Texas Values Church Ambassador Network of Texas Update!! Important Staff News & 2023 Texas Legislative Session Report!!

What an incredible first half of the year it’s been for the Texas Values Church Ambassador Network of Texas (TXCAN). Our state-based ministry focuses on getting to know our elected officials as people first, helping them to see themselves as we believe God sees them – as shepherds in an institution ordained by God – and to find ways to help build partnerships between the church and governing officials that benefit the people of Texas. You are a big part of this work, that Texas Values has invested in and cultivated for more than four (4) years.

Important Staff Update: On June 12th, we received a letters of resignation from Bryan English, who at the time was serving as the Director of the Texas Values Church Ambassador Network of Texas; along with resignation letters from Texas Values employees Nino Gonzalez and Clay Bowers who also have been involved in TXCAN. These individuals time as employees with us has ended and they have no role or connection with our work moving forward. The Texas Values Church Ambassador Network of Texas is a vital part of what we do, and the work will continue! Please see below for more details and the next steps on this matter.

2023 Texas Legislative Session Update: As we close out the Texas legislative session and season, we wanted to share the numbers with you in comparison to last session (2021 to 2023) and thank all ninety-seven of you who took a day or days to come to the Capitol. It was such a blessing to us to see the interaction with legislators and pastors! What a big step forward!!

The number of pastors that came this year, along with the number of Democrats seen, doubled. This is truly encouraging!

As you know, we did not invite you to participate because of your politics. You were asked to partner with the Texas Values Church Ambassador Network of Texas because of your position as pastor, and we wanted you to engage in this work with the mindset of a pastor or community group leader. We did not look to political organizations to model how we lead and conducted the work and our work will not change because of the upcoming presidential election season. Instead, we looked to the Church and the Scriptures. Our goal was and is to advance the Kingdom, not an earthly institution. We only accomplish this by thinking and acting like the Church.

We are in this work for the long term, with team members and leaders who have long and well-established history and ties to Texas and who are connected to and part of a larger organization, Texas Values (which has supporters in all 254 counties in Texas). Texas Values has been working in Texas for over 10 years and our leader, Jonathan Saenz, has been in this field for nearly 20 years. Our board of directors who live in Texas and have or are connected to a legacy in Christian and church-focused outreach that goes back over 50 years in Texas.  

As we tied up this session, we knew the Government needed moral guidance and counsel from the Church to fulfill its purpose to punish evil and reward good. It needed the true north that the Church provides through its head, Jesus Christ, and the Word of God. Thanks to our ninety-seven pastors who came and provided a moral compass! 

Finally, for now, please keep in mind that we are embarking on a long-term relationship. This is not street evangelism, or handing out tracts in an airport, where you may only get one chance to visit with someone. Instead, our intention is to build relationships with those in authority over time. 

The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 10:33 – 11:1 “Just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, so that they may be saved. Imitate me as I also imitate Christ.” 

As we mentioned above, there is a recent change in our staff and so now Texas Values is actively accepting applications for the Director position for the Texas Values Church Ambassador of Texas. https://txvalues.org/opportunities/ 

Thanks for participating in this year’s session and being a moral compass to our legislators and other State Officials! Looking forward to meeting continually during the interim with them at their District offices along with pastors of their districts. 

Thank you for being a part of the Texas Values Church Ambassador Network of Texas, an initiative of Texas Values! God bless! 

Pastor Jorge Tovar 
Church Outreach Coordinator South Texas 
O: 512.478.2220 
M: 956.334.9204 
[email protected] 
txvalues.org/church 
facebook.com/texasvalues 

Juda Kunze 
Church Outreach Coordinator North Texas 
O: 512.478.2220 
M: 817.752.4690 
[email protected] 
txvalues.org/church 
facebook.com/texasvalues