We are 5 days away from a federal election in Canada. I don’t know how political you are, but the Bible does have some things to say about kings, governors and those who hold positions of authority in nations that we live.

Throughout Scripture we see God’s people living under political systems from the elders at the gate of your city, to kings and queens of nations and as conquered people living under slavery. There are examples of God-fearing politicians and of oppressive despots.

Paul was writing his letters to the churches while the Roman government was in power. The same government that would crush, torture, and execute good people like Jesus, the disciples and many in the early church. And yet, we hear a message of another government called the Kingdom of God. It’s a system that grows in seed form globally through all time and it does not go to war against its enemies. It is a government that does not originate in the world as we know it.

In Paul’s pastoral letter to Timothy, he said:

1 Timothy 2:

First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them. 2 Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.

Have you prayed for the politicians of your nation asking God to help and bless them? Have you given thanks for them today?

My guest today has something to say about praying for leadership. I’m talking to Tim Schindel from Victoria, British Columbia. I met Tim several years ago as his vision for chaplaincy was in its early stages. The last time we were together in 2018, we had lunch and a tour of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia along with Jason Goertzen, the chaplain there.

Seeing the need and an opportunity to serve, Tim founded Leading Influence in 2006 to fulfill the vision of providing excellence in pastoral care to politicians across Canada. Under his leadership, Leading Influence has grown to a national ministry with a chaplain team that reaches from Victoria, BC to Quebec City. Tim serves as the National Director for Leading Influence and serves as the Ottawa chaplain.[1]

Links:

[1] https://leadinginfluence.com/chaplains/

In the acronym QUEST describing models of engagement for Canadian urban ministry, the letter ‘S’ stands for Street Ministry Workers. Often, the role is pastoral in nature so we have sidewalk pastors.

You will enjoy my conversation with Bob Gal (Edmonton,Alberta), Anna Morgante (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Ejay Tupe (Toronto, Ontario).

What happens if you intentionally hang around with people on the streets looking for ways to befriend, show hospitality and nurture their spiritual formation? Instead of a formal office with a sign on the door, the office is a backpack, a vehicle or a cell phone.

Street ministry workers find themselves visiting in jails, shelters and hospital wards. They go where they see an opportunity to be the sidewalk pastor of the unchurched. And miracles happen there.

Tim Schindel - Providing Spiritual Care for Politicians

Sidewalk Pastors - QUEST Conversation (part 1)

Offenders And Their Families (Rielly McLaren interview)