 You have been reading the news, watching the commentators, listening to the radio, and frequenting trustworthy media sources. You are reading the prophetic voices, you are jumping on board with the calls for prayer.
You join the chorus of believers who are passionate about defending our nation, you are ready to take a stand and do something for freedom and truth, but you cannot figure out where in the world to start. You hear all the Voices saying, “people of faith must get involved! We must pray and redeem the hour!” But you sit there and scratch your head, and search your spirit pondering, “How?? Where are the specifics for how Christians can jump into the arena and change things? I don’t know what to do! And besides - can one person really make a change?” This piece is going to tell you where to start. WHO I AM Before you take anyone’s word for anything you should always find out who they are and what their experience is to begin teaching you. Side note: but even Professors. If they have not lived what they preach in the real world, scrutinize with special inquiry what they say. Therefore, before you believe what I'm about to tell you, you need to know more about me. I worked for 12 years in the Political arena. I was the Executive Director of a statewide organization and PAC that was one of the leading voices in my state for traditional family values. I also wrote the packet and oversaw the process for 17 staff during a Presidential campaign to make sure we mobilized, informed and educated church and college voters. In my non-profit work, I drove grassroots efforts, trained activists, educated voters, screened candidates, monitoring public policy, working alongside lawmakers. I wrote the manuals, I organized the trainings, and I pointed people to resources. Beyond it being a job - it was (and is) a passion for me. While I no longer work with that particular organization, I do have a passion to see that people of faith join me in the arena and do our part to stand for truth and preserve our blessed nation. You don’t have to work in Politics, but I do believe that we are called to influence the marketplace. So whether it is in media, business, government, entertainment you have a role to play. I believe that as an American, we are all called to different marketplaces and roles in society but I believe that as responsible Christians, we have a role to be responsible ChrIstian citizens. SO for example you may say, “Amy I hate politics. My passion is teaching children.” My response - awesome. I’m not saying you are called to be an elected official. But I am saying that you need to step up and utilize the right you have been given to vote and to monitor those who are making decisions for you in the marketplace. But Amy I hate politics. You are focused on the wrong thing (Forgive me for the bluntness). Politics is not for everyone but government is. Government impacts everything about us. Think I’m joking? Stop and consider it: what kind of taxes we pay on roads, how much our milk costs, what side of the street we can drive on, when businesses can open and close, when and where houses can be built, when you can get divorced, when you can see your children, when you can remove your child from school etc etc etc. It impacts everything. My concern is: as people of faith we need to be aware of and keep our eye on who is making these decisions for us. So your role is: 1. Love Jesus. 2. Do what God has called me to do in society (business owner, stay at home mom etc) and then 3. Vote and care about who my leaders are. GROUND RULES I am still learning. I don’t have all the answers. But I do have a few specific beliefs:
I could go on. But that is enough fundamentals to get started. MORE SIMPLE THAN WE KNOW Besides praying, what can we do? We can do a lot. Here are the very basics: 1 - Do you vote? And are you aware that there are elections more than once a year? Even in non-Presidential years? This means that ballot initiatives, local offices, state offices, policies are being voted on at the ballot box even when there is not a Presidential or Governor election. Every state varies. So stalk your State’s Secretary of State website. And if they don’t find what you need, call them. Also contact your local county and city clerk. Here is what you are looking for:
When it comes to voting, yes you choose a party. But even more importantly you need to understand your local governing operation. I.e. Call the City Clerk for example (or find it online) and just let them know you are working to be informed. When are the elections, etc. Disclaimer: Michigan’s website is wonderful. You can type in your address and it will generate information for me. It will tell me my specific region. Where I vote, when I vote, and what the upcoming elections are. Be prepared. As elections approach, you can get access to your ballot ahead of time and this will allow you to research the candidates. Leave yourself plenty of time. If you feel like voting is a “Job” and challenge that means you have met reality. It is not simple and it should not be simple. We are electing people who will make decisions impacting our very lives. We are choosing who gets our tax dollars, who is making decisions for our communities, and who is voting on policies that will shape us for generations to come. Be prepared and you will quickly find you can be ahead on things and you will become a go-to person for others as they look to get informed. 2 - Get to Know Your Local Area. Most of the news you hear talk about is on National and Statewide policies. But did you know that your local community more than likely has all of or some of the following (as you review the list consider - do I know these people and was I aware of their existence)?
