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CSA’s free weekly publication, a carefully curated collection of original articles at the intersection of spiritual formation and social action.
By Laurie Nichols
Lent has been around for centuries, dating back to the Early Church. It’s a 40-day season of reflection, repentance, and renewal, modeled after Jesus’ time fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). At its core, Lent is about making space—letting go of distractions so we can refocus on what really matters: God’s love, justice, and the hope of resurrection.
The deaconess movement in American Protestantism emerged in the late 19th century concomitant to a dramatic increase in women’s public service opportunities, and it provided a valuable venue for women’s full-time service for God, church, and society.
(1580-1660)
Born of peasant stock in a small village in Gascony, France, Vincent de Paul never envisioned that he would devote his life to the cause of the poor. His strongest boyhood ambitions were to escape his own poverty and elevate himself socially, and it was for these practical reasons he chose the priesthood—the best career path at the time for an intelligent boy of humble background.
(1863-1932)
In September 1878 a 15-year-old girl boldly stepped forward to speak at an outdoor meeting of 5,000 “Salvationists” who had come from all corners of England to celebrate the establishment of the 35th Corps of the Salvation Army in Coventry.
(1780-1847)
Although best known for his role in the “Disruption of 1843,” which led to the creation of the Free Church of Scotland, Thomas Chalmers was a man of diverse talents and undertakings, to each of which he brought enthusiasm, energy, and a power to arouse others to action.
(1909-2001)
Born into Judaism, sidetracked briefly by atheism, and then converted to Christianity, Richard Wurmbrand, the “Iron Curtain St. Paul,” endured 14 years of harsh imprisonment and brutal torture for his faith under communist rule.
By Shayna L. Lear
The bankrupt theology of the prosperity gospel
By Cheryl J. Sanders
The pro-life movement offers the evangelical church an opportunity to partner with the African American church in a meaningful and healing way.
By Kristyn Komarnicki
“Everyone says that forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.” ~ C.S. Lewis
By Al Tizon
In college, I joined the right-to-life movement, having been profoundly convinced that abortion-on-demand was the unjustifiable taking of human life.
An interview with James Choung
James Choung serves as InterVarsity’s national director of evangelism and is ordained with the Association of Vineyard Churches. He has over two decades of extensive service in multiethnic settings in both the church and campus worlds.
By Jim Cates
On the importance of dialogue with—rather than withdrawal from—those whose theological understandings differ from ours.
An interview with Brian Jenkins
“Everyone has a dream. Everyone has ideas.” ~Brian Jenkins, founder and president of Entrenuity
An interview with Samir Selmanovic
Samir Selmanovic is an author, speaker, and community organizer known particularly for his work in interfaith dialogue. Born and raised in a culturally Muslim but atheistic family in Croatia, as a teenager he joined an underground group of believers and became a Christian.
By John Backman
Francis Schaeffer said that if he had an hour alone with a stranger, he would spend the first 50 minutes asking questions—especially about the stranger’s beliefs—and pointing out the inconsistencies. Then, in the last 10 minutes, he would present the gospel.
An interview with Dan Merchant
Dan Merchant thinks that America has become a bumper-sticker culture. “We’re way too comfortable with one-way communication,” says Merchant. “We like to tell people what we think, but we don’t like to listen.”
By Al Tizon
Confessions of an evangelism professor—and the holistic approach that makes “bearing witness” bearable
CSA is a group of Christian scholar-activists, stirring the imagination for a fuller expression of Christian faithfulness and a more just society.
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