Welcome
The Church Ambassador Network of Texas is made up of pastors from across the Lone Star State who hold to the Scriptural teaching that government is an institution ordained by God, with the purpose of punishing evil and rewarding good, and that those who serve in government are God’s ministers. Understanding that government is distinct from the church, and has its own unique responsibility, we believe government needs moral guidance and counsel from the church to fulfill its purpose to punish evil and reward good.
Government needs the direction that the church provides through its head, Christ, and the Word of God. By building personal relationships with God’s shepherds in government, the pastors of the Church Ambassador Network of Texas will offer encouragement, prayer, and insight from the Scripture to the glory of God, the edification of those in government, and the benefit of our great state.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build a relationship between the shepherds of God’s Church and God’s government as portrayed in the Scriptures. It is a relationship between institutions, not just individual local churches. Throughout history the shepherds of God’s institution of the church have served as a moral compass and guide to the nations. It is our goal to have pastors and congregations engage government in a way that honors God and is effective under all forms of government, regardless of when and where.
Our Vision
We believe that God desires all people to be saved, and come to the knowledge of Him. In the government arena, that means people from all political parties and ideologies.
First Corinthians chapter nine gives us a model for ministry in and around government. As Paul ministered to both Jew and Gentile, the Church Ambassador Network of Texas seeks to tear down partisan walls as we minister to both Republican and Democrat. Paul at times communicated in ways that were tailored to his audience, but never compromised or changed his message. We are committed to doing the same.
We strongly believe that the political/partisan division in this nation has become unhealthy, but that it will only end as a result of the healing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our governing authorities, like all people, need a transformed heart, and only the gospel has the power to do that.
Government and the church are both institutions of God, and they each have unique roles to play. It is important for them to remain separate, but they must work together. Rather than focusing on partisan divisions, and rather than painting with broad brushes, our work is with the individuals who serve in government. The question must not be, “Whose side is the church on?” Rather the question should be, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” (Joshua 5:13-14).
That is why we work to build relationships between the shepherds of God’s Church and the shepherds of God’s government. We bring pastors to elected officials for the sake of the kingdom. The government is an institution of God’s design, and when it fulfills the purpose He designed it for, it brings Him glory. Government, however, cannot fulfill its God-given purpose to the glory of God without the timeless counsel of the church.
At the Church Ambassador Network of Texas, we firmly believe that if we follow the Scriptural model for engaging government, our state will benefit, we will expand God’s kingdom, bring Him glory, and see souls come to know Christ.
We believe we are called to be a light to all aspects of our culture, including government, and that the Lord’s people must engage our culture in a biblical way (Matthew 5:16).
Our Core Principles
1. God desires ALL people to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9) (1 Timothy 2:4).
2. God does not fit neatly into political parties or political theories. He is not a Republican, Democrat, or Independent. He is God. Neither is He conservative, liberal, or moderate. He is God (1 Corinthians 1:25).
3. America is not a covenant nation, like biblical Israel. It is a nation that has often been blessed because of God’s grace and because it followed the Lord, His principles, and His precepts (Psalm 33:12).
4. Moralism does not equal spiritual transformation (Romans 10:3). (Romans 2).
5. Only the Gospel has the power to properly transform people, who together transform a nation.
6. The church is not a worldly voice. It is an ambassador of a heavenly kingdom.
7. The power of true cultural renewal lies in the word of God, not in the halls of kings.
8. Both the church and the government are institutions created by God. They have unique roles that must remain distinct, but must also work together under God (Romans 13) (2 Chronicles 19:11).
9. The king has been uniquely called by God to administer justice with the aid of the timeless counsel of the church (2 Kings 12:2) (Romans 13) (2 Samuel 8:15).
10. As Paul ministered to both the Jew and the Gentile, we will minister to the Republican, Democrat, and Independent in unique ways that never compromise the truths of the eternal Word of God.
11. Our identity is not in a political party. We stand for God’s Word, and ask others to join us there (Joshua 5:13-14).
12. We understand that David ruled with justice and righteousness because he walked with the Lord, his God.
13. We are missionaries who work to build intentional relationships with the ministers of the Lord’s institution of government with a goal to serve all, build up the saints, and win the lost.
Texas Capitol Project
The Texas Capitol Project lies at the heart of the Church Ambassador Network. Our goal is to restore a healthy, Biblical, ongoing relationship between church and state as modeled in the Scriptures. We accomplish this by bringing the shepherds of the church (pastors) to the shepherds of government (historically the king but today they are legislators, governors, and judges) with the purpose of building an intentional relationship that ministers to them both personally and in their unique role as “king.”
The Prophet Nathan and King David are excellent examples of this unique relationship in the Scripture. Nathan was a friend to David, and actively invested in building a relationship with him. When David stepped out of line, Nathan’s council led to restoration. We see this relationship modeled again with Elijah and Ahab, Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, Joseph and Pharaoh, Jonah and the King of Nineveh, and many more.
Understanding that government’s primary purpose is to commend good and punish evil, it is important to remember that government cannot determine good and evil on its own. Thus, we need pastors engaged as missionaries in the civil arena, because the government needs the church to serve as a moral compass.
To that end, we are working with pastors across Texas to develop a ministering relationship with our elected officials. Pastors come to Austin to meet with state lawmakers, members of the executive branch, and those called to service in the judicial branch. Additionally, Pastors affiliated with the Church Ambassador Network meet with government officials closer to home when they aren’t in Austin.
Through the Texas Capitol Project, pastors build relationships with our elected officials through prayer, words of encouragement, and speaking biblical truth to various public policy issues. These meetings are non-partisan, and all conversations are kept in confidence in order to protect the relationship between state officials and pastors. We want them to know these relationships will not be used for political gain.
Our Church Ambassador Network Team
Bryan English
Director, Church Ambassador Network of Texas
Email
Pastor Luis “Nino” Gonzalez
Regional Director for Central Texas
Email
Juda Attkisson
North Texas Church Outreach Coordinator
Email
Pastor Jorge Tovar
South Texas Church Outreach Coordinator
Email
Pastor Clay Bowers
Gulf Coast Church Outreach Coordinator
Email
Join the Texas Church Ambassador Network
If you have a fellow pastor or church leader that would like to stay updated on the Texas Church Ambassador Network, please contact us at [email protected].