Nehemiah’s Hope Visits the Ohio Statehouse
On Wednesday, March 11, the Atrium of the Ohio Statehouse, a space often defined by the friction of partisan debate and the frantic pace of legislative deadlines, was transformed by the largest Prayer at the Statehouse gathering in our history.
Nearly 350 believers, including 150 students from five different Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) schools, stood together in the heart of our state government. As the voices of Rekindle from Cedarville University led us in worship, the echoes against the high glass ceiling of the Atrium served as a powerful reminder: the King of Kings still reigns over the Great State of Ohio.
A Message for the Weary: "Always Too Early to Quit"
Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, Executive Director of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO), delivered a stirring exhortation from the Book of Nehemiah. His message was simple yet profound: It is always too early to quit.
Nehemiah faced a culture in ruins and a wall in shambles. He was met with mockery from Sanballat and Tobiah, much like the modern believer often faces ridicule for holding to biblical convictions in the public square. Yet, Nehemiah understood that the work was not his, but God's.
Charles Spurgeon once reminded us that God’s strength is best displayed when we reach the end of our own resources:
"God does not need our strength, He has more than enough of His own. He asks for our weakness, and He has not enough of that." C.H. Spurgeon, The Best Strengthening Medicine, Sermon #2209 (1891).
For the 15 legislators who joined us, slipping away from committee rooms and office meetings, this message of divine strength in human weakness was a necessary balm.
A Multi-Generational Witness
To see 150 students standing alongside seasoned pastors was a glimpse into the future of the Church in Ohio. While these students are future leaders, they are also a “present witness.”
In a culture that tells our youth their faith is a private matter to be hidden, these students stood in the center of the civic arena and declared through prayer that Christ is Lord of all. They watched as five of our faithful pastors read the Living Word and interceded for our leaders, our churches, and the moral fabric of our communities.
Scripture commands us:
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
The Courage to Rebuild
Why do we gather to pray at the Statehouse? Because we believe that public policy is not merely a matter of secular administration but of stewardship. When we pray for our legislators, we are asking God to grant them the "Solomon-like" wisdom to discern between good and evil in an increasingly confused world.
In the last 30 days, we have seen cultural headlines that highlight this confusion—from the ongoing debates over the protection of the unborn to the preservation of parental rights in education. The temptation for the pastor is to retreat to the safety of the sanctuary. But Nehemiah didn’t pray from a distance; he went to the ruins and picked up a trowel.
A.W. Tozer famously challenged the Church to cast off its timidity:
"A scared world needs a fearless church." A.W. Tozer, The Root of the Righteous (1955).
The gathering on March 11 was an act of holy fearlessness. We stood in the gap, not with spirits of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Moving Forward
Pastors, the work in Columbus is far from over. As we return to our local congregations, let the image of 350 believers praying in the Atrium fuel your own ministry. Whether you are facing "Sanballats" in your community or feeling the weight of the "rubble" in your own city, remember Dr. Westbrook’s words: It is always too early to quit.
Let us continue to build. Let us continue to pray. And let us never forget:
"The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build..."Nehemiah 2:20 (ESV)
The Church Ambassador Network is a ministry of Center for Christian Virtue. They exist to serve and resource the Church in Ohio to understand the times and know how to respond. Read more about their mission at ccv.org/can .
