Author. Speaker. Advocate. Peacebuilder.
Beyond Horizons: Racing For Liberation
Mae Elise Cannon is training and fundraising for an Iron Man in September 2025. This fundraiser symbolizes her belief in seeing beyond the visible — toward a future where peace, justice, and liberation are not just ideals, but realities for the people of the Middle East and for all of us. Click the link below to learn more and consider supporting Mae on this journey.
A Sermon in
Time of War
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
June 16, 2024
Social Justice
An Award Winning Resource for a Better World
Mae Elise Cannon provides a comprehensive resource for Christians like you who are committed to social justice. She presents biblical rationale for justice and explains a variety of Christian approaches to doing justice. Tracing the history of Christians in social engagement, she lifts out role models and examples from the Great Awakenings to the civil rights movement. A wide-ranging catalog of topics and issues give background info about justice issues at home and abroad.
This handbook includes dozens of practical exercises for taking action, as well as profiles of key figures and movements like William Wilberforce, the Salvation Army and Bono, highlighting how Christians and churches can make a difference. Also included are spiritual practices and resources to help us move from immobility to advocacy.
"This is a cookbook for plotting goodness and stirring up holy mischief. Take a look and find a recipe for revolution. Then let us take it to the streets--interrupting injustice with grace, surprising the world with joy and whispering God's love to a broken world."
- Shane Claiborne, activist, author and lover, www.thesimpleway.org
Activism
Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age
Activist Mae Elise Cannon takes us beyond the hashtags to serious engagement with real issues. God calls the church to respond substantively to the needs of the poor, the realities of racial inequity, and the mistreatment of women and the marginalized. We can accomplish change through a range of strategic avenues—spiritually, socially, legally, politically, and economically. And addressing the domestic and international injustices of our day takes us on a journey of spiritual transformation that brings us closer to God and those around us.
Channel your passion to care effectively for your neighbor and the world. This book will help you understand and put into action what it means for the church to be a place of peace, justice, and hope.
"With all that is happening in the world, there has never been a more critical time for this important book! In Beyond Hashtag Activism, Mae Cannon brings her years of experience and expertise to call us beyond concern to an authentic commitment to racial justice, gender equity, and global hope. This book is a very practical resource for anyone who wants to actively participate in God's story of reconciliation and social healing. I highly recommend it!"
- Brenda Salter McNeil, author of Roadmap to Reconciliation and A Credible Witness
Holy Land
Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land
A Land Full of God gives American Christians an opportunity to promote peace and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It shows them how to understand the enmity with brief, digestible, and comprehensive essays about the historical, political, religious, and geographical tensions that have led to many of the dynamics we see today. All the while, A Land Full of God walks readers through a biblical perspective of God's heart for Israel and the historic suffering of the Jewish people, while also remaining sensitive to the experience and suffering of Palestinians. The prevailing wave of Christian voices are seeking a pro-Israeli, pro-Palestinian, pro-peace, pro-justice, pro-poor, and ultimately pro-Jesus approach to bring resolution to the conflict.
Spiritual Formation
How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action
Activist and historian Mae Elise Cannon explores the direct connection between Christians' personal relationship with God and outward actions of kindness, mercy, compassion and advocacy. She looks at how notable Christian leaders were able to face societal challenges because of the rich depths of their spiritual practices.
For example:
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Mother Teresa's practice of silence compelled her to service.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer's prayer life equipped his discipleship.
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Martin Luther King Jr.'s beloved community empowered his proclamation.
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Oscar Romero's discipline of submission prepared him to face martyrdom.
Biographical profiles of these and other key figures from around the world give us concrete examples of how activism and advocacy can be sustained over the long haul.
"Jesus' gospel is a call to action. The gospel requires us to right wrongs, to heal the broken places of this world. Mae Cannon is doing just that. Read this book for its rich wisdom that fuels activism like Mae's—the kind of activism needed in our world's toughest places."
- Richard Stearns, president, World Vision, author, The Hole in Our Gospel
Biography
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Cannon has served as Executive Director with Churches for Middle East Peace since 2016. An ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), her ministry and professional background includes serving as the Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision-US, the executive pastor of Hillside Covenant Church (Walnut Creek, California), Director of Development and Transformation for Extension Ministries at Willow Creek Community Church (Barrington, Illinois), and as a consultant to the Middle East for child advocacy issues for Compassion International.
She earned doctorates in History (Ph.D) and Spiritual Formation (D. Min). Her Ph.D focused on American History with the minor in Middle Eastern studies from the University of California – Davis, focusing her dissertation on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine. Cannon’s Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation is from Northern Theological Seminary. Cannon holds an M.Div. From North Park Theological Seminary, an M.B.A. from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management, and an M.A. in bioethics from Trinity International University. Cannon completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Chicago in History, Philosophy, Social Studies, of Science and Medicine.
Recent Articles and Recordings
Joy Amid the Sorrow
Do Justice
February 14, 2025
As this past week came to an end, my heart has been full of overwhelming emotions. I do not know if I feel joy, hope, optimism, relief, sorry, despair, or fear. All are true. Sometimes, all at once.
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Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
Do Justice
October 11, 2024
A few days ago marked the one-year anniversary of the horrors of the October 7th attacks at the hands of Hamas and other militants on the south of Israel. On the day of commemoration, I was in the holy city of Jerusalem. The city of peace. A city that today has no peace.
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This Advent Season: Hope Has Come
Do Justice
December 16, 2024
As the Year 2024 ends, the earth groans in anticipation of desperately needed hope. Hope for the end of wars - in the Middle East, Ukraine, Syria, Western Sahara Africa, and other parts of the world.
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Opinion
I’m eager to talk about the whole gospel and all the good news at Lausanne Congress
Baptist News Global
September 24, 2024
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These Forgotten Christians Know What It’s Like To Be Without a Country
Sojourners
November 15, 2024
How what’s happening in the Armenian community speaks to the broader struggle of living under Israeli occupation in East Jerusalem and beyond.
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Palestine
Conservative Christians are lending support — and cash — to Israel at war
NPR
May 26, 2024
David Ndayishimiye, a 21-year-old evangelical Christian, says he's long felt a calling to support Israel.
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Events
Contact Mae
Invite Mae to give a talk or ask her a question.