Indiana Wesleyan University will present Richard Stearns, president and CEO of World Vision U.S., with the 14th annual World Changer Award at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12 at the Society of World Changers Convocation. The event will be held in the Chapel Auditorium on IWU’s residential campus and will be open to the public. The convocation will include music from the IWU Chorale, the presentation of a life-size bust of Stearns, and a question-and-answer session with the honoree.
Following a call from God to exchange success for service, Stearns resigned as CEO from Lenox in 1998, leaving behind more than 25 years of experience in corporate America to become World Vision’s president. Since then, Stearns has used his World Vision U.S. platform to call Christians to action on the greatest needs of our day. His award-winning book, “The Hole in Our Gospel,” has encouraged thousands of readers to open their hearts to those who are hurting in the world.
Stearns appears regularly as a commentator on some of the top issues of our day in outlets including Christianity Today, Relevant magazine, Fox News and Huffington Post. He speaks in churches regularly and in recent years has spoken at the Lausanne Conference, Willow Creek’s Global Leadership Summit, the Christian Leadership Alliance, Movement Day, Worship Together and dozens of other conferences. In 2009, he was appointed to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Stearns holds a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
“Richard Stearns, through his passion and dedication, has used his business expertise and God-given gifts to address world poverty and to bring hope in the name of Christ,” said Dr. David Wright, IWU president. “We are thrilled to honor Mr. Stearns, whose name adds great distinction to the Society of World Changers.”
IWU established the Society of World Changers in 2003 to recognize individuals who are faithful Christians by example, use their professional platforms to impact their world for Christ and have risen to national prominence. Previous inductees include television producer and author Robert Briner, neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson, author Frank Peretti, Hobby Lobby CEO David Green, founder of Joni and Friends Joni Eareckson Tada, gospel musicians Bill and Gloria Gaither, former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole and best-selling author and businessman John Maxwell. The most recent inductee, in 2016, was Ravi Zacharias, a renowned evangelical speaker and author.