Dr. Abraham was born in Northern Ireland in 1947. He is currently the Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology at SMU. Educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen and Queen’s University, Belfast, Dr. Abraham went on to receive a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky and a Doctorate in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Oxford. In 2003, he was appointed as Altshuler University Distinguished Teacher at SMU. Dr. Abraham works as a philosophical and systematic theologian in the Wesleyan tradition. His interests range across the whole spectrum of issues that link philosophy and theology. He has done significant work in the epistemology of theology and in systematic theology; more recently he has developed a keen interest in the intersection between theology and politics.
Lewis is a 13-year-old piano phenomenon. He started playing simple tunes on the piano when he was three. He had composed many of his own songs by the age of five, and by eight, he was performing in piano competitions and recitals all over the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. His love for music and unique performance abilities have created many opportunities for him, including numerous local, national and international concert recitals and television appearances. In 2005, he was a top finalist in the International Russian Piano Music Competition, and in 2008, Lewis was featured on America’s Got Talent as a child prodigy. Earlier this year, Lewis performed the “Star Spangled Banner” in front of a crowd of over 170,000 fans at Texas Motor Speedway. Lewis continues to use his gift and is routinely asked to share that musical connection that is bigger than himself.
Turk is an Austin-based writer and filmmaker, and the director of the new feature documentary, One Peace at a Time, which looks at the possibility of providing basic rights to every child. He has published ten books of fiction and nonfiction, including the New York Times bestseller, The Tao of Willie, which Turk coauthored with American music legend, Willie Nelson. He is also the author of the novels Fast Greens and When Angels Sing. Turk also directed the feature documentary, Nobelity, and is the co-founder of the education and action nonprofit, The Nobelity Project. As an actor, Turk played that idiot narcoleptic guy in HBO’s The Sopranos. His feature films include Waiting for Guffman, The Alamo, Friday Night Lights and Rick Linklater’s Scanner Darkly.
