Held October 21, 2025
Organized by the Religion and Global Health Forum and the Stead Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL, USA
Faith, indigenous wisdom, and technology came together in a deeply inspiring conversation moderated by Dr. Kenneth Ngwa, Director of the Religion and Global Health Forum at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
The panel featured Jacklyne Kezia (Doctoral Fellow for the Stead Center), Dr. Bilinga Tendwa (Global Phytomedicine Institute), Dr. Charlie Ware (Holistic Health & Phytomedicine Practitioner), and Dr. Kate Ott (Stead Center for Ethics and Values)—each offering unique insights into how spirituality, citizen science, and technological innovation converge to address global health challenges.
Key Insights
- Faith and Indigenous Knowledge as Science:
Jacklyne Kezia reminded participants that “health is a circle”—linking farming, healing, and fellowship through sacred community wisdom.
Her message: reclaim science as sacred, theologize from the soil up. - Phytomedicine and Holistic Stewardship:
Dr. Bilinga Tendwa illustrated how the Christian view of body, spirit, and soul underpins holistic medicine—rooted in plants like Justica spp and Mondia Whitei.
She urged a revival of biblical and indigenous healing practices as ecological theology in action. - Everyday Plants, Extraordinary Healing:
Dr. Charlie Ware demonstrated how natural plants—including the sugar cane—carry biochemical and spiritual significance in healing, showing that local flora can restore both body and meaning. - Faith-Informed Citizen Science:
Dr. Kate Ott expanded on how communities of faith can become citizen-science networks, turning moral conviction into measurable impact through data stewardship and participatory science.
Reflections
Dr. Ngwa’s moderation connected these perspectives into one powerful narrative: that faith, flora, and evidence together create a holistic model for planetary and community health.
The dialogue underscored how Africa’s traditions and diaspora wisdom can redefine science as sacred participation rather than mere observation.
What’s Next
Insights from this discussion will inform the upcoming Faith-Based Citizen Science & Verification Track under the GLOHBX initiative, exploring how faith networks and indigenous knowledge can shape verified impact systems.
Explore related insight: Faith × Flora × Citizen Science — Building a Sacred Ecosystem of Health Innovation (coming soon)