It is hard to believe that January has already come to an end. Session will be paused for the month of February as the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) gathers to work on the budget presented by the governor this week.
I cannot help but praise the Lord for such a great start to the year with the ministry of the Church Ambassador Network. It amazes me how much more our presence is noticed each year, and the unique opportunities we have to develop relationships with our elected officials. As we pray for them, share words of encouragement, and discuss the challenges our communities face, we are exploring how the Church, God’s institution of transformation, can be proactive in meeting those needs.
This week was no exception. Even though we experienced a bit of a setback due to the weather, God moved in amazing ways, cultivating new relationships and strengthening existing ones.
On Wednesday, I was at Legislative Hall by myself, as no pastors had signed up to attend. While I always prefer to have a pastor with me in the ministry of CAN, I use these days to sit in committees and learn what our elected officials are working on. I am very strategic, even about where I sit, so they see me—hoping that those I have not yet connected with will notice and wonder, “Who is this person I keep seeing everywhere at Legislative Hall?” We call that the ministry of presence.
That was exactly the case this past Wednesday. During one committee meeting, an elected official kept looking at me, clearly trying to figure out who I was. I do my best not to show emotion during committee meetings. At times I agree with what is being discussed; other times, especially during public comments, the perspectives can be quite surprising. Ultimately, I strive to respect everyone who is sharing their opinions.
After the meeting, I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to connect with this particular official and share why I was there. As often happens, the Lord brought him directly to me while I was walking through the hall. When I asked if I could speak with him for a few minutes, he quickly responded, “Let’s go to my office.”
I began sharing the purpose of my presence, and he was overjoyed to learn that I am a pastor. He shared that he is also a believer and expressed that he does not understand why more pastors do not come to Legislative Hall to learn about what happens there. He asked for my thoughts on a particular bill, and I explained that I am not there to advocate policy. However, if he ever asks, I will provide a biblical perspective. I also shared that if I do not have an immediate answer, I will take the time to study and respond thoughtfully from Scripture.
Our conversation concluded with me sharing Romans 13, affirming who he is called to be in Christ as a shepherd within God’s institution of government, and closing with a word of prayer for him, his service, and his family. He told me that whenever I bring pastors to Legislative Hall, I should make it a point to come and see him. You might be asking yourself, who was this elected official? It was Representative Franklin D. Cooke.
Yesterday, Thursday the 29th, I had two pastors join me at Legislative Hall: Pastor Weldon Lemke, who serves as the lead pastor at Atlanta Road Alliance Church (known as ARAC) in Seaford, and Pastor Miguel Albarran-Guerrero, who serves as pastor at The Way Church and is also the Executive Director of Love INC of Delmarva.
The day started a bit slow but quickly became hectic as our elected officials worked to accomplish as much as possible before the Joint Finance Committee weeks. At times it felt as though everyone was meeting simultaneously, and we were unable to connect with every official I had hoped to see. Even so, there were two meaningful Shepherd-to-Shepherd meetings that I want to highlight.
The first was with House Minority Leader, Representative Tim Dukes, who also serves as the lead pastor at Central Worship Center in Laurel. Tim is truly special—he serves as both a shepherd of the Church and a shepherd in government, carrying significant leadership responsibilities. It was a blessing to hear him speak about his service to his district and his role in leading others. Pastor Tim is widely known as a man of values and integrity among his colleagues in the House of Representatives—not only within his party, but across the aisle, including the present Speaker of the House. Personally, I do not know how Pastor Tim balances two such demanding callings, but I am grateful for his witness and his faithful work for the Kingdom.
The second Shepherd-to-Shepherd meeting I want to highlight was with Representative Valerie Jones-Giltner. This is her second session serving her district after being elected in the middle of the previous session when the seat became available. A nurse by profession who was preparing to enjoy retirement, she instead answered God’s call to serve in His institution of government. I have come to know Representative Jones-Giltner as a woman who stands for truth and biblical principles—someone who does not take her responsibility lightly and who genuinely loves the people in her community.
During our conversation, we spoke about the challenges her district faces with homelessness and how much she values and appreciates the work of Love INC throughout the county. Pastor Miguel shared that Love INC is not about offering a handout, but a hand up—emphasizing accountability and each individual’s journey toward well-being through strong case management and transformational ministry. If you have not yet heard about Love INC or are unfamiliar with their work, I encourage you to learn more about the impact they are making. (lovedelmarva.com)
We concluded our time by praying for Representative Valerie Giltner Jones, praising God for her life and for her faithful service to our state.
Now we are heading into a session break, but the work of the Church Ambassador Network does not stop. I will continue meeting with pastors and praying that we can have a pastoral presence at Legislative Hall for every remaining session day. With only 34 legislative days left, my desire is for the Church’s ministry of presence to be more evident than ever.
If you are a pastor, I encourage you not to wait—sign up and be part of this important work. You will not regret it.
Please continue to pray for all our elected officials in government and the ministry of Church Ambassador Network in our beautiful state, Delaware.
Grace and Peace,
Jonathan M. Quatela, Director
Church Ambassador Network – Delaware
302-604-2833 I JonQ@DE-CAN.org