Now, before you get overwhelmed - stop yourself. All you need to accept this moment is one thing: “where i live has local leaders that impact my life. And I need to get to know more.” Period. Congratulations. Sit on that for a couple days and come back to it. 3) Start Researching. It’s that simple. Step 1: Go to the Official Offices Go to your local Secretary of State, Local Township or City Council office and ask them to help you, based on where you live, and where you do business (if you are a business owner - where your property is located) who are your representatives. Your list of leaders will look something like this:
I know. It’s a lot. But I’m listing it out so you have an idea. But I’m telling you that you should start local. Step 2: Find Out More Now that you have their names, start to find out more about them. - Do they have websites?
Step 3: Get Personal Send an email to the leader introducing yourself. It does not have to be long or fancy but could be something as simple as this: Dear Councilwoman Smith: I have been a long time resident of this area. In the last few months I have become more convinced that I would like to be involved in my local community. I am eager to get to know the leaders who represent me, such as yourself. I am a local businessman that has been in the community for 30 plus years. I have raised my family here, have deep friendships, and I am passionate about seeing our community succeed. I would love to get to know you more. Where can I learn more about you, your policies, your beliefs? In addition, I would love to be more involved as a citizen. If you are ever in need of volunteers, or friends in the community I would love to engage with you. I realize we may not agree on everything - but that is okay. Here is my contact information if and when I can ever be of service. I look forward to attending future City Council meetings. Thank you for your willingness to serve our community. Sincerely, John Brown Find out who is your Mayor. Who is the person on the City Council that represents you? Where would your children go to school and get to know who the school board is? Send them personal emails, or call their offices for a friendly conversation. Even if you determine they stand for everything you oppose, recognize that they are the sitting elected leader for this season until the next election. So you have two choices: stay silent and sit in the background and watch things possibly not go so well or use this season to build a friendship with someone you might not normally have common ground with. But now you do. They represent you. So why not use this moment to show them the kindness of God? 4) Get out there: Seek to know, and be known. Attend meetings. Yes you CAN go sit in the back of a School board meeting. And no, you don’t have to stay the whole time. Go for 20 minutes. You won’t have to speak if you don’t want to. You can just go and listen. It’s your right as a community member. Check them out on social media. Sign up for email lists. The simple answer is start today to get involved in Your local communities. And it’s imperative to do it sooner rather than later. If you see them in the grocery store, go out of your way to introduce yourself. If they live in your neighborhood, stop by to take them homemade cookies. If you drive by their office, stop in and leave a note with the secretary: “I just wanted you to know I appreciate you and am praying for you.” Leave a thank you note to encourage them. It is good and right to know what is happening on the national, international and statewide level. But what is happening in your city council? Who is your mayor? What policies are the school board deciding on this week? And did you know that you don’t have to be an elected official to make a difference? Give the elected leaders a chance to meet you; you will also find that it will be easier than you realized to have influence in their lives. Many of them will find you to be an answer to prayer. They are bearing a heavy load and oftentimes do not have the men and women they need even as active citizens to help them do the best of jobs for your community. 5) Encourage Others to Join You It is time for more and more citizens to be inspired to take action, as well as pray. You will be amazed that people have been waiting for you to ask them to be part of changing things. Sometimes people do not know where to start but you can be that answer for them. CONCLUSION In James (James 2:14-26) it highlights that faith without action is dead. It is time that we as Christians take ourselves to task with what or how we have not been involved in our local level of society. God is a God of redemption. So while things are “burning at the top” now is our chance to rebuild things at the local level. This is our chance to be the Nehemiah's of this generation and rebuild the foundations of our society. Stay tuned for more resources. The best is yet to come.
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