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As the old saying goes, “All politics is local.” And, so is the church’s greatest opportunity for evangelism, discipleship and impact. We call it the “local church” for a reason. In the lead up to a divisive election, it is quite easy to allow national politics to zap our attention and energy. And, we should stay informed about national events. But, for almost all Christians, our greatest opportunity to influence and impact the future of the country is in our own zip code.
Further, we are all wrestling with being (1) Christians and (2) citizens right about now, and we need practical examples of how to engage in public life without jeopardizing our gospel witness.
This is why I am grateful for the example of Jon Costas, an attorney, entrepreneur, 4-term Mayor of Valparaiso, IN and now Lead Pastor of Ministries at Calvary Church. In this interview, Jon shares his the following:
Key Takeaways:
- His call into public life.
- How he developed, set out and pursued a vision for the city of Valparaiso during his sixteen years as Mayor.
- The five pillars of a flourishing city: businesses, nonprofits, education, faith and government. All five need to be pulling in the same direction for a city to thrive.
- How he led an increasingly plural city without jeopardizing his Biblical convictions.
- How he connected with the faith community and examples of church/city partnerships in Valparaiso.
- His call into ministry, and His advice on navigating Christian citizenship during this election season.