"Why We Serve" by Jennifer Blankenship

"Why We Serve" by Jennifer Blankenship

I remember well the first time I visited the Indiana Statehouse. It was a sunny day in March 2005, and Debbie Magnuson had invited me to accompany her while her children served as pages for the House and Senate. We would enjoy a tour of the beautiful building and attend the weekly chapel service. I was excited. Though I had lived in Indianapolis since 1991, I had never visited our capitol building. And as one who had a keen interest in politics, I couldn’t wait to actually see our state government at work.

As we walked the halls that morning God gave me a genuine love for our statehouse. I was literally in awe of the grandeur of the place, the beauty of the architecture, the commotion of all the people working hard for the benefit of Hoosiers. I could have sat in the galleries for hours watching the Senate and House in action. Something inside of me came alive in this environment, and I remember thinking that I knew I wanted to invest myself here, but I did not know what form it would take.

It was after a lunch break that we made our way to the chapel room, and Debbie Magnuson introduced me to someone by the name of Matthew Barnes. I did not realize at that time how God would use that connection several years later to answer part of the question I had been pondering that entire morning. Yet, here remained an added dimension of which I was completely unaware that was key to unlocking what God had in store for me.

It all took place in the Senate gallery later that afternoon. A legislator who knew Debbie Magnuson well came over and struck up a conversation with us. He was kind, friendly, and approachable. But what impressed me most was how open he was in sharing specific ways we could be praying for him and his family.

And then it dawned on me. I had always subconsciously put our government leaders on a pedestal, concluding that they were unapproachable, way beyond me in intellect and status and therefore out of touch with the normal needs and routines of the common person. It was through that brief interaction with this legislator that my eyes were opened to see that our leaders are real people with real needs who face the same real life challenges that the rest of us do. In other words, they are just like you and me – people who need encouragement, comfort, a friend, and most importantly, the gospel to answer life’s toughest questions.

From that moment forward, the way I viewed my leaders and how I prayed for them was dramatically transformed, and I began to see the great importance for a Christian witness in the political arena.

This is why I am so blessed to serve with Public Servants’ Prayer. Relationships with our state leaders are built on trust and not a political agenda. Our intent is to serve and not to get something from them. Our mission is to bring the good news of the gospel into the world of politics so that lives are transformed for the glory of God.

Yes, I still love our statehouse and all it represents: its architectural beauty, its rich history, its people, etc. But above all, I love ministering to our leaders at a level where the need is the greatest. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that will meet those needs, and it is in Christ’s name that we labor for his glory.

Jennifer Blankenship, Administrative Assistant/em