This week on 20 Minute Takes, we talk Avril Speaks. Avril is an accomplished film producer, showrunner, and director. She serves as Senior Program Director for Christians for Social Action's Storytellers Collective initiative. Avril shares about her journey with storytelling and how her vocation as a filmmaker is tied to her faith journey. She helps gives a glimpse of the challenges and opportunities of telling stories in Hollywood, and unpacks how compelling storytelling is authentic storytelling—and how authentic storytelling always involves a measure of creative risk. This episode is for all the TV/film nerds, and anyone who cares about learning to tell more compelling stories.

You can learn more about Avril and her work here;                                                Follow Avril on Instagram and Threads,

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

On this episode of 20 Minute Takes, we speak with Eugene Cho, the President and CEO of Bread for the World—"a nationwide Christian advocacy organization that educates on hunger and equips people to advocate for policies to end it in the U.S. and around the world." He shares about how his ministry as a church pastor is deeply connected to his advocacy and justice work today, and how a vision for human flourishing here and abroad requires that people of faith take the problem of hunger & poverty seriously. Listen in to learn how you can take practical, faith-empowered steps to advocate for policies that address hunger today.

You can follow him on Instagram @eugenecho; follow Bread for the World @bread4theworld

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto speaks with Lauren Kim, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. In this conversation, Lauren shares about how climate action became a crucial part of her faith journey,  shares stories of how young people are caring for creation, and gives some practical first steps for people looking to integrate creation care into their personal lives and faith communities.

You can learn more about Lauren Kim and her work here.

Follow Young Evangelicals for Climate Action on Instagram @yecaction

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Malcolm du Plessis and Jalen Seawright of Common Hymnal, a songwriting collaborative that writes music of praise and protest, centering especially the voices of people who've been historically marginalized by Christianity. They discuss their music, the landscape of the Christian music industrial complex, and what it means to write believable music that is prophetic and affirming. This conversation is thick with theology and tunes, so you won't want to miss it.

You can learn more about Common Hymnal here; follow them on Instagram @commonhymnal.

Learn more about Jalen Seawright, and follow him on Instagram @seawright_.

Read some of Malcolm du Plessis' writing/reflections here.

Explore Common Hymnal's music here.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Michael Kim-Eubanks. Michael is a musician and co-pastor of Bethel Community Church in San Leandro, CA. They discuss the passage and signing into law of California's SB 4 (which allowed faith institutions among others to build multi-family homes on their properties, allowing for the development of 170,000 acres of land for development toward addressing housing insecurity in the state), their church's journey in pursuing this new opportunity to care for their homeless neighbors, and how confronting the realities of homelessness shape one's spirituality. 

You can learn more about Pastor Michael Kim-Eubanks and his music here.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Dr. Jenny Dyer, the founder of The 2030 Collaborative. They discuss the reality of foreign aid from the United States, how the recent funding cuts have directly impacted global health and the lives of HIV/AIDS patients around the world, and how it came to be that the American Christians in the early 2000s began to address the global HIV/AIDS emergency. This is a critical episode that you don't want to miss.

Jenny Dyer is the Founder of The 2030 Collaborative. She also directs the Faith-Based Coalition for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in partnership with Friends of the Global Fight.

Dyer has taught in the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt School of Medicine, as well as at Vanderbilt’s School of Divinity. She lives in Franklin, Tennessee with her husband, John, and two boys, Rhys and Oliver.

You can learn more about her and her work here.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

This week, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with author, theologian, and pastor, Gary VanderPol. They discuss climate justice, and practical ways that faith communities can approach Christ-centered climate action prayerfully, personally, and politically. 

If you're interested in learning more about how to start up climate action small groups at your church, you can email Gary here: garyvp@gmail.com

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

On this episode of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Kevin Nye. Kevin is a writer and advocate working toward ending homelessness by engaging best practices. He's the author of the 2022 book, "Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness." In this conversation, Kevin challenges listeners to think about homeless systemically, dispels some common myths about the problem of homelessness, and shares stories of communities who have taken steps of faithfulness to care for their neighbors experiencing housing insecurity. 

You can learn more about Kevin Nye here.
Find him on Instagram or Threads.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

Welcome to 20 Minute Takes Season 7! 

What happens when we have learned to distrust our desires? And how does that get in the way of our pursuits to live in whole and just ways in our world today? Listen in as Nikki Toyama-Szeto interviews author, coach, and consultant Tracey Gee talk about her new book The Magic of Knowing What You Want: A Practical Guide to Unearthing the Wisdom of Your Desires.

