Michelle Warren swears she’s not political, that she simply wants to help her neighbors. It was this drive that thrust her into the advocacy square. As the Advocacy and Strategic Engagement Director for the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), Michelle directs national advocacy around platform issues: immigration, mass incarceration and education equity. Her desire to advocate for policies on behalf of her neighbors took her on an unexpected path, back to graduate school to get her Masters in Public Administration, and now traveling around the country speaking to groups about these issues.

Michelle’s community work started locally in Denver where she continues to be involved in her church,  and works to fit in laundry and grocery shopping for her family amid her busy travel schedule. Michelle’s proximity to those living with fewer resources inspired her desire to be informed. This in turn pushed her toward action, believing that God calls us to act when we see injustice played out. Whether immigration reform or incarceration, Michelle sees beyond the issue as purely theoretical or theological, but to the people impacted by the topic at hand.

A quick mind and a passionate resolve combined with a desire to follow God’s call to justice, you’ll be fascinated to hear how each step in Michelle’s journey led her to where she is today. For the woman who wonders if she should take that next step, for the one who is willing to do the hard thing, for the Jesus follower wondering if God is calling her to get off the bench on an issue and into the advocacy arena, this episode is a must.

To connect with Michelle’s work at CCDA click here or to learn more about her new book click here.

You can listen to our interview with Michelle on iTunes.

A few things you heard mentioned on this episode:

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)

Open Door Ministries

Open Door Fellowship Church

Michelle’s new book: The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action

Alexia Salvatierra

Denver Seminary

Bread for the World

World Relief

World Vision

International Justice Mission

Michelle’s Wheat-less, Egg-less Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe:

• 2 1/2 cups of ground oats (grind regular oats in a blender on “crumb”)
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1/2 cup of cream cheese
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of white sugar
• egg replacer for two eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips
  Heat oven to 350. Whisk ground oats, baking soda and salt together. In a separate bowl beat butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg replacer – beat until completely incorporated. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Add oat flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Place on ungreased cookie sheet or stone and bake for 10-12 minutes or until light brown. Cool completely

Michelle’s Chocolate Sauce Recipe:

• 1 stick of butter
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup half and half
• 1/3 cup of milk

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