One morning when Joe and his wife Denise moved into one of Nashville's inner-city communities, they found their neighbor, a little deaf girl, staring through the window of their front door. Denise gave her candy and the girl left, only to return with her brothers and sisters. Denise gave them all candy as well. In a week's time, about fifty children came to Joe and Denise's door. But it wasn't just candy that the children wanted. They needed help in other ways. In whatever way they could, Joe and Denise began to help these children with basic necessities, as well as with schoolwork and emotional needs. With a background in musical performance and orchestration, Joe and Denise formed a choir of inner-city children, children from their own neighborhood, and others. It was at one of these choir rehearsals that they came to understand their life's purpose. A young girl with a swollen eye came late to a rehearsal and approached Joe. She had been hit by her angry, drug-addicted mother and was frightened and in pain. Joe comforted her and prayed for her. When the little girl's sister saw this, she came up to Joe and asked the question: Will you be my daddy? Before Joe could answer, another little girl walked up and asked the same question: This continued as child after child surrounded Joe asking him the same question. Deeply moved, Joe embraced them all. That day he became "Papa Joe," and he and Denise dedicated their lives to helping children in need. In 2005, Papa Joe and Denise founded Elijah's Heart, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to show love and bring aid to underprivileged children and their families. Today, they are actively uniting with others throughout the country to raise awareness about desperate situations in our own nation and to inspire a great movement of love in action. Along with his role as executive director of Elijah's Heart, co-producer of Unconditional, and author of Love or War? Choose Love, Papa Joe is an inspired teacher and loves the Word of God. Reflecting the passion and wisdom of the Lord, Papa Joe is an inspirational speaker, gifted to motivate others to fulfill their unique God-given callings. Being led by the heart and love of the Father, Papa Joe seeks to inspire people to realize and passionately grasp hold of their giftings and purpose so they too can begin to take bold steps down their very own walk of love.

Papa Joe Bradford
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Current: Lipscomb University

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Papa Joe Bradford
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Speech Topics:

Speech Topics:

Papa Joe takes a very customized approach whenever he speaks at an event. Considering the nature of the event, he forms a topical focus that is highly tailored to his audience. Papa Joe's discussions can be geared toward people of all ages, including children, women's groups, the imprisoned, singles, married couples, churches, organizations and leaders. Weaving together a broad array of life experience and the Word of God, Papa Joe delivers an entertaining, poignant, singular experience to whoever his audience may be.

Main topics that Papa Joe can incorporate into his messages:

Papa Joe's Life Story:

Either as the inspiration for the feature-length film, Unconditional (national release date: September 21, 2012), or in the pages of his autobiography, A Walk of Love, Papa Joe’s life story has been recognized as wildly compelling, inspirational and as unique as it is broadly applicable.

Advocate for at-risk children, the poor and the oppressed:

Having lived through great poverty, fatherlessness, and facing extreme hardships, from imprisonment to a deadly kidney disease, Joe grew a compassionate heart for at-risk children, the poor and the oppressed. In 2005, Papa Joe and his wife, Denise, founded Elijah’s Heart, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to show love and bring aid to underprivileged children and their families. Today, they are actively uniting with others throughout the country to raise awareness about desperate situations in our own nation and to inspire a worldwide movement of love in action.

Parenthood (Biological and Surrogate):

Papa Joe is highly recognized for encouraging parenthood. He and Denise are joyful parents of seven children. As seen through the heart of Unconditional, Papa Joe is also becoming one of our country’s most passionate spokesmen on sharing love as a surrogate parent for the many fatherless children in our nation. Papa Joe’s innermost desire is affirming and exposing the love of the eternal Father through parenthood, which encourages acceptance and purpose in children and adults alike.

Author:

The process of retelling his incredible story for his autobiography, A Walk of Love, was a journey in and of itself. Papa Joe speaks on the challenging but fulfilling process and reveals much more for those hungry to learn about the unique and mysterious ways God has moved throughout his life and his marriage with his lovely wife.

Co-producer of Unconditional:

Not only serving as the inspiration behind Unconditional but as a co-producer, Joe was involved in the intricate process of adapting his life story for the big screen. He has been traveling around the nation as an ambassador of the theme of love in action depicted in the film.

Biblical Teacher on Love:

Papa Joe is an inspired teacher of the Word of God. Reflecting the passion and wisdom of the Lord, Joe is an inspirational speaker, gifted to motivate others to fulfill their unique God-given callings. Being led by the heart and love of the Father, Papa Joe seeks to inspire people to realize and passionately grasp hold of their giftings and purpose...so they too can begin to take bold steps down their very own walk of love.