11 New Capitol Ministries Preparing to Launch!

Enfolded in prayer, equipped through training, and inspired by speakers who illumed the high calling of teaching God’s Word to political leaders, eight men were chosen last week to launch new ministries to legislators in state capitols across the United States and in one foreign nation.

“The light always shines brightest in the darkness and that is what we have, the light of Jesus whom we share and proclaim unto our dying day as did the apostle Paul,” prayed Dr. Randy Adams, Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention who led daily devotionals during Capitol Ministries’ week-long training conference in downtown Seattle, Washington.

The training included instruction on how to establish and lead Bible studies to elected officials, the value of discipleship and relationship building, the importance of leading Public Servants toward maturity in Christ, and the necessity of pastoral care, support, friendship, and counseling, among many other topics.

As a result of the men completing the compulsory training, new ministries will be launched over the coming months to legislators in Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Virginia, and South Carolina.

Pastor Raul Ferreira, who traveled from Brazil for the training, will launch a ministry to the Parliament in the federal capital of Brasilia. A former journalist who has served in a number of political positions, Pastor Ferreira personally knows the president of Brazil and hopes to also launch a ministry to his cabinet.

We will be bringing you stories of their ministries as they launch.

Ministry Leader candidates have also been selected for the states of Washington, North Dakota and Iowa and are scheduled to be trained during Capitol Ministries’ training conference in Washington, D.C. in December.

“We are going into the capitols to proclaim God’s truth and we are butting up against postmodernism,” Ralph Drollinger, President and Founder of Capitol Ministries told the men, most of whom were accompanied by their wives.

“I constantly hear, ‘Why, Ralph, are you bringing this up when consensus has already moved from that.’ But rather than the trendy, ‘what’s true for today,’ we teach God’s truth which is inviolate. It is unchangeable.”

Capitol Ministries leaders teach in-depth Bible studies because our mission is to make disciples not converts, said Perry Gauthier, Capitol Ministries North America Director who has led a ministry to Nebraska legislators for 12 years.

“This is not a quick process,” Drollinger said. “You have to measure the success of your ministry not in years, but in decades of time.”

The beautifully written and powerfully delivered daily devotionals from Dr. Adams provided perspective for the long-term commitment that the men were making.

Through biblical references, inspirational stories, and tales from history, Dr. Adams underscored the importance of faith, persistence, and that quiet intangible of not always knowing the result of the Scriptural seeds being sown.

“Some of you are breaking new ground,” he said. “Have you ever asked for something and received far more than you asked for? That’s Acts Chapter 3.”

In that chapter, the beggar crippled from birth sat at the Gate called Beautiful and asked for money but instead was healed in the name of Christ by the apostle Peter.

“Do you understand the audacious act of faith it is to boldly proclaim the Christ who is physically absent but spiritually present and powerfully active on the earth?” he asked.

“Jesus Christ raised from the dead and that claim is not made by any other religion on the face of the earth.”

“And Jesus does what he does on the earth through his people. I love the quote, expect great things from God; Do great things for God.”

“We live in a world in which consensus determines values, but those people do not have Jesus, they do not have the Bible, they do not have the Word, they do not have faith.”

“I wonder what happened to the beggar at the gate. We have a legacy. You just don’t know the seeds you plant, the impact of the words you preach, you just don’t know how your ministry will affect the political leaders you serve, but by faith, we know that Jesus can take it from there and carry the ball. I pray you will have great works in their lives.”