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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.
By Elrena Evans
There’s an abbey not far from my house, with sprawling grounds that are perfect for contemplative walks and prayerful meditation. I was first introduced to this abbey on a retreat; I figured out after the fact that, if I’m careful, I can get there from my house on foot.
By John Seel, Ph.D.
“Just look at you. How can you have any credibility in talking about millennials? You’d better bring your son Alex with you when you speak to my staff.” Tom Scott, CEO and chairman of The Nantucket Project, challenged me with this comment.
By Sandra Maria Van Opstal
One of the greatest challenges of our generation is that people make choices based almost exclusively on preferences. We have hundreds of restaurant choices, and if we want to stay home we order online or call.
By Kristyn Komarnicki
It’s all about building community across deep difference
Earlier this month CSA hosted the first Oriented to Love (OTL) alumni reunion. Based on the feedback we’ve gotten, it will certainly not be our last!
By Stephen Mattson
When Christians choose to further the agenda of a politician at the expense of promoting the Gospel of Jesus, their faith—and their witness—are devalued.
It’s one thing to have personal political beliefs and opinions.
By Lyndsay Mathews
I grew up in a small Texas town with a population of around three thousand people. It has one stoplight. Traffic jams only happen if someone is driving their tractor down Main Street.
By Deidra Riggs
It is true that we are broken. And that makes things messy. But brokenness is only part of the journey. The trap we often fall into is, as Bryan Stevenson puts it, our “comfort level with reducing people to their worst act and acting in very extreme, harsh, punitive ways.” We are not the worst thing we have ever done.
From CSA
Christians for Social Action is thrilled to announce the appointment of Nikki Toyama-Szeto as Executive Director!
Read an introduction to Nikki by CSA board member, Kathy Khang.
Nikki Toyama-Szeto brings over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience to CSA, having previously served both International Justice Mission and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where she worked for many years as the program director for Urbana Missions Conference.
By Kathy Khang
Nikki Toyama-Szeto is the new executive director for Christians for Social Action, an organization serving as a catalyzing agent for Christ’s shalom through projects focused on cultural renewal, holistic ministry, political reflection and action, social justice and reconciliation, and creation care.
From CSA
Two of our talented, justice-loving, and much beloved Sider Scholars are graduating from Palmer Theological Seminary, thus completing their time of service to us here at CSA. We will miss them dearly!
Both Jen Carpenter and Josh Carson are heading out with shiny new MDivs, but they’re no newcomers to ministry.
By Sarah Withrow King
I was raised in a Christian house, accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was a child, and have continued to grow (and stumble, and repent, and rejoice) in faith throughout my life.
By Dr. David S. Apple
Larry isolated himself so much that no one knew his problems, and no one visited with him. This Tenth Church neighbor was addicted to alcohol and other drugs for eighteen years.
By John Seel, Ph.D.
Neuroscientists confirm that our defenses go up when our core beliefs are challenged. With self-awareness, we can lower the resistance and listen more effectively. But our attention to more facts—even with less defensiveness—will not change our frame.
By Erica Watts
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been a victim of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.
By Sue Gilmore
I worshipped in an evangelical church this morning. Like at hundreds of these windowless megachurches across the nation, the song lyrics came up on the screen. I stood, singing in the dark.
By Kristyn Komarnicki
A lesbian friend of mine shared the new Heineken “Worlds Apart” advertisement with me on Facebook, along with this comment: “WOW. Okay, Church, a beer company is responding like Christ would—what do we do with THAT?
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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