The Common Ground Bible Study: Becoming a Peacemaker in a Polarized World

Dr. Ming Wang, Harvard and MIT (MD, magna cum laude); PhD (laser physics), is a world-renowned eye surgeon, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Tennessee Immigrant and Minority Business Group. He grew up during China's Cultural Revolution during which millions of youth were deported to remote areas to face a life sentence of poverty and hard labor. In 1982, he made his way to the U.S. with only $50, a Chinese-English dictionary, but with a big American dream in his heart. Dr. Wang has published 10 textbooks and over 100 articles, including one in the world-renowned journal "Nature", holds several U.S. patents, including the world's first amniotic membrane contact lens. He received numerous awards including the Honor Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Chinese American Physicians, the Kiwanis Nashvillian of the Year Award, NPR's Philanthropist of the Year Award, and an honorary doctorate degree from Trevecca Nazarene University. Dr. Wang founded the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration which to date has helped patients from over 40 states in the U.S. and from over 55 countries, with all sight restoration surgeries performed free-of-charge. Dr. Wang's autobiography "From Darkness to Sight" has inspired the film "Sight."

Dr. Rice Broocks is a bestselling author of several books including the book "God's Not Dead" that has been translated into 14 languages. He has spoken at universities in over 40 nations. He is the co-founder of Every Nation Churches and Ministries, that operates in 80 nations currently. His doctoral degree is from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA in the field of missiology which focuses on the intersection of the Christian faith and the wide variety of global cultures and beliefs. Dr. Broocks works closely with a team of scientists, philosophers, and historians, that facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue between faith and science.