CapMin Ministry to Arkansas Legislators Poised to Soar: “God’s Timing is Perfect!”

Beginning afresh this year, Dr. Cheyne Day has begun teaching members of the Arkansas Legislature what has been lauded as the most significant sermon ever taught – Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

“I am beginning this new year teaching the greatest sermon of all time taught by the greatest teacher of all time—Jesus,” Pastor Cheyne said. “This is the most important sermon that has ever been taught. There is so much practical application to all aspects of our lives.”

“This wonderful sermon will impart so much wisdom into these members, many of whom are newly elected and are just getting their start. They will have years ahead of them. This study will help them grow in discipleship and can be the key in the future for them to disciple others.”

Pastor Cheyne began leading the in-person weekly Bible studies Jan. 17.

Leading a Bible study to just one group of legislators will be a drastic change for Pastor Cheyne. For more than two years, he has been leading weekly Bible studies to lawmakers in two states – Arkansas where he lives and in neighboring Oklahoma.

Serving as CapMin ministry leader to members of two state legislatures is an ambitious effort by itself, but the work was made more arduous by the 11 hour round-trip drive that Pastor Cheyne had to make to Oklahoma City from his Arkansas home.

The long drive also created a problem for Pastor Cheyne to have a presence at the Capitol after the Bible study for evangelism, prayer, discipleship, and for opportunities to meet new legislators and invite them to the study. So he could spend time at the Capitol, Pastor Cheyne routinely spent a few nights with his brother’s family who lived in Oklahoma City, or, after COVID-19 necessitated social distancing, at local hotels.

COVID-19’s forced restrictions on travel and meetings created additional logistical problems. When it became nearly impossible for participants to meet in person, Pastor Cheyne began leading the Bible studies remotely through podcasts.

Now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted and in-person meetings are no longer prohibited, Pastor Cheyne has begun leading weekly Bible studies in the Arkansas State Capitol which is only 20 miles from his home.

And, beginning this month, a good friend of his will be leading Oklahoma CapMin ministry. Pastor Cheyne began leading the Oklahoma ministry in 2018 after former ministry leader Dr. Doug Melton vacated that position to serve with the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board.

Shortly afterward, a ministry leader was needed for Arkansas and Pastor Cheyne offered to also lead Bible studies to public servants in his own state every week. And now Pastor Ray Strauss, who is a good friend of both Pastor Cheyne and Pastor Doug, has been recruited to be CapMin’s ministry leader for Oklahoma legislators.

“Ray and I have known each other more than 30 years. He was like a brother when we were growing up,” Pastor Cheyne said. “My family kind of “adopted” him. We are all blue-eyed and blond and my mom and dad teased that Ray was their brunette son.”

“He is a man of God and a perfect fit with his love for the Lord and his pastoral experience and education. I couldn’t hand off the ministry to anyone better than Ray.”

Pastor Cheyne is excited to begin afresh in Arkansas. He had just gotten the ministry started when the pandemic hit and slowed its growth.

“My first study in Arkansas was to have taken place in March 2020 when COVID-19 hit hard,” Pastor Cheyne said. “I did my best, teaching with podcast Bible studies and ministered as best as I could. My wife, Misty, and I delivered gift bags and met people, but it felt tragic to lose all of that momentum.”

But still, Pastor Cheyne developed relationships with legislators who became a strong core group. He met additional lawmakers—some of them newly-elected—a the most recent American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) meeting where he represented CapMin.

These legislators are eager to participate in the weekly Bible study.

Pastor Cheyne is delighted to begin the Arkansas ministry afresh by teaching them an in-depth Bible study on the Sermon on the Mount – the first Bible study he taught to the Oklahoma legislators.

While the road Pastor Cheyne has traveled in order to teach Bible studies to legislators in his own state has been long, he said the journey has been a joy.

“God’s timing is perfect. Everything is coming together for this new season, and I am looking forward to what God will do. I want to be a vessel for Him to use as long as I am needed.”

If you wish to support Pastor Cheyne Day and the CapMin ministry in Arkansas, please click here.