When you mention "pastor" and "election" in the same breath, many people react negatively. But for Don Coleman, a minister in Richmond, Virginia's East End, the two go hand in hand.

An active minister in his struggling neighborhood, Coleman decided he could make a difference for the community by running for the local school board. On the third try, he got elected, and since has worked tirelessly both as a minister and on behalf of parents. His efforts have not gone?unnoticed.

"People appreciate the fact that I'm not just on the school board. That, as a minister, I'm investing here in the community … people see that as somebody who authentically cares and wants to see things get better here. … As a believer, I see public service as part of our DNA."

Sometimes, redefining expectations looks like local politics, like long board meetings, like neighborhood playgrounds slowly starting to fill up again.—From Christianity ...