Remembering a Faithful Servant: Congressman Doug LaMalfa

Only recently, Congressman Doug LaMalfa took his place among the men and women who gather each week for the Capitol Ministries Bible Study in Washington, D.C. Now, having completed his earthly race, he has stepped into the presence of his Savior.

Doug LaMalfa was a dear friend of Ralph and Danielle Drollinger, the founders of Capitol Ministries, for more than three decades and a faithful participant in Capitol Ministries Bible Study for many years. From his early days in public service—through the California Assembly, the State Senate, and ultimately the United States Congress—Doug remained a humble servant, committed first to the Lord and then to the people he represented.

“Doug was not merely affiliated with Capitol Ministries; he was an intimate part of our Bible study,” said Danielle Drollinger, President of Capitol Ministries, who attended the memorial service. “His love for God’s Word was genuine, steady, and lived out daily. His faith was never for show—Scripture shaped the way he led, the way he treated people, and the way he loved those around him. Year after year, he faithfully attended Bible study, prioritizing time in God’s Word even amid the demanding schedule of public office.”

The memorial service honoring Doug’s life drew thousands of people, including Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, to Chico, California, on Saturday, January 24. It was a deeply moving, God-honoring, and Christ-centered celebration of life. The presence of national leaders—including Mike Johnson and Kevin McCarthy—testified to Doug’s broad impact and respected legacy. Yet the most powerful testimony came not from titles or offices held, but from the consistent witness of a life faithfully lived for Jesus Christ.

In his remarks, Speaker Johnson spoke movingly of Doug’s kindness, humility, and servant’s heart, describing him as “a truly great man.” He noted that in a city filled with powerful and ambitious people, “truly great, honorable, deeply respected, and loved men are difficult to find,” adding, “Doug was one of those rare people.”

The Speaker concluded by reading from 1 Corinthians 13, observing that Doug’s life reflected the Scripture’s description of love. “We could have inserted Doug’s name in place of the word ‘love’ in each of those verses,” he said. “What an example. What a legacy.”

While with his homegoing, Capitol Ministries loses a true partner, and California’s 1st district loses a sincere advocate and leader, join us in prayer for Jill and their children as they navigate their profound loss of husband and father. May our Heavenly Father draw them to Himself as they grieve.