Interview: George Roller on Sharing the Gospel on Capitol Hill
The D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship in Washington, D.C., currently serves members of Congress and the more than 20,000 staff who work on Capitol Hill. The desire of the center is "to help our nation's leaders and those who serve on the Hill discover their full potential in their journey of faith and public service." Without a political agenda, the center's staff is "dedicated to the higher purpose of providing spiritual support."
Last month, at the National Religious Broadcasters' (NRB) convention in Orlando, Fla., George Roller, the center's executive director ,spoke with The Christian Post about the significance of reaching out to the people on Capitol Hill – from interns to senators – with the Word of God.
The following are excerpts from the interview:
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CP: What did you do before you joined the Center for Christian Statesmanship?
Roller: Before I was working at the Center, my professional life was one of an attorney and a teacher. I was doing both. I had a dual career, while my wife was home with the children. So during that period, from our marriage until three years ago, I was in church often teaching evangelism explosion. I was also an elder and a deacon at church. I also lead mission trips; I've been on three mission trips to Ukraine and I led two of those three.
In terms of full-time ministry though, it has only been the last three years.
CP: Are there any difficulties in working with everyday citizens versus those with power on Capitol Hill?
Roller: Oh yes, there are challenges! I think the challenge of trust is probably one of the largest challenges because ordinary people that get to know me can recognize that I am someone that they can talk to. Also as an attorney, they certainly know that there is confidentiality when they talk to me.
Members of congress, on the other hand, have to be so careful because Washington is such a power hungry, power-grabbing city that people will use other people in any way they can to climb the ladder of power. So members of Congress have to be very careful about who they open up to because if they are not very careful that can be used against them later on.
So members of Congress are outwardly charming, polite, friendly, and warm – they wouldn't have gotten elected if they didn't have those qualities. And yet there is a certain degree of protection in that they want to protect their private life. So for us to develop that relationship where they can open up – because our mission is to be there to pray for them, love them and care for them – and for them to realize [what our mission is] is a major hurdle. For them to share a prayer request with us of a personal nature is a major hurdle. So I say that is the greatest challenge.
There are other difficulties – just the challenge of access. To get in to see a member and talk to them can be a challenge.
But I think besides trust and accessibility is the time factor. They are so busy. They are so overwhelmed. Most of them are separated from their families. They are in Washington during the week and go back home during the weekends so they are juggling trying to keep up with their families, keeping up with what is going on governmentally, and their busy schedules.
It's difficult. Even though they have the desire to meet and the desire to pray with us it is hard sometimes for them to make time to spend with us.
CP: What kind of activities does the Center for Christian Statesmanship offer?
Roller: I'm so glad you asked! We have so many activities designed to help the members of Congress to be able to express their faith and for the Hill community to hear the Gospel.
One of the things we are best known for is our Politics & Principle Luncheons – a monthly luncheon we hold nine times a year. That is the largest regular Christian gathering on the Hill. The format is the following: a member of Congress will come to speak to a group of 200-250 Hill staffers and other members. That member will be able to share how their journey of faith and their faith in Christ impacts their work on the Hill.
It's off-the-record and the purpose of that is to let the member know that he or she is completely free to say whatever is on his or her heart.
And so the Hill staffers – most of whom desire to be a member – are seeing a member they want to be like also expressing faith in Jesus Christ. This is powerful for these young Hill staffers to say, "Yes, I can be a Christian and a member of Congress. I don't have the separate the two."
It is important to hold up the members who do speak as examples of Christians who are not ashamed of their faith; Christians who are willing to stand up and be counted for the Lord and proclaim that faith openly to their peers.
Also every year we honor one particular member of Congress as our Distinguished Christian Statesman.
We also have Bible Studies, Statesmanship Institute training, and intern programs.
Washington probably has about 10,000-20,000 interns descending upon the city every May or June. So we are the only group that is reaching out to them with intern luncheons and interns barbeque.
The point is for Christian interns to feel connected – they come but they don't know anybody and they feel very disconnected from other people of faith. These events allow them to connect as well as for those who don't have faith yet to hear about faith in Christ.
CP: Is everyone who attends the center's events already Christian or is there a conversion factor?
Roller: Yes, there is a conversion factor. Hill staffers love having free food. They love to come out to anything that is offering food. We know that is a draw, so we always provide the lunch at the Politics & Principle luncheons or other more intimate events. But every event we have some type of food and Hill Staffers love that and they may come just because they hear there is going to be an interesting speaker and there is food.
So we have a sign-up sheet for everyone who is coming for the first time. After that event, our outreach people follow up with each one of those people with a coffee or a lunch to meet with them and get to know them.
So yes, there is a conversion factor, absolutely.
So there are definitely conversions and that is what our outreach staff is all about – sharing Jesus Christ with people.
Our mission [at the Center for Christian Statesmanship] is three-fold. First is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people who hold position of power, influence, and authority in our government.
Secondly, for those who are believers – ministry training to help them grow to a deeper level.
The third point is to restore a vision of true Christian statesmanship among our present and future leaders. To aspire to the level of Christian statesmanship that was so clearly exhibited by George Washington, James Madison, John Jay and so many of our founding fathers that were so strong in faith and strong in their leadership skills.
I want your readers to know what a joy it is to have the privilege of being on Capitol Hill working with the leaders of our country and the future leaders since many of the Hill staffers want to become members. We have the privilege to work with these people and help to shape them and mold them. The Holy Spirit is doing it but He is allowing us to be instruments of communications.
On the web: www.statesman.org
