Seven CapMin Regional Directors Meet to Advance Local Government Ministries Nationwide

A contingent of CapMin leaders met last week to hammer out plans to advance the bold mission to establish discipleship Bible ministries to local leaders in the 40,000 incorporated cities and counties across America.

“It felt like one of those rare times in life when you get to be involved in the very beginnings of something that has nation-changing potential,” said Nate Belkstrom, CapMin Midwest regional director for Local Government Ministries (LGM).

“And that’s nation-changing potential not only here in America, but also in other nations of the world.”

Pastor Belkstrom was one of seven new LGM regional directors who participated in CapMin’s required training on June 1-4 in California.

The men were recently appointed to work with Dr. Dan DeShong, Global Director for LGM to help recruit, vet, train, and mentor ministry leader candidates and to grow LGM in their regions of the U.S. As is required, each man already leads a successful LGM discipleship Bible study to political public servants in his community.

In addition to the training, the CapMin leaders also devised strategies and plans to further ongoing efforts to plant discipleship Bible study ministries to mayors, city and county commissioners, city managers, school board members and other local public servants throughout the nation.

The training was led Dr. DeShong and Ralph Drollinger, President and Founder of Capitol Ministries.

“The meeting was a complete success,” Dr. DeShong said. “Each regional director came prepared to share a specific topic that could guide us through the process of vetting and credentialling candidates to become ministry leaders.

“Topics included spiritual gifts, God’s calling, Oaks in Office curriculum, our statement of faith, marketing, networking, and discipleship.”

CapMin Board Member Randy Adams, who is also executive director/treasurer of the Northwest Baptist Convention, spoke about the history of the United States as well as the history of missions that had been successful due in great part to supporting systems and structures.

Such support systems and structures are important to the success of CapMin’s LGM efforts, Dr. DeShong noted.

“We have a scriptural mandate to go make disciples, so with the enthusiasm and industriousness of these regional directors, we have the structure in place to accomplish our small part of the Great Commission,” he said.

For several years Capitol Ministries (CapMin) has been building discipleship ministries for local leaders in the U.S. and in nations around the world. So far LGM Bible studies have been planted to local public servants in neighborhoods in California, Texas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, and in dozens of provinces and territories in European nations.

The successful methodologies created in the meetings will be enacted and replicated across the U.S. and eventually, the world.

Drollinger said with procedures in place and additional manpower, CapMin is positioned to experience a surge in LGM development.

“CapMin has been laying the LGM foundation for years,” Drollinger said. “And now, with the successful and ongoing ministry leader recruiting effort and with our new regional directors onboard, the local ministries effort is positioned to explode, not only in the U.S. but also in foreign nations.”

Before being appointed global director, Dr. DeShong led the first LGM Bible study to local leaders in the greater Sacramento, CA area which he continues to lead today.

From his experiences, he authored an instruction manual from which he taught at the meetings. Regional directors also spoke on their areas of expertise. The men found the instruction to be vital.

“Dr. Dan’s training manual provided attention to many important details of this emerging ministry outreach,” said Gene Sipprell, who shares duties as Midwest regional director with Pastor Belkstrom.

Sipprell said the regional directors’ contributions at the conference were valuable. “This process enabled us to share our various ministry gifts in teaching one another,” he said.

Torrey Lewis, Northwest regional director, said the training provided tools the directors need to recruit the next generation of ministry leaders.

“Dr. Dan has provided us with an enlistment procedure that is second to none,” he said.

“I came into our training feeling challenged, but without a plan. After spending time with Ralph and the LGM regional directors, I have a plan and am equipped to execute that plan.”

The men also had opportunities to interact as brothers in Christ, said Dan Marshall, Southeast regional director.

“We experienced hearts that long to serve, teach, and mentor others,” Marshall said.

Through our sharing, we learned about effective strategies that we can apply to reach out to local government leaders.

“It is critical that we absorb these skills so that we can impart them to those who will be joining us in the future.

“It is no accident that each man who was asked to accept a director’s position responded in the affirmative. Such a positive spirit communicates a working of God’s Spirit within each of us that affirms we are in the right place at the right time.”

Greg Helland, West Coast regional director, resonated with CapMin’s commitment to involve local churches in the LGM effort. Lincoln Presbyterian Church where Helland is a member is very involved in his ministry to local public servants in Stockton, CA.

“Being that CapMin is a parachurch missions organization, we need the involvement of the local church to build that base of prayer as well as to expose more people to the missional opportunity to reach the ‘hidden people group’ of political leaders,” Helland said.

“It is imperative for the local church to be involved with the LGM leader, especially their own church.  However, more local churches in the LGM territory are always better as the prayer support and vision and mission of LGM will be strengthened.

“The local church is God’s vehicle for bringing all people to Himself and we therefore need to adhere to God’s plan and not our own.”

Raising up believers from congregations to minister to public servants will also strengthen the church, said Pastor Belkstrom.

“It’s a win-win,” he said. “As a pastor, I have been saddened time and again over the way Christians almost celebrate their noninvolvement in politics,” he said. “That mindset is often followed up with grumbling over how corrupt the government is.”

“The missionary Oswald Chambers defines work as the daily invasion of the believers influence into the world. I apply that to the Capitol Ministries LGM vision.

“LGM is the weekly invasion of the believers’ influence into the political realm. It’s an action of faith that finally corresponds with our prayers for those in authority.”

Dr. DeShong expects great fruit to result from the meetings.

“It’s an honor to serve alongside these dedicated warriors for Christ who have the desire and ability that can only come from the Lord to accomplish the goals set by Ralph and the CapMin board for local government ministries,” he said.

Also attending the conference was Brian Solomon, North America director, Keith Hill, Southwest regional director, and Morris Webster, Northeast regional director.
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