CapMin’s Cabinet Bible study praised by Rick Perry, also called “most influential Bible study in the world” by NYT

At an official White House Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump last week, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry praised the Capitol Ministries’ Bible study he attends weekly with other executive department heads.

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, and several other members of the White House Cabinet are meeting together to study the Bible in what is believed to be “the first time in 100 years,” Secretary Perry said. 

The White House Cabinet Bible study has been led by Ralph Drollinger, president and founder of Capitol Ministries, since 2017. Drollinger also leads separate Bible studies to U.S. Senators and Representatives. 

Secretary Perry thanked Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, for providing the room for the Cabinet Bible study, and he thanked President Trump for his support of the study.

“It’s been another type of a cabinet meeting Mr. President and we appreciate you allowing us to do that and the blessings you give us to participate in that Cabinet Bible study.”

He also thanked Vice President Mike Pence for his support of the study and joked that while the vice president wanted to attend, he was thankful that he didn’t because the vice president has “such a big footprint.”

You may view Secretary Perry’s remarks here.

Secretary Perry was also quoted in a prominent New York Times Magazine story about Drollinger and Capitol Ministries that was written by Mattathias Schwartz and published October 29. 

The story said: “Drollinger’s weekly gathering, held at 7 a.m. on Wednesdays, is perhaps the most influential small-group Bible study in the world.”

Click here to read the NYT Magazine story.

The story said that Drollinger believes, “God’s hand was behind [Trump’s] sudden elevation to the presidency, along with that of so many humble lawmakers to his cabinet, and the Bible-sanctioned agenda they stood for.”

“The study’s public list of “sponsors” — who, Drollinger says, have committed to building Capitol Ministries, his nonprofit, and testifying publicly about their relationship with Jesus Christ — includes Pence; Pompeo; Rick Perry, the departing secretary of energy; Ben Carson, the secretary of housing and urban development; Betsy DeVos, the education secretary; and Sonny Perdue, the secretary of agriculture.

“The former cabinet members Jeff Sessions, Alex Acosta and Scott Pruitt all attended the study during their tenures in the administration; Jim Bridenstine, who leads NASA, also attends.”

Secretary Perry was quoted in the story as saying, “As a relative newcomer to this town, a focus on Judeo-Christian values is not a normal conversation that I’ve found. These are the values that the country is based on.”

The prominent 8-page feature was accompanied by six photographs by photojournalist Bill McCullough, most of which were taken on a mission trip to Nicaragua. The NYT team was invited to shadow the Drollingers on the trip.   

Topics covered by the story include Capitol Ministries’ mission to create discipleship Bible studies to leaders of nations; the theological difference between Drollinger and Douglas Coe, founder of the Fellowship; and Ralph and Danielle Drollinger’s trip to Nicaragua where they worked with President Daniel Ortega and local faith leaders to establish a discipleship Bible study to members of Ortega’s cabinet. 

The story said, “Seven years ago, Drollinger published a short book called ‘Rebuilding America: The Biblical Blueprint,’ which lays out his ambition to ‘to reach all the capitals of the world for Christ.’ 

“He and Danielle moved their center of operations from California to Washington in 2009, but their international presence remained limited until 2017, when Trump entered the White House and the cabinet study got underway.”

Brian Hanson, who oversees Capitol Ministries’ international ministries was quoted saying, “We have a goal of 200 ministries in 200 federal capitals around the world. We’re going to hit that target very rapidly.” 

The story said, “Logging the miles necessary to drive the growth of his ministry excites (Drollinger) more than overseeing his existing flock. ‘I hate maintenance,’ he told me. He saw himself less as a pastor than as something more like an apostle, one who basically says, ‘All right, let’s launch out and try to get some new territory for the sake of God’s glory.’”