Greatness in Action: Inspirational Faith Leaders of 2014

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey: Rescue. Restore. Return.

Editor's Pick: This dynamic power couple is known for using their star power to encourage higher living through television, online and the big screen. Last year alone the TV mini-series The Bible, attracted over 100 million viewers becoming the number one watched series of 2013. This year team Burnett-Downey are stretching their influence into world affairs. The Christian couple have partnered with a Muslim king to help Iraqi and Syrian Christians as well as other minorities displaced by ISIS. “Having survived eradication by terror groups, they [Christians] now might die naturally from the coming harsh winter,” said Liberty University chaplain Johnnie Moore. Through partnerships around the world the goal of the “Cradle of Christianity Fund” effort is to raise $25MM to help provide refugee assistance to Christians in the Middle East and weaken barriers of hostility between Muslims and Christians. Find out how you can help here.

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe: Resisting the Lord’s Resistance

She is a beacon of hope to girls who have endured the wounds of war, rape, violence and sexual exploitation in Gulu, Uganda. Sister Rosemary serves as the director of the Saint Monica Girl’s Tailoring Center which provides love, security and a renewed sense of purpose to young women healing from unfathomable trauma. The center helps rebuild their self-esteem, teaches them a trade to improve their economic situation, but most importantly helps them discover who they really are again. Her contagious energy and desire to see others restored despite tragedy, inspires us all to believe in the power of one and the unlimited strength of relentless love.

Remembering Dr. Myles Munroe: Leader and Global Ambassador

Through Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship, he created a worldwide following advancing the Kingdom of God. He was affectionately known as the “Apostle of Purpose” and this passion for purpose led to the creation of the Global Leadership Summit. An annual innovative leadership forum impacting governments, universities, businesses and churches. He received the Honors of the Order of England and was honored by the Bahamian government for twenty-five years of outstanding service. Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth along with seven others were on their way to the 2014 Global Leadership Forum when their lives were abruptly taken in a plane crash. Though we are saddened by this lost we are ignited by one of his most famous quotes “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose.”

Nancy Kaufman: Healthcare Advocate and Humanitarian

Kaufman serves as CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women and a bold leader in the effort to ensure all Americans have access to health care. “A crucial part of the Affordable Care Act,” Kaufman writes, “is the option for states to expand eligibility for Medicaid to cover millions more people who have been too poor to pay for health care but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid coverage.” NCJW has offices in Washington and Jerusalem to develop public policy addressing both domestic and international issues. More recently, Kaufman and the NCJW have been adamant supporters of the Affordable Care Act and dedicated the Jewish Community Day of Action to mobilizing more than 20 Jewish organizations to champion access to coverage. Kaufman’s inspirational work and passionate desire encourages us that all faith communities can unite to make a positive political and social difference.

Eboo Patel: Telling The Interfaith Story

An American citizen and Muslim of Indian descent, Patel is the founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, an organization designed to build bridges and cooperation in the interfaith communities. At the core, he sees religion as a way to unite not divide. Also known for his prolific writing ability, his books include: "Acts of Faith": the Story of an American Muslim, the "Struggle for the Soul of a Generation” and “Sacred Ground, Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America.” Patel encourages Muslims worldwide to reclaim their religious narrative from terrorists. In a New York Times article pleading for interfaith involvement to come alongside and help this effort he says, “Muslims cannot change the narrative alone. We need Jews and Christians and Hindus and humanists to stop believing the violent message of the Muslim extremists and the Islam-haters." We celebrate Patel’s global interfaith vision and desire to promote healthy dialogue across faith lines.