Perry Gauthier, Capitol Ministries Affinity Sphere Director for North America, has completed the first leg of a 130-day journey to 30 states to strengthen, train, and motivate the men who are taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to political leaders in state legislatures.

"Perry has been an exemplary Ministry Leader/Bible teacher to the Nebraska State Legislature for nine years and is well equipped for this important mission," said Ralph Drollinger, President and Founder of Capitol Ministries. "CM's State Ministry Leaders will benefit greatly by his support, prayers, and mentoring."

Perry Gauthier and Faith, his wife and ministry partner, are traveling the nation to equip, train, motivate, encourage, and pray for CM's leaders who have been charged with making disciples of Jesus Christ among the political leaders in America's state capitals.

Gauthier will also be working with churches to identify godly men who are interested in beginning ministries to legislatures in states that do not yet have weekly discipleship Bible studies.

Among the states visited so far is Tennessee where the Gauthiers met with newly named Ministry Leader Scott Buss and some political leaders who attend his weekly Bible study. In one meeting, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said to Buss, "I'm so glad you're the one doing this! You're going to do a great job!"

In Oklahoma, the couple visited with Dr. Doug Melton. Senior pastor of a mega church and Ministry Leader to the Oklahoma State Legislature for four years, Dr. Melton is long-established. Last year he began a second CM Bible Study for the House of Representatives which is also attended by a Constitutional Officer.

The Gauthiers were encouraged by the work of Dr. Chas Rowland, Ministry Leader to the Mississippi Legislature. He published an op-ed piece describing what religious freedom means to a Christian minister after being asked to do so by Governor Phil Bryant. The piece added a pastor's perspective to the issues behind a federal appeals court ruling that state workers and businesses may cite their religious convictions as a reason for refusing service to same-sex couples.

In Alabama, the Gauthiers met with Dr. Randy Norris who attended the CM Ministry Leader training in Denver, CO earlier this year. Dr. Norris told the Gauthiers that after he left the training, he was committed to find a man who could do the job.

After meeting with the Gauthiers in Montgomery, Dr. Norris said the Lord had changed his heart.

"I've turned my thinking from 'How can I find a man FOR you?' to 'How can I BE that man?'" he said.

Gauthier's ministry trip is all a part of Capitol Ministries' long-held objective of establishing discipleship Bible studies in all 50 U.S. states.

With a mission to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Political Leaders of the World, CM is working to plant discipleship Bible study ministries in every stratum of government from city hall and state legislatures to Washington, D.C. and foreign federal capitols.

Capitol Ministries has planted ministries in 40 U.S. states and 24 foreign nations on four continents. In Washington, D.C., Drollinger teaches weekly Bible studies to Members of the White House Cabinet, U.S. Senators and Representatives.