United Methodist Church Leader who survived terrorist attack at the Istanbul Airport

Thomas Kemper, the general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, who was in Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport when terrorists attacked, killing 40, will share his deeply emotional experience of that event and the aftermath at a National Press Club Newsmaker news conference at 10 a.m. Fri., Aug. 19, in the club’s Murrow Room.

Kemper leads Global Ministries, the international mission agency of the United Methodist Church, which has operations and partners in more than 125 countries. As a result of witnessing this terrorist event, he has been inspired to bring together people and bridge the distrust of others, and encourage his organization and his church to follow that same direction with the goal of leading humanity to a more peaceful world.

“Our presence in Istanbul was not a political act,” he wrote in a CNN opinion post, further identifying most of the people he saw taking cover as Muslims. “We were there as humans, and we felt that we all wanted to live. We all wanted to have a future, and we all wanted to see our families again.”

Kemper will be discussing the events of the terrorist attack as they happened, with a broader message of hope and understanding where people of all faiths can stand together as one against acts of hate, terror and violence whether they happen overseas or in American cities.



The National Press Club is located on the 13th Floor of the National Press Building, 529 14th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20045.



As with all Newsmaker events, this news conference is open to credentialed media and Press Club members, free of charge. No advance registration is required.



Contact newsmaker event host David Hodes, 202-596-5037, [email protected]