CSA is thrilled to welcome Laurie Nichols as our new Director of Communications. A lifelong storyteller and strategic communicator, Laurie brings more than two decades of experience helping people and organizations tell the truth—about God, the world, and themselves. With a background in journalism, nonprofit leadership, and theological education, Laurie is passionate about the power of words to name injustice, stir hope, and create meaningful change. We sat down with Laurie to hear about her journey, what excites her about CSA, and how stories can help us find faith again.
“We don’t need louder stories. We need truer ones. The kind that carry both lament and laughter and sound a whole lot like Jesus.”
You’ve spent more than 20 years working across journalism, nonprofit leadership, and theological education. What thread ties all your work together?
For me, the common thread is this: helping people tell the truth—about God, about themselves, and about the world. Whether I’ve been writing a news story, crafting messaging for a nonprofit, or developing content for theological education, I’ve always been drawn to the work of clarity, honesty, and connection. I want people to feel less alone and to believe that God is working in every corner of this world. God’s stories are the best stories, hands down. My heart will always be in using my gifts and experience to tell of the wonders of God at work—whether that’s in justice-focused organizations, higher education, or any setting where faith and transformation meet.
When done well, communications can name injustice, offer hope, and open people up to the possibility that God is still moving—even in places they never thought God would.
What excites you most about joining CSA at this moment in your own story?
The people at CSA challenge me to think more deeply and live more authentically—especially in a time when what it means to be Christian has gotten murky and confusing. I want to live a life overflowing with faith in Jesus and a commitment to making the world better. CSA is a semi-hidden gem that (in full transparency!) I hope becomes a household name. The quiet, faithful work of CSA has impacted many people over the years, and I’m excited to build on that foundation. I deeply believe Christians—and non-Christians—need to be reminded that following Jesus today can change everything.
CSA sits at the intersection of faith and action. How has your own faith evolved as you’ve worked in justice spaces?
Honestly, my faith has been both unraveled and re-knit—over and over. I don’t think that will stop this side of heaven. And I think that’s a good thing. Working in justice spaces has stripped away a lot of the tidy, overconfident theology I once clung to. What’s left is more alive, more open. I don’t need every answer tied up in a bow anymore. What I do need is a Jesus who walks into pain, upends power, and still calls us beloved.
I’ve also seen some of the most faithful people press into really hard issues and come out stronger and deeper in their love for Jesus. Fighting for good can be costly—but it’s what makes us look like Christ, our God who spoke love and hope into a crushed world.
You’re also the voice behind Finding Faith Again. How does that personal project connect with the mission of CSA?
Finding Faith Again is my little corner of the internet where I say the things I wish someone had said to me when my faith felt like it was falling apart. It’s messy and honest and sometimes funny—because life is all of those things. CSA feels like the big sibling to that space (though CSA is way more thoughtful, sometimes!). We’re both trying to make room for questions, grief, courage, and conviction to live in the same house. If my blog is a couch where people curl up with their doubts and donuts, CSA is the kitchen table where we roll up our sleeves and ask, “Okay, what now?”
What kind of stories do you hope CSA tells more of in the year ahead?
I want us to tell stories that surprise people—the kind that make you say, “Wait… that’s the gospel, too?” I want us to amplify the voices that don’t usually get a microphone—stories from the borderlands, the back pews, the people who’ve been told their voice doesn’t matter. And I hope we tell them beautifully—with art and texture and depth.
We don’t need louder stories. We need truer ones. The kind that carry both lament and laughter and sound a whole lot like Jesus.
When you’re not writing or strategizing, how do you recharge creatively and spiritually?
My latest venture—don’t judge!—is listening to rom-com audiobooks. For the past 25 years, I’ve leaned toward nonfiction—books about science, medicine, or real-life stories. But lately, because so much of life feels heavy, I’ve been pulled toward something totally different. I love a good plot, quirky characters, and creative writing.
Spiritually, music is my home base. Give me a good worship song and I can sing for hours. Music pulls me back to God faster than just about anything.
