The first time we covered local school board races at iVoterGuide, I was shocked to discover—in my home state of Texas—that half the races didn’t have a single candidate on the “conservative” side of our ratings gauge. In Texas!
If there aren’t any conservative candidates running for your local school board or city council, could it be that God wants you to fill that seat?
It’s easy to get frustrated with politics and complain about government officials. Why do they keep spending our money? Why don’t they fight harder for this issue … or that one? When I’m tempted to complain about how something’s run at my church, at work, or in my household, this question often comes to mind and guards my tongue: “Are you willing to be part of the solution?”
When my Good Shepherd asks me that question, it’s a game changer. That’s how I ended up being in charge of Operation Christmas Child at my church! If you sense a stirring about running for office, here are some questions to consider with the Lord:
What does my family think about me running and serving? What about my friends and my church? As you can imagine, running for public office significantly affects your family, your closest friends, and your community. Remember, not only do you have to prepare yourself for public scrutiny, but that spotlight affects your inner circle, too! Scripture clearly shows us that God can call us to highly scrutinized, unpopular work but also that our first calling is to God and our families. There is much to learn and to discern about hearing the Shepherd’s voice.
Are you and your family prepared for the financial demands and sacrifices? Running for office requires a significant commitment of time and money—and you still may not win the race. Even if you do win, your service may require more time with far less income than you’re used to making. You’ll also need to launch ongoing fundraising efforts to support your campaign. Are you able to carry out your commitments at home while running for office? Are you ready to ask people for money?
Finally, are there others running for the same position? If other conservatives are in the race, you need to get a clear picture about their priorities and values. When multiple conservatives run for the same seat, they often split the vote and give victory to the other side. As you relentlessly pursue only what will glorify God and advance His principles, you may have to choose between running for office yourself or promoting another candidate.
As you mull over these questions and others, iVoterGuide wants to give you the tools you need to help make these decisions and step into the public square effectively. So we are excited about partnering with Christians Engaged to host an online class with live teaching to help you learn about the path to public office.
Campaign Training for Christians will feature former political consultants, campaign managers, finance directors, and communications experts to provide a blueprint for what it takes to run for office as a Christian, while guarding your biblical worldview and your integrity.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Introduction to campaigning for Christians
- Operating as a candidate with a biblical worldview
- The mechanics of running a campaign—field, finance, and marketing
- Dealing with the media and voters
- Fundraising and gathering support
- Protecting your soul and your integrity on a campaign
The free online class will be offered 7-8:30 p.m. (CST) on Wednesdays for four weeks: October 15, 22, 29, and November 5. The class features live presentations and times for Q&A to get all your questions answered. Even if you can’t attend each week, go ahead and register, and we’ll send you the recordings after each session.
I want to commend you for even considering the sacrifices it takes to serve our nation in public office. Whether candidacy is for you or not, I encourage you to pray about God’s role for you in the public square. It can be difficult to discern God’s prompting, and I believe that God interacts with his people in very personal ways.
God called Moses differently than He did Gideon in the Old Testament, and He spoke to Peter differently than Andrew in the New Testament. Some people talk about receiving peace about a calling from God, but His voice often can feel like a holy agitation—like a rock you can’t get out of your shoe—until you sit down and seek Him. We pray this course will help you as you seek first His kingdom and discover His calling for you in service to our nation.
P.S. This is great training if you're thinking about helping on a campaign in some way, too! It's also a great chance to gain a better understanding of what goes into offering oneself for public service. We hope to see you there. There's so much to learn!
