Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!
I can’t believe it has been weeks since my last newsletter. The reason is simple—there is so much going on, both at Legislative Hall and outside of it, and the coming weeks will be no exception. There have been many wins, not without challenges, but God continues to open relationships and doors for us.
Even though not as many pastors as I expected have come to Legislative Hall, the opportunities for ministry have been remarkable. I believe things will continue to grow as more pastors begin to understand both the biblical mandate to pray for and minister to those in authority, and the ways God is opening doors for the Church to be His instrument of transformation in our state.
Here are just a few highlights from the past few weeks, too many to fully list:
Visits to Love INC, Her Care Clinic, and Door of Hope with elected officials:
One thing that has become increasingly clear in our ministry is that the Church Ambassador Network serves as a connector between the Church, faith-based organizations, and government. We bring people to the table to work together for the good of our state.
This was evident during recent visits with elected officials to see firsthand the impact of organizations like Love INC and pregnancy centers in our communities. First, we brought Representative Bryant Shupe to visit Love INC and the Her Care Pregnancy Center in Seaford. These organizations are doing incredible work throughout Sussex County. Representative Shupe was so impressed that he even opened his social media platform, “Reclaiming Grown,” for them to share about their mission.
The second visit was with Senator Eric Buckson to the Door of Hope Pregnancy Center in Wilmington. This was also a powerful experience, as it was my first time visiting. Senator Buckson and I were both impressed by the scope of their work and how effectively they utilize their limited space. They serve the entire county, operating with full schedules and consistent demand, and their primary financial support comes from local churches.
At Legislative Hall, even with the limited number of pastors participating, we have had over 20 impactful Shepherd-to-Shepherd meetings. I cannot emphasize enough the urgency for the shepherds of the Church to have a ministry of presence within our state government. The doors are wide open. There is no shortage of opportunities to minister, not only to elected officials, but also to the dedicated staff who serve in the building every day.
I want to close with this reminder:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37–38
Please continue to pray that the Lord would open doors for the ministry of CAN, both in relationships and in provision. There are significant opportunities ahead for expansion. Government is truly a mission field that, in many ways, has been neglected by the Church, but it has not been forgotten by the One who established it.
The evidence is clear: God is at work, even bringing an Argentinian (a true southern boy with a southern accent) to help move this vision forward. This is a God story.
Grace and peace,
Jonathan M. Quatela, Director
Church Ambassador Network – Delaware
302-604-2833 I JonQ@DE-CAN.org
P.O. Box 925 I Seaford, DE 19973