Capitol Ministries

State Capitols | CM 2019 21 A s a youth in Australia, Matt Goodsell felt a burden placed upon his heart to share the gospel with polit- ical leaders. at feeling deepened aer he moved to the United States to begin a life with his American wife, Katie. e couple live with their four children in Ashland, Missouri where Pastor Goodsell is the pastor at the Ashland Baptist Church. e calling intensified two years ago when state Rep. Sara Walsh (District 50) who attends his church, invited him to visit the Missouri State Capitol. Aer that, Pastor Goodsell began to drive to the capitol every week to walk the halls looking for public servants with whom he could share the Gospel of Je- sus Christ. Hoping to learn how to minister to public servants, he searched the internet, discovered the Capitol Ministries® website and found just what he was looking for. He contact- ed us and was invited to the May 2019 Training Conference in Seattle to learn more. Aer completing the training, the Goodsells decided to join with Capitol Ministries®. "My heart's desire is to be a partner in this great effort to reach political leaders," Pastor Goodsell said. "is is the most important mission field in the world today. ose in leadership have the greatest impact on our world." Eager to begin but with the legislature out of session, Pas- tor Goodsell started a ministry to legislative staff which has grown to 30 with six sponsors on both sides of the aisle. Aer the weekly study, Pastor Goodsell hand-delivers Bible study notes to all 197 offices in the house and senate, and oen leg- islative assistants introduce him to lawmakers. e ministry received unexpectedly attention when Pastor Goodsell was invited to attend the Governor's Faith Luncheon in Octo- ber where he led a devotional to Gov. Mike Parson and 21 members of his staff. With a firm foundation built, Pastor Goodsell is ready to launch a Wednesday morning legislative Bible study when the session begins in January. He already has three sponsors, Rep. Walsh, Rep. Ben Baker (District 160), and Rep. Adam Schnelting (District 104). With the support of his outreach-minded congregation, Pastor Goodsell will pastor the church as well as answer the call to minister to legislators that he first felt as a youth. "I deeply desire that those in leadership who are lost be ex- posed to the gospel through what I am called to do," he said. "I want to reach legislators with the Gospel of Jesus Christ." MISSOURI Downtown Jefferson City capital: Jefferson City population: 6.1 million governor: Mike Parson legislature: 197 members Matt Goodsell State Director, Missouri Missouri State Capitol

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