Capitol Ministries

18 CM 2017 | State Ministries APITOL MINISTRIES®' MISSION DOVETAILS PERFECTLY WITH THE OUTREACH GOALS of Lifeline Baptist Church in Haverhill, Mass., a church Chris DiGiacomo re-started with 15 members eight years ago. Chris, who serves as senior pastor of that church, is also the Ministry Leader to members of the Massachusetts State Legislature. e 100-member Lifeline Baptist Church has outreach ministries to nurs- ing homes, prisoners, and a newly- established one to young people at a local gym for those who are physically fit but not spiritually fit. Chris is currently training others to take a greater role in those ministries so that he may commit the time necessary to begin a ministry to Lawmakers. "I want to reach all people but I want to make a concerted effort to reach leaders," Chris said. "You reach politi- cal leaders for Christ, you will have the greater propensity to better propagate the Gospel; you will have policies over the course of time that are more sympa- thetic to Christianity. You lead a politi- cal leader to the Lord he will influence a lot more people than an individual pas- tor ever could." One reason he wanted to partner with Capitol Ministries® is because we stay out of politics. "I don't believe lobbying Legislators for Christian policy is effective," he said. "You have got to reach the hearts of the individuals and then let them vote and make policy in accordance with the dictates and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I so agree with Capitol Minis- tries®' philosophy that we are going to minister to you and teach you the Word of God as opposed to telling you how you ought to vote." To find a Legislative sponsor for his discipleship Bible study ministry, Chris is working with the leaders of a local Christian organization who have of- fered to introduce him to several Chris- tian Lawmakers who want to become involved. Aer the ministry becomes estab- lished, Chris' goal is to learn where the Lawmakers are spiritually and strength- en and encourage them with the Word. "ey are the ones who are going to be bringing in new people," Chris said. "en I will begin to build a relation- ship with the new people and hopefully it will lead to the lost getting saved, then we repeat that process. "I have very realistic expectations that I will be meeting with one or two people for some time before we see some fruit, but I know if God puts me there the fruit will come. I have always said, Lord I will go wherever you put me." C Downtown Boston cityscape massachusets capital: Boston population: 6,833,720 governor: Charlie Baker legislature: 200 Members Chris DiGiacomo Ministry Leader Massachuse s State Capitol

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