring, Elie fled civil war in Lebanon in 1990 and is now President at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut. One of the highlights at the Baptist Assembly in Scotland in 2015, he is a brilliant speaker.

Alan Wilson – Speaking at Birmingham only, the Bishop of Buckingham is never short of interesting things to say – check out his blog to see what we mean.

Sam Wells – Speaking at Reading only, the vicar of the prominent St Martins-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square is a well-known speaker, author and broadcaster you may well have heard on Radio 4.

Margaret Gibbs – the former BMS World Mission Regional Secretary for East Asia, ethnomusicologist and minister at Perry Rise Baptist Church in London, Margaret is well known and loved by BMS supporters. She spoke and performed at Catalyst Live in 2013. Check it out – it was superb.

Nigel Wright – Principal Emeritus of Spurgeon’s College London, Nigel is a legend in Baptist circles and has great knowledge of the UK Church and the challenges we face.

Mark Woods – The former Baptist Times editor and now Consulting Editor at Christian Today is our host this year. He is well known for his painstakingly researched investigative journalism and provocative opinion pieces. Mark doesn’t think you should go to Catalyst Live – here he explains why.

What a great list of speakers, eh? So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets and see this amazing line-up of speakers either in Birmingham on 16 November or Reading on 17 November. You will regret it if you don’t go, so go!