You can learn more about Tracey and her work here.
Find her on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Produced by David de Leon
Editing & Mixing by Wiloza Media
Music by Andre Henry

In this final episode of season six, Nikki talks with Tony Deik. Tony is a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem, Palestine. He is on faculty at Bethlehem Bible College, and currently resides in Bolivia with his family. Tony talks about the centrality of justice in the Christian scriptures, and how Christians might begin to understand justice as an act of worship and witness. They also discuss Christian Zionism, and how theologies have the potential to actualize either oppressive or just realities.

Catch us in early 2025 for our upcoming season.

You can learn more about Tony and his work here.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited & Produced by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

How can churches be good neighbors to families experiencing housing insecurity? This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki talks with Edith Yoder. She's the CEO of Bridge of Hope, an organization that has equipped Christian faith communities to end and prevent homelessness since 1987. Edith shares stories of transformation and empowerment as churches have learned to extend meaningful relationships to their homeless neighbors.

If you are interested in learning more about Bridge of Hope and how they might be able to partner with your church community, you can learn more here.

Additionally, find you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Youtube.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited & Produced by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki talks with Rev. Janna Louie, co-founder of the Coalition for Asian American and Pacific Islander Churches (CAAPIC). In this episode, they discuss the complex historical dynamics that affect Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters, and the work that CAAPIC does to encourage AAPI Christians to show up as engaged citizens who participate robustly in the democratic process here in the United States. In a Presidential election year when the AAPI vote is arguably the most significant swing vote, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

You can learn more about CAAPIC and access their resources here.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited & Produced by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

Please enjoy this encore presentation of this episode (originally aired on March 16, 2022).

This week, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Kristyn Komarnicki (CSA's Director of Dialogue & Convening / Program Manager for Oriented to Love) about practical tips for transforming conflict through curiosity.

After listening to this episode of 20 Minute Takes, your ability to handle conflict, have difficult conversations, and engage in meaningful dialogue will level up; your friends and family will certainly thank you.

You can learn more about Oriented to Love Here.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited & Produced by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki talks with Jesse Rudy. Trained as an attorney, Jesse is the Founder and CEO of Redeem International, a Christian faith-based nonprofit that protects some of the world's most vulnerable widows and orphans from violent abuse and exploitation. They talk about the phenomenon of land theft in Uganda, its effects on women and children, and how their organization's deterrence strategy has broad societal effects throughout the country. Jesse also shares his reflections on the type of spiritual formation necessary for engaging in justice work.

You can learn more about Redeem International's work at their LinkedIn page and their website.  

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week, David de Leon interviews CSA Executive Director and 20 Minute Takes host, Nikki Toyama-Szeto. Nikki shares what it looks like to lead a justice organization justly. She unpacks her organizational leadership theory anchored in intercession, and gives advice for how new leaders might integrate their spirituality into their leadership practice.

Follow Nikki on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter).

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action.
Host, Producer, Editor: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

Please enjoy this encore presentation of this episode (originally aired on June 29, 2022).

This week, David de Leon chats with Tim Ignacio. He's a Pilipino American community worker (and rapper!) in Metro Manila, in the Philippines. In this conversation, Tim shares about his story and vocation, the power of a ministry of tambay (loitering), and why he considers himself a balikbayan, and not a missionary. Listen in.

Find Tim on Instagram @sobrangitm
You can find his music on Spotify and Bandcamp
And check out his BALIKBAYAN NOT MISSIONARY vlog series on his YouTube channel.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action.
Host: David de Leon
Producer/Editor: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week, Nikki talks with Bill White. Bill is co-pastor of City Church Long Beach. Bill shares the story of his son coming out and how that experience challenged his theology and ultimately deepened his faith in Jesus. He discusses his church's journey of transformation through challenging conversations, and how critical it is for church communities to practice healthy modes of disagreement.

You can also check out Bill's work at Small Church, Big Table.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: Wiloza Media + David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week, Nikki talks with Rick Barry, the executive director of the Center for Christian Civics. Rick helps Christians to think about what it looks like for their communities to show up in the public square, and in this episode, he helps us to wrap our minds around what civic discipleship looks like and helps to break down the variety of ways people understand "politics" today. 

You can follow @therickbarry and @christiancivics on Instagram.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Co-producer and Editor: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

July 27, 2024 will mark two years since Ron Sider, founder and President Emeritus of Christians for Social Action (originally Evangelicals for Social Action), passed away.

