Opportunities for Partnerships

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

As Christians, our hope is different than what the world can comprehend or claim as their own. Our hope is not rooted in snappy slogans, clever ideas, or the supposed inherent goodness of mankind. If we look at history, that kind of hope inevitably disappoints. 

Our hope is rooted, instead, in Jesus Christ. And through Him, we have been given real hope for this life and the life to come. It is this hope, along with faith and love, that we must share with this dark world. Thankfully, the darkness of the world has no successful defense against this light that shines against it. Consider the power of a real hope that does not and cannot put us to shame.

Christian hope isn't one that ignores real suffering but rather rejoices in God's love for us and for others when life is hard. As Christians answer suffering with the love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ, amazing things happen.

Consider the suffering and disaster wrought by Roe v. Wade. Think of how hopeless it could have been in the months following that decision.

And now, think of the effect hopeful and loving Christians have had since. Not content just to picket, Christians have been behind the dramatic increase in adoption, crisis pregnancy care, 3D ultrasound, the closing of abortion clinics and the exposure of their abuse of women, etc.

In 1973, Christians were told the battle was over and that they were on the wrong side of history. But we recognize that the light is most obvious in the darkness. The darkness of the world after Roe, opened opportunities for Christians to minister to both bodies and the souls of women.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord is producing endurance and character and hope in you as you meet today's sufferings by standing in the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ suffered for us so that we might show the hope of the gospel to all peoples in both word and deed.

Let's not miss this chance for something extraordinary in our lifetime. Will there be suffering and hardship? Yes, and only the grace of God will answer it. Is there hope? Yes, and it is as sure and certain as Jesus Christ raised from the dead.

The Church Ambassador Network is looking to partner with Christians, pastors, and churches around our state who are making the love of Christ known, represented, and enacted in all areas of public life. We believe that the church is an underutilized and underappreciated resource for the government. The church can solve problems the government was never meant to solve. We want to proclaim this gospel hope as we meet with legislators and point them to Jesus, but we also want to help them see the hope lived out in the ministries of churches and church-first parachurch organizations around our state.

God has granted us these times in which to live, and He has prepared good works for us to do in them. With His help we will see our state changed from one of darkness and hopelessness to one of light and hope as the gospel and the church advance.