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

Join us in this episode as we talk to Eboo Patel about what a pluralistic nation needs from Christians.

Eboo Patel is the Founder and President of Interfaith America, the leading interfaith organization in the United States. Under his leadership, Interfaith America has worked with governments, universities, private companies, and civic organizations to make faith a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.

Eboo served on President Obama's Inaugural Faith Council, has given hundreds of keynote addresses, and has written five books.

You can find Eboo & Interfaith on social media:
X (Twitter) @EbooPatel
Facebook @EbooPatel
LinkedIn

X (Twitter) @interfaithusa
Facebook @interfaithamerica
Instagram @interfaithamerica

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 Brian Zahnd about the role of the cross as well as new ways of looking at the cross as a kaleidoscope, in order to inform how we respond to aspects of Christian life and to justice issues in our society. Many of the insights he shares can be found in his latest book entitled The Wood Between the Worlds.

Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. In addition to his most recent book, he has authored several other books including When Everything's On Fire and Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God.

You can find Brian on his website and blog & follow him on X (Twitter) @BrianZahnd.

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 Dr. Melissa Borja about what the Christian church can learn to host and welcome refugees.

She offers advice on how churches can be better hosts to refugees and talks about how her book, Follow the New Way, examines the good and bad of church refugee resettlement. She encourages us to be curious about the stories of why refugees come to the U.S., recognize U.S. complicity, and change our posture from charity to reparations.

Dr. Melissa Borja is a professor in the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Program at the University of Michigan. She researches and teaches about religion, migration, race, ethnicity, and politics in the United States and the Pacific World.

You can follow Dr. Borja on X (Twitter) @melissamayborja.

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 Justin Fung about spiritual formation, activism, and opportunities we have to be formed in God's image.

Rev. Dr. Justin Fung serves as the  Pastor of Leadership & Spiritual Formation at Christ City Church in Washington, DC & is an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Missional Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has also authored Learning to Live, a curriculum for cultivating spiritual transformation in multiethnic contexts.

You can follow Justin @justinbfung on Instagram and Threads.

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 Darren Calhoun about his experience collecting stories of black queer Christians as they journey into and out of the church.

Darren is a co-host on the Second Sunday podcast and producer for online shows that are reaching BIPOC Queer audiences with messages of support and healing. He is also the Digital Pastor and Worship Leader at Urban Village Church in Chicago.

Follow Darren on social media at @heyDarren or on his blog, DarrenCalhoun.com.

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

Please enjoy this encore presentation of this episode (originally aired on January 26, 2022).

Since the United States pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, 76,000 Afghan refugees have been brought to the United States for resettlement. On this episode of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto chats with Jenny Yang, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy on Refugee Resettlement for World Relief on what it means to extend hospitality to (and receive hospitality from) refugees and displaced peoples in our communities.

You can find her on Twitter @JennyYangWR.

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Kristyn Komarnicki about facilitating dialogue across difference. She works primarily in the divisions that emerge in the church and LGBTQ+ Christians and speaks on what it takes to move toward unity beyond agreement. Kristyn is the Senior Director of Dialogue and Convening at Christians for Social Action. 

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Eddie Kaufholz about storytelling in community, advice for gatekeepers of stories, and how stories fuel the Christian imagination for a just future. Eddie leads the communications and marketing team at Bread for the World and previously worked for International Justice Mission.

You can find Eddie at:
https://eddiekaufholz.com
Instagram: @edwardoreddie
Twitter: @edwardoreddie 

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto and activist Heidi Weaver-Smith talk about the power of presence and unpack some of the dynamics around Ohio's recent anti-trans laws. They discuss the power of presence, of curiosity and provide tips for what Christian witness looks like, regardless of one's position on the issues.

You can find Heidi and Amplify Impact Consulting at https://www.amplifyimpactconsulting.com

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, we talk with Leroy Barber about his work as the Executive Director of Neighborhood Economics. Listen in as he and Nikki discuss how Christians can show up in their neighborhoods for good, the importance of convening economic resources with practitioners, and how to integrate economics as a communal practice. 

You can find Leroy:

Website: https://neighborhoodeconomics.org/
Instagram: @leroybarber
Twitter: @leroybarber
His most recent book: Embrace: God’s Radical Shalom for a Divided World 

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki takes us on a history lesson to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Declaration of Evangelical Social Concern.  In Chicago, 50 years ago, over Thanksgiving weekend, a group of concerned Christian leaders gathered to ask how their faith should inform how they show up in the public space.  The result was the drafting of a statement about Christian commitment to social justice that some view as one of the most influential documents, for the church, of the decade.  It became the founding document for Christians for Social Action, and influenced many others.

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, we talk with authors Kathy Khang and Matt Mikalatos about their new book, "Loving Disagreement".  They discuss ways to move beyond civility, to engage across difference.  Their new book, "Loving Disagreements" was released in October, 2023.

You can find Kathy  on all social media platforms:  @mskathykhang
Matt can be found at: FB: facebook.com/matthew.mikalatos
BlueSky:@mattmikalatos.bsky.social
instagram.com/mattmikalatos

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, we talk with Jason Chu. He's a rapper, public theologian, and activist.  He and Nikki talk about Gospel imagination, and having a Christian faith that navigates today's complexities and contradictions.  He shares from his new album "We Were the Seeds."

You can listen to Jason's music on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, etc.
Catch him @jasonchumusic (on all social media): Instagram, TikTok,  Twitter/X
And learn more about him at jasonchumusic.com

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

This week on 20 Minute Takes, we talk with Olatunde Sobomhein. He's  co-author of the book Creative Hustle and CEO of Streetcode Academy. He and Nikki talk about the interplay of imagination, ambition, and reflection, as well as his organization's work at empowering communities of color through tech and innovation in rapidly changing communities like East Palo Alto.

This is the final episode of season four! If there's a particular guest, episode, or subject that you enjoyed hearing from this season, or if you have any comments or feedback for us, please send us an email at csa@eastern.edu  with the subject line "20 Minute Takes." We look forward to hearing from you! Be on the lookout for season five this fall.