Library / The Convergence Conference…

Societal Trends and Risk Factors of Addiction (Plenary Session 3)

This session turns to look at the causes of addiction that arise external to the individual, answering the question, "What is currently happening in society that is making individual and corporate addiction so much worse?" Warren Yamashita, Wayne Walker, and Dimas Salaberrios offer three very different but relevant perspectives to try to better understand the complexities of addiction.

By merging theological insights with medical understanding, this session aims to unearth the roots and repercussions of addiction—many times outsides the control of the individual—offer a nuanced perspective on its pervasive impact, and discuss effective strategies for intervention and support.

Dimas Salaberrios

Dimas Salaberrios served as Senior Pastor of Infinity Bible Church for over 10 years, which he founded in partnership with Dr. Tim Keller and Redeemer City to City. As president of Concerts of Prayer Greater New York for 5 years, Pastor Dimas spearheaded the largest, most diverse force of pastors in a tri-state area comprised of over 5,000 churches mobilized across various denominational, ethnic and economic lines.  A missionary in the purest sense of the word, Pastor Dimas is often on-the-ground advancing the cause of Christ during the nation’s most pressing issues, as well as boldly proclaiming the gospel on every continent (with the exception of Antarctica).  A passionate and exciting speaker, Pastor Dimas’s humor and inspiring style has opened doors for him to appear on TBN, the Word Network, the 700 Club, CNN, Fox News, ABC World News Tonight, and NBC News as well as being featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Outreach magazine, and other publications.  Pastor Dimas holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary and lives in the Bronx with his wife, Tiffany, and their two daughters, Dallas and Skylar.

Warren Yamashita

Dr. Warren Yamashita is a Family and Addiction Medicine physician who serves as Addiction Medicine Director at Harbor Community Health Centers in Los Angeles, California. As adjunct faculty at Stanford’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship, he teaches a Stigma and Disparities course and leads a mixed-methods study on Asian American and Pacific Islander substance use. Dr. Yamashita serves on the Board of Directors for the Asian American Drug Abuse Program and co-founded CMDA’s Addiction Medicine Section. He is married to his lovely wife, Elissa, who is a clinical psychologist. They love to hike, find hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and read a good book together.

Wayne Walker

Mr. Wayne Walker Founder and CEO, OurCalling Wayne Walker serves as the CEO and Pastor to the homeless at OurCalling. In 2001, Wayne, along with his wife Carolyn, started serving the homeless community in Dallas. They founded OurCalling in 2009.  During his youth, Wayne’s family actively pursued the scriptural commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” by modeling the life of Jesus to scores of foster children whose own origins represented generations of human brokenness, dysfunction, sexual exploitation, and abuse. Early exposure to these destructive forces set him on a path to recognize the long-term effects of trauma, which often lead to homelessness. While completing his Master’s Degree in Cross-Cultural Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary, Wayne befriended and ministered to men and women in the homeless community. During that time he began to establish personal, discipleship-oriented relationships with homeless individuals, many in the same urban setting where he and his family continue to work today.

Contributors