The conference will focus on "Spiritual Solutions to Crime & Violence" and will be held Thursday, June 2 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (continental breakfast at 8 a.m.) at Japhet School in Madison Heights. The conference is co-sponsored by Interfaith Partners of NCCJ, the Detroit Police Department, Japhet School, HAVEN and the Birmingham Christian Science Church. Japhet is located at 31201 Dorchester, near Thirteen Mile Road and Stephenson Highway.

The conference will feature keynote speaker David Stevens of Petaluma, California, followed by a panel discussion by community leaders on reducing crime and violence through spiritual means and prayer. The audience will also be encouraged to share their personal experiences of finding safety and protection by relying on prayer.

Panelists include:

* Roger Strelow (moderator), board member of Interfaith Partners and First Church of Christ, Scientist, Birmingham;

* Brenda Rosenberg of Temple Beth EL and founder of Pathways to Peace; and a creator of the play and soon to be film "The Children of Abraham"

* Lori Mello, director, community education, HAVEN, a shelter in Pontiac for abused women

* Umar Yufenu, Drug Counselor for Kids, National Council for Alcohol and Drug Dependency

* Mohammad Ahmad, Substance Abuse Prevention Counselor for Kids, Inner City Sub Center. Mssrs. Yufenu and Ahmad are both affiliated with American Society for Religious and Cultural Understanding (ASRCU), sponsored by the Islamic Association of Greater Detroit (IAGD) located in Rochester Hills.

* Rev. Sharon Buttry; a Baptist minister who is Director of REACH Social Ministries with the Acts 29 Fellowship in Hamtramck, and a member of the Pastoral Care Team at First Baptist Church in Ferndale.

  *  Robin Hill, Detroit Police Chaplin Corps
  *  Judge Brian W. MacKenzie, 52nd District Court, Novi

With a master's degree in education from Harvard University and 10 years' experience in college administration, keynoter Stevens is a fulltime Christian Science practitioner and lecturer who conducts workshops in colleges and universities, drug court programs and prisons, classrooms, churches, hospitals and convention centers throughout the US and Canada. His talks are designed to help people discover their spiritual value and worth -- and overcome addictions and abusive behavior.

The conference is open to the public. For information or to register in advance, phone 248-585-9150 during regular business hours.

Source: Birmingham Christian Science Church

CONTACT: Mike Hedge of Hedge & Company, Inc., +1-248-789-8976, for
Birmingham Christian Science Church