Ohio Ministry Leader Brian Hanson Named Director of International Ministries

Brian Hanson, an enthusiastic evangelist and gifted leader who has taught the Word of God to Ohio legislators for 23 years, has been named to Capitol Ministries’ new position of Director of International Ministries.

In addition to serving as Ministry Leader to the Ohio State Legislature, Pastor Hanson will oversee the growth, development, and wellbeing of CM’s sustainable international ministries which are being planted at an unexpectedly fast pace.

He will work with Capitol Ministries’ Global Directors who are charged with recruiting Bible-teaching evangelists to create discipleship ministries to political leaders in foreign nations. Pastor Hanson will also provide training and discipleship to international Ministry Leaders.

Capitol Ministries has placed seven Global Directors around the world and anticipates adding several more. As Capitol Ministries continues to experience an increase in international ministry growth, the supervisory position was long-needed.

“With the fast and sizable growth of our international ministries comes a need for someone to help manage all that,” said Ralph Drollinger, President and Founder of Capitol Ministries.

“Brian has had a wonderful exemplary, fruitful ministry in the Ohio State Capitol for more than two decades and has a strong missionary gift.

“Because of those strengths, combined with his leadership skills, the Capitol Ministries board of directors unanimously agreed to offer him this position.

“Brian will work closely with me to help our Global Directors plant ministries in federal capitals throughout the world.”

Both appointments are self-supporting missionary positions.

Pastor Hanson, a 1989 graduate of Bible Baptist College (now Clarks Summit University), began an independent ministry to Ohio legislators in 1996. He continued to minister to individual lawmakers and served as a chaplain in the Capitol during a recent two-year interruption in the formal sit-down studies. His Ohio legislative Bible study ministry was re-established in 2016 when he joined with Capitol Ministries.

“Having walked the marble halls of the Ohio State Capitol for 23 years, I have some understanding in how to train others to be effective as they work with political leaders,” Pastor Hanson said.

“The importance of ongoing Bible studies to lawmakers cannot be minimized.

“When a person looks at the world through the lens of their own mind, all you have is their opinion. What we are asking them to do is look at the world through the lens of Scripture and now they have a laser focus for any decision that will be made.

“In them must be the foundation of truth and that is Scripture, and the only way to know Scripture is by going through it exegetically, not telling them my opinion of Scripture, but seeing what Scripture has to say for itself.”

This remains an important lesson for Hanson to impart to Ohio legislators, and it becomes more profound as he considers energizing Ministry Leaders across the globe.

Twelve legislators attend the Ohio Bible studies and one of Pastor Hanson’s main objective for the coming year is to grow that ministry.

“It is still about Ohio, but it is also deeper and stronger. I am now involved in something that is making an enormous difference, globally,” he said.

It’s something he has prayed about for a long time.

“When I was a teenager, I asked God if He would please use me to change the world. I never knew what that meant and I wondered what that might be like, would it be like Billy Graham, speaking in large stadiums?

“God, in His humor and direction, makes your paths straight.

“He has planted me in a ministry that I could never have imagined, one that has taken me to foreign nations where I’ve met leaders of countries.

“I am an evangelist at heart and while I will not be speaking before thousands of people like Billy Graham, I am working with Ministry Leaders who are affecting the lives of thousands of people across the globe.

“Ralph and I have worked closely over the last several months and I see the international vision. I understand its eternal importance, and I am ready.”

If you wish to support Pastor Hanson, you may contact him at: brian.hanson@capmin.org