Capitol Ministries

20 CM 2019 | State Capitols F or public policy to reflect godly precepts a nation must have godly leaders said Mark Doss who this year accept- ed the post of ministry leader to state elected and appoint- ed public servants in Iowa. "If we want godly decisions, we need godly leaders, and people can't be godly apart from knowing Jesus Christ as Sav- ior," he said. "Proverbs talks about it. You can't have justice without righteousness, so we need to go to political leaders and invite them, challenge them, and nurture them in the truth of Scripture and the gospel message. Capitol Minis- tries®' mission of making disciples in the political arena reso- nates strongly with me." Experienced in ministry and ordained as a pastor, Pastor Doss worked 24 years for the Evangelical Free Church of America (EV Free). He began as a church planting mission- ary and rose to a regional administrative post. He le that position on September 30, and he joined with CapMin on October 1. Pastor Doss learned about Capitol Ministries® from Perry Gauthier, CapMin's North America director who visited Iowa three years ago on a recruiting and ministering trip with Faith, his wife and ministry partner. While working with EV Free, Pastor Doss was a frequent visitor to the Iowa Capitol through a pastor outreach group he participated in. rough that effort he was invited to attend a weekly Bible study led by a state senator where he met many legislators and staff. ose relationships are proving a strong foundation on which he will build his ministry. Pastor Doss will continue attending that Bible study and plans to create several of his own under the CapMin banner. He will begin with a Bible study for legislators that will launch in January. Pastor Doss' first few Bible studies will be topical, including the biblical rationale for why and how Christians should be involved in government. Aer that, Pastor Doss will teach an in-depth exegetical study on the book of Ephesians. Eventually, aer prayer and with God's leading, Pastor Doss hopes to create additional studies to staff, members of the executive branch, and judges. "Apart from Jesus Christ we have no hope," he said, "that is part of the gospel message and that is the message that every person needs. And, too, how can a person determine right and wrong apart from God? When you get into philo- sophical discussions some people believe you can do that, but with my commitment to Christ and my biblical worldview, I cannot imagine people understanding right from wrong apart from the Bible and the gospel that is presented in it." Harvest field hay bales in rural Iowa IOWA capital: Des Moines population: 3.2 million governor: Kim Reynolds legislature: 150 members Mark Doss State Director, Iowa Iowa State Capitol

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