We are pleased that Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, scientific advisor to the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN), has been named TIME's 100 most influential people in the world (time.com/70881/katharine-hayhoe-2014-time-100/). Dr. Hayhoe demonstrates that a person of strong evangelical faith can also be a world-class scientist. She understands that creation-care is truly a matter of life and speaks to churches and conservative groups across the country to demonstrate the need to take prudent steps to address climate change. Her particular scientific specialization has allowed her to help communities and organizations across the country and around the world understand how to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Dr. Hayhoe's efforts have led to her being targeted by climate deniers like Rush Limbaugh, resulting in a continual fuselage of opposition -- even threats to her family.

But it is precisely her love for her children and for Jesus Christ that has Dr. Hayhoe refusing to be intimidated from speaking the truth.

Dr. Hayhoe and her husband Dr. Andrew Farley's seminal book, A Climate For Change, has been instrumental in educating the evangelical church. Her continuing efforts to educate evangelicals are also highlighted in the current Showtime series, Years of Living Dangerously (yearsoflivingdangerously.com)

Time's recognition of Dr. Hayhoe reflects not only her achievements but also the evangelical Christian faith that guides Katharine to follow Jesus' commands "to care for the least of these." My support and appreciation for Dr. Hayhoe is summarized in her own words:

"It's not about saving the planet: the planet will be fine without us. It's about helping people, real people who are being affected by climate change today. Higher energy bills for air conditioning, freak rainstorms, and droughts wiping out their food supply -rising sea level threatening their homes and fields. It's the poor and disadvantaged who are being hardest hit: those very people the Bible tells us to care for."

Dr. Hayhoe is a top communicator in the field of climate science and her evangelical prospective informs her views on the need to protect human life. As a climate expert, she champions doing what's right without compromising her evangelical convictions. We are proud to call her our advisor, friend, and sister in the faith.

Here's a recent video of Katharine being interviewed by EEN's Dr. Jim Ball.

(www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo7nOZh0dIA)