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How does your Christian college education [Biola, '83] impact your work today?

I think it builds a good solid foundation, not only in my field of study which was business administration, but also the Bible courses that you take. The solid instruction and having a worldview that helps you see things in context give me a grounding and a foundation on which to make decisions. And frankly it helps shape the decisions that I make in my life, whether that's in my professional life or my personal life. But having gone to Biola was a great foundation.

How does being a Christian make a difference in how you do your job?

Having a Christian worldview shapes my decision-making with respect to all aspects of my life. I always respect people in public life who are principled, and those principles have to be connected to something. And my faith is what serves as the anchor and directs my actions.

Who are some of the influential thinkers, writers, and other people who have helped shape that Christian worldview?

I was a staffer on Capitol Hill back 20 years ago now. And there were some people who were instrumental in helping me, who inspired me in public service—people who were good, strong Christian examples. Bill Armstrong had a great Christian witness. He was a senator from Colorado.

I'm a big, big reader of pretty much everything that Chuck Colson has written. And I consulted with him when I was making some decisions about running for the Senate in the first place. Chuck Swindoll is somebody who I've read a lot over the years and have used his curriculum when I've taught Sunday school classes. I guess if you go back a ways, C. S. Lewis as well. Those are just a few off the top of my head.

Do you find fellowship with other legislators?

I do. There are several different Bible study groups on Capitol Hill. I've not had an opportunity yet in the Senate to really get immersed. But when I was a member of the House, there were a couple of organizations, one called Christian Embassy that is affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ whose mission it is to reach out and reach and disciple people in the legislative branch, the executive branch, and in the military at the Pentagon. And also the C Street ministry, which initially came from Doug Coe. Coe was influential at Chuck Colson's conversion too. But those are a couple of ministries that are active out there. And there are other members of Congress who come to those events. There are a number who are very serious about their faith. I do have a chance to interact with them.

Is this something you do behind closed doors, a "members only" sort of thing?

It can be. I mean the Bible studies are, yes, sort of, members only. There are also Bible studies that are available to staff. When I was a staffer out there, I used to attend a staff Bible study that was conducted by Christian Embassy as well. But yeah, there are other times where you [fellowship] with other members of Congress. I have, over the phone even, prayed several times with Senator Jim Talent from Missouri. You tend to seek out the people who are interested in being involved in a faith community or having relationships with other believers on Capitol Hill.

I think of some of the most outspoken Christians in the Senate, such as Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania and Sam Brownback from Kansas, and they're Catholics. Is there an ecumenical spirit on Capitol Hill?

Yeah, it bridges denominational lines. The common denominator is there are people who are serious about their faith and are really serious about growing in their walks with God, drawing closer to him, seeking his direction and guidance when it comes to the decisions that we have to make and the issues that we have to grapple with. That tends to be the thread that sort of ties everybody together.

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February (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49