Global Focus Week ends with message from world hunger expert

This week, students of all majors have been encouraged by speakers and cultural experience events to learn more about other areas of the world during the biannual conference aimed at raising global awareness.

More than 120 representatives from 52 nonprofits and organizations who were on campus to meet with students throughout the week.

Students also heard from His Excellency Edward Yakobe Sawerengera, the Ambassador from Malawi to the U.S. during the Global Talk event on Thursday. (Read the full story on his visit.)

Dancing, art, and food from cultures ranging from the Caribbean Islands to Sub-Saharan Africa were featured at the Cultural Experience events at the Montview Student Union.

Some of Liberty’s 900 international students showed off traditional foods from their home countries during the Taste of Nations event.

During Convocation, Thornton talked about how the Lord led her to become passionate about food security. After adopting two boys from Ethiopia who were orphaned due to extreme poverty and hunger, she decided to dedicate her life to raising awareness.

But Thornton said her path wasn’t always so clear. After studying biochemistry, painting, and fashion during her academic career, Thornton told students that they didn’t need to have their entire path figured out just yet.

“Read Scripture and ask God to reveal what He has for you,” she said. “Be willing to let it look dark and hazy for a really long time, but do not be scared of that.”

Thornton used the example of how God called her to adopt when she was only a poor student in graduate school and how she continued to trust in Him though she didn’t understand all the parts of His plan.

“Just be willing to take it one day at a time,” she said. “You just have to be willing to dig in and follow God’s path for you. But know that for most people that isn’t a floodlight into the future.”

On Friday night, Thornton brought her expertise to a hands-on experiment called The Hunger Banquet. At the event, hosted by LU Serve at the Center for Multicultural Enrichment in the Montview Student Union, each participant was given a number representing how a population of the world eats. The meals ranged from a three-course meal, to rice and beans, to nothing. Thornton discussed how students can take their knowledge learned from the event and apply it to their circle of influence.