By Tim Lubinus, BCI Executive Director/Treasurer

While Paul teaches us to pray for kings and all who are in authority, we have a new opportunity this spring to pray with our Iowa State legislators as well as for them. Several pastors from Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI) affiliated churches have scheduled four days this legislative term to meet with Iowa state legislators.

The purpose of the visits is to encourage the legislators, to pray for them, and to thank them for their service. A visit from someone who isn’t a lobbyist is often a refreshing break from legislators’ busy schedules. Many state legislators have the stress of traveling to Des Moines and are away from their families for several days each week.

During the four-hour visits, we get a briefing on the important issues of the day, meet with legislators from our own districts, and hear testimonies of faith from select legislators. The BCI are working with Greg Baker from The FAMiLY LEADER who schedules multiple churches to minister to the legislators many days of the legislative session.

The BCI pastor’s group’s first visit this spring was on January 21. During the February 9^th visit several pastors attended and spoke at a sub-committee hearing on a bill that was recently introduced prohibiting the sale of fetal tissue from abortions for research. While we added our voices to those who spoke in favor of the bill, the larger impact was to encourage the legislators who introduced and are supporting the bill.

We have two more days scheduled to visit the Capitol this spring, March 8^th and April 5^th. If you would like to join us or would like more information, contact me at TLubinus@BCIowa.org.

Chuck Hurley from The FAMiLY LEADER recently shared in an email about the spiritual awakening that he is seeing at the Iowa Capital:

“This legislative session has been marked by a significant increase in spiritual awareness. Legislators with a biblical worldview are increasingly depending upon pastors for prayerful encouragement as they serve in the Iowa Legislature.

Tangible fruit of that engagement includes:

Prayer at the Capitol every day of session from 9-10 a.m.
Year-round Tuesday noon prayer meeting
Bible study every Thursday morning from 7:30-8:00 a.m. during session
Several pastors at the Capitol daily, meeting and praying with legislators
Holy Week church service scheduled for Monday, March 21
The entire Bible read aloud in the Rotunda in January
A state senator calling for a day of fasting and prayer prior to filing a difficult bill

The FAMiLY LEADER has been blessed with over 100 pastors coming to the Capitol since January. With more to come in the next few weeks, we anticipate an even greater impact on legislation that affects the family.”