The speaker for the first Suter Science Seminar of the second (spring) semester at Eastern Mennonite University will respond to some of the very environmental problems he once helped create.
Joe Johnston of Nashville, Tenn., who led the group that invented McDonald’s now-famous Happy Meal and other marketing milestones, will speak 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, in room 104 of EMU’s Suter Science Center on “Praying for a Change of Heart: What Do We Do With All This Science?”
Johnston has morphed into an entrepreneur who hikes wilderness trails, an executive who leads prayer in two languages and a teacher who lives in a remote solar-powered log cabin. He is uniquely equipped to see through the eyes of commerce as well as the eyes of creation care as he calls for bold and informed faith-based action on ways to bring healing and hope to a polluted planet.
He now speaks about environmental issues as the author of “JWR: Jesus Would Recycle.” He’s a widely-published writer and accomplished artist, an award-winning songwriter, publisher and producer of gospel and other popular music. Johnston teaches at the Art Institute of Tennessee. He has served as a deacon, elder and Sunday School teacher in a variety of denominations and toured North America, speaking and singing in churches. He’s a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, Little League coach and a lifelong outdoorsman who serves in both Christian and traditional Lakota spiritual communities. He’s the founder and chairman of the newly-formed Moccasin Tracks Charities.
“I believe this seminar will help us think through our obligations as Christian stewards of our environment,” said Roman J. Miller, Suter Endowed Professor of Biology at EMU. “Mr. Johnston is very interested in connecting faith with our actions. I encourage people to come and be challenged to a sustainable praxis.”
Refreshments will be served 15 minutes prior to the presentation, which is open to the public free of charge.
– Story by Jim Bishop
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