From Mature Christians to Skeptics–Ministry Leader Jon Strain Helps Idaho Legislators Move Closer to God

Jon Strain, CapMin’s ministry leader to members of the Idaho Legislature has one objective whether he is speaking with a mature Christian, a new believer, or a skeptic: “I invite people to take the next step toward God,” he said.

With a heart for evangelism and discipleship, Pastor Strain has been leading the weekly Capitol Ministries Bible study to an average 8-12 senators and representatives since 2015.

“In the Capitol, I reach out to legislators and when I get a meeting, I offer my compelling question which, I hope, is wide enough and inviting enough that they want to answer. That question is, ‘Does God have anything to do with you being here at this Capitol as a senator or a representative?’”

“People give you all kinds of answers. Most of them have a serious awareness that God has put them in that role. I hear some amazing stories.”

“But some don’t and I ask that question because I want to learn what they think about spiritual matters. Based on the answer, I have another question. I call it the platinum question because it is rare, valuable, and enduring. I ask, ‘Let’s assume there is a God and you can ask any question you want and get a response, or you can challenge God on an issue. What would your question or topic be?’”

Lively discussions ensue, especially with skeptics, and the conversations always lead to an invitation to our weekly legislative Bible study.

“Ask, seek, knock,” Pastor Strain said. “Giving legislators an opportunity to have that conversation – that is key.”

The Bible study is held in the Senate Majority Caucus Room and is hosted by Sen. Chuck Winder who serves as president pro tempore of the Idaho Senate and has previously served as the majority leader.

CapMin founders Ralph and Danielle Drollinger had met Sen. Winder when they traveled to Idaho to begin the process of recruiting a Bible teacher and a Christian legislator to establish a weekly discipleship Bible-study ministry in the Idaho Capitol.

Sen. Winder was interested and after meeting Pastor Strain, he introduced him to CapMin. After researching the ministry and successfully completing the required training, Pastor Strain decided to partner with CapMin and launched the study.

“I wanted to join with Capitol Ministries because we are unique in that we base everything on the Scriptures,” Pastor Strain said. “Our mission states, making disciples of Jesus Christ in the political arena throughout the world. We have an international scope, and to be a helper of public servants is a big honor.”

“And I am watching and marveling at the expansion at every level—international, federal, state, and local government—because that is tough ground.”

Prior to moving to Idaho, Pastor Strain and Pam, his wife and ministry partner had served as missionaries and then spent 13 years in evangelism and discipleship with CRU at the University of Utah and then, Brigham Young University.

The Strain family moved to Boise, Idaho’s capital, as part of a church-planting effort. After Riverside Community Church was built and established, Pastor Strain served as co-pastor for four years. He and Pam still worship at that church.

Pastor Strain earned a Master of Divinity degree from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, which is now simply known as Western, in Portland, Oregon. He and Pam will have been married for 40 years this summer and have four adult sons and five grandsons.

Pastor Strain and Pam are also the founders of the nonprofit ministry “You Gotta Ask.” He describes “You Gotta Ask” as “relational evangelism, disciple-making, and relational apologetics which answers the person, not just the questions.”

Idaho has a short session—the Legislature’s 35 senators and 70 representatives meet for only three months every year. But Pastor Strain makes the most of the time, teaching in-depth studies every week.

He has taught books of the Bible including Nehemiah, Daniel, Luke, and Acts. He has taught Drollinger’s book, Oaks in Office: Biblical Essays for Political Leaders, a collection of the most pertinent Bible studies Drollinger has written specifically for public servants in more than 28 years in ministry.

He has also taught from the Bible-study based books that he and Pam authored for his ministry including, You Gotta Ask: How to have meaningful conversations and You Gotta Listen: Jesus is speaking to and through all kinds of people.

During the COVID-19 years he concentrated on teaching from the Bible’s beautiful book of praise.

“During COVID, when things got really intense and legislators were coming in and just trying to put an oxygen mask on, figuratively speaking, I taught Psalms because that book just invites them to be true and honest about where they are.”

“I taught Psalms because I thought legislators needed to lament and be drawn back to God.”

This year Pastor Strain feels prompted to go through a legislative directory each week and pray for every lawmaker. He has recruited a prayer team to pray for them as well.

He has also committed to recruiting retired pastors to lead Bible studies to local city and county public servants throughout Idaho. Through our Local Government Ministries (LGM) initiative, CapMin is working with churches and individuals to establish ministries to city and county public servants in the 40,000 incorporated communities across the United States.

Pastor Strain strongly believes our nation’s political leaders need CapMin’s ministry and mission at all levels of government.

“The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword,” he said. “ There is something that recalibrates everyone when we open the Bible together.

“My heart for my ministry is to make disciples and invite people to investigate Jesus through His Word and to enter into a relationship with Him so that He is their Good Shepherd and they hear His voice and He is speaking to them about all of their life including their voting and decision making.

“This is a major battle front for them. They probably feel the most vulnerable and raw in that Capitol Building than anywhere else in their life. What a place to learn the Word of God!”

If you wish to support Pastor Strain’s ministry, click here.