Please enjoy this encore presentation of this episode with Ron (originally aired on March 9, 2022).

This week, Nikki Toyama-Szeto chats with Ron Sider, the author of the acclaimed book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger and the founder and President Emeritus of Christians for Social Action. Nikki and Ron talk about lessons learned from his 50+ years of scholar-activism—from the fight against apartheid in South Africa to non-violent resistance, to understanding the graduated tithe, this conversation is one you do not want to miss.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week, Nikki interviews Jasmin Shupper, the CEO and Founder of the Greenline Housing Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to close the racial wealth and homeownership gaps and reverse the effects of systemic racism in housing by granting access to homeownership for people of color. Jasmin talks about the history of housing, economic, and racial justice, as well as her journey from working as a financial analyst for a Fortune 500 company to real estate, and eventually non-profit work confronting the generational harm of discriminatory redlining practices in the 20th century.

You can learn more about the Greenline Housing Foundation here.
Follow their work on Instagram @greenline_housing.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki chats with Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus of Settled, an organization that addresses long-term homelessness through research-based holistic and communal approaches. In this conversation, they talk about why traditional interventions for homelessness often fail, and how local church communities are uniquely positioned to address the challenges of homelessness and to be good neighbors to their homeless siblings.

Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus is the CEO and Founder of Settled. You can learn more about their research and Sacred Settlement projects here.

You can find Settled on YouTube and Instagram.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

This week on 20 Minute Takes, we hear from economist Nishan de Mel. In front of a live audience, Nishan talks about how he and his organization Verité Research attempted to tackle corruption in governance in Sri Lanka, as well as what it means to participate in inherently unjust structures with an eye toward truth and transformation. Rick Barry, executive director of the Center for Christian Civics hosts this episode.

Excerpts for this episode were recorded at an event put on by the Center for Christian Civics and Christians for Social Action entitled "Faith that Makes Our Politics Better" that took place in Washington DC, earlier this summer.

Dr. Nishan de Mel is the executive director of Verité Research. He has taught and researched economics at both Harvard and Oxford, and in the 1990s, sat on multiple presidential task forces in Sri Lanka, helping to shape a wide array of public policies.

You can follow Nishan on X (formerly Twitter).

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host: Rick Barry 
Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Editor: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

Welcome to Season 6!

In this episode, Nikki talks with Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst of the International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation (INFEMIT). They discuss how a global, interdenominational, and intergenerational community like INFEMIT is helping Christians all over the world think about how the church is showing up in their own contexts, as well as the upcoming Stott-Bediako Forum coming up in Medellín, Colombia this July 15-17. Listen in for a rich conversation on the role of gospel imagination in mission and transformation.

Dr. DeBorst is a professor of World Christianity at Western Theological Seminary,  part of the networking team for INFEMIT (a gospel-centered fellowship of mission theologian-practitioners), serves in leadership of the Comunidad de Estudios Teológicos Interdisciplinarios (CETI), and a member of Casa Adobe (an intentional Christian Community with deep concern for right living in relation to the whole of creation).

You can find Dr. DeBorst on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Seminary Now.
20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: David de Leon
Music: Andre Henry

Join us in this episode as we talk to Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst about intentional community and ecological justice & how it's lived out at Casa Adobe in Costa Rica.

Dr. DeBorst is a professor of World Christianity at Western Theological Seminary,  part of the networking team for INFEMIT (a gospel-centered fellowship of mission theologian-practitioners), serves in leadership of the Comunidad de Estudios Teológicos Interdisciplinarios (CETI), and a member of Casa Adobe (an intentional Christian Community with deep concern for right living in relation to the whole of creation). 

You can find Dr. DeBorst on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Seminary Now.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: Wiloza Media
Music: Andre Henry

Join us in this episode as we talk to Reverend Adam Taylor about the role churches can have in this divided society and examples of how faith can intersect with public policy.

Reverend Adam Taylor is the President of Sojourners, an ecumenical Christian organization that works to advance justice and peace, and the author of "A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community".

He has led the Faith Initiative at the World Bank Group, served as vice president of Advocacy at World Vision US, executive director of Global Justice, and selected as a White House Fellow and served in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs and Public Engagement.

You can find Adam @revadamtaylor on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social Action
Host and Producer: Nikki Toyama-Szeto 
Edited by: Wiloza Media
Music: Andre Henry