The Church is Essential. Period. Does the Government have the power to shut down the church? That was the challenge of the two Delaware pastors who sued Governor Carney over his pandemic restrictions on churches.
This year, those two pastors finally had their case heard by the State Supreme Court.
We alerted pastors throughout the state, and they packed the Supreme Court building in Dover on the day of the hearing. It was an unprecedented show of support.
Although the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the governor, the written opinion indicated that the restrictions were, in fact, unconstitutional. The pastors’ decision to defend the right of churches to gather was and is critical to all churches in Delaware.
If we are not hearing and understanding the truth from our pastoral leaders, then in most cases we are not hearing it anywhere. The church needs bold pastors who lovingly shepherd and protect from the deception that threatens to devour and destroy.
The headlines coming out of Delaware, especially since the election, point to a deep spiritual problem and the need for a great awakening.
The church is the conscience of the state; we see this all throughout history. While we must work for good policies and against the active forces that reject God’s creation order, nothing will change in Delaware until hearts and minds are transformed.
God didn’t call or create the government to do that work. He called the Church, you and me, to be the agents of transformation. Our local and state governments will change when we begin to see them as the mission fields that they are.
This is the vision behind Delaware’s Church Ambassador Network – for the shepherds of the church to be present and available for the “shepherds” of government to meet the needs of the community.
(L to R) CAN Director Jon Quatela with Pastor Mark Lashey, Lead Pastor of LifeHouse Church in Townsend; Senator Eric Buckson; and Pastor Anthony Wallace, Lead Pastor of Crossroad Christian Church in Dover.
In 2024, Pastors were present each week at Legislative Hall. Legislators began to notice, and ask questions. “Every other group that comes wants something from us,” one said. “What is your agenda?” Their response: “We came to pray for you and be here for you; can we meet?”
Many Pastors had never been to Legislative Hall, our Statehouse in Dover, before Jon Quatela, the DE Church Ambassador Network Director, invited them to accompany him.
Pastors are consistently reporting back that the experience is transformational for them.
Jon is reaching out weekly to Pastors to invite them to join him in 2025.
The Pastors are there for one purpose – to pray and share God’s Word in the mission field of government.
Legislators notice the consistent presence of the CAN team of Pastors. When asked about particularly difficult bills, Jon has been able to provide a biblical worldview understanding of the issue.
Pastors and legislators gather together for weekly Bible Study at Legislative Hall before the Floor proceedings.
The CAN team of Pastors are able to meet and pray with Legislators from all backgrounds, incuding those whose worldviews are different than our own. Pictured here are CAN Pastors with Reps. Wilson-Anton and Neal.
The Bridge Between Faith and Government
When the voice of the church is absent in culture, the void is filled with anti-God, anti-biblical values that wreak havoc on our community.
Here’s how you can join the mission:
- Pray. Click here to learn more about being a Tenacious Prayer Warrior.
- Invest. Consider adding the Church Ambassador Network (CAN) to your church’s mission budget. Contact CAN Director [email protected] to learn more.
- Connect. Connect your Pastors directly to Jon Quatela ([email protected]).
- Coordinate. Talk to your Pastor and elders about hosting a Faith and The Ballot session at your church. To learn more, contact [email protected].
If Delaware is your home and you are “awakened” to what’s happening and who is controlling the state, this is your mission field. Would you join us?
Would you ask God about your role in supporting our full time team called to the mission field of Delaware’s Legislature?