Samir Selmanovic

Author's Website: www.samirselmanovic.com

Author's Podcast: www.samir.podbean.com

Samir Selmanovic is an author, speaker, consultant, and community organizer. He was born and raised in a culturally Muslim family in the atheistic urban milieu of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, in the former Yugoslavia. During his compulsory service in the army, Selmanovic joined an underground group of believers and became a Christian. Upon returning home and announcing his conversion, his family expelled him, sending him off on a long personal journey geographically, culturally, and spiritually.

Selmanovic completed a bachelor of science degree in structural engineering at the University of Zagreb and earned three graduate degrees from Andrews University in Michigan, including a doctorate in religious education. He then served as a pastor and community organizer in Manhattan for six years, which included dealing with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2003, he transferred to Southern California and helped launch and grow CrossWalk Church (http://www.crosswalkvillage.com). In 2008, drawn by his love for New York, he founded an interreligious community called Faith House Manhattan (http://www.faithhousemanhattan.org).

Selmanovic is an ordained pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist church and cofounder of Re-church Network (http://www.re-church.org). He has been integral to the birth of emerging church movement, serving as a member of the Coordinating Group of Emergent Village and representing emergents at the Interfaith Relations Commission of the National Council of Churches (http://www.ncccusa.org/interfaith). He has published numerous articles and book chapters about the interplay of spirituality, religion, Scripture, culture, and leadership. He speaks nationally and internationally on topics of interdependence, diversity, religious identity, spiritual practice, leadership, interreligious dialogue, and social justice. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Vesna, and two daughters, Ena and Leta. They are enthusiastic members of Citylights, a Christian community in Manhattan, with vision of "learning to love well" (http://www.citylightscommunity.org).

For events, resources, and other information about the author, go to http://www.samirselmanovic.com or http://itsreallyallaboutgod.com.