In this episode, Richard Nelson, founder and executive director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, discusses the organization's mission since its inception in 2012, focusing on promoting the values of life, religious liberty, marriage, and fiscal responsibility in Kentucky. Richard, a former field biologist, now champions conservative principles in politics and shares his journey from wildlife to policy making. He talks about the importance of Christians engaging in political discourse, recruiting and training candidates, and discusses his book, 'Christianity and Politics.' Richard highlights the challenges faced by pastors, the need for grace and truth in political interactions, and navigating complex issues like transgender rights and gambling legislation. This insightful conversation emphasizes the role of Christians in shaping society through thoughtful, biblical engagement in the public arena.Links Richard would like you to View:Website: https://commonwealthpolicycenter.org/Christianity & Politics: https://amzn.to/3QHCisl To Learn More About Ken Chinn:Website: https://www.kenchinn.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Encounterswi...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@encounterswit...To Purchase Ken Chinn's Book click one of the following links.Book: https://amzn.to/3BK6AUzAudiobook: https://adbl.co/3R8TIvySupport us on Venmo:https://account.venmo.com/u/Encounter...#Politics #Purpose #RichardNelson #ChristianityAndPolitics #PublicPolicy #CommonwealthPolicyCenter #ReligiousFreedom #SanctityOfLife #Leadership #BiblicalWorldview #ChristianLeadership #PublicArena #EngagingCulture #ChristianValues #FaithInPolitics #ChristianInfluence #kingdomimpactmission 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:14 Founding of the Commonwealth Policy Center01:07 Core Values and Mission of the Center02:59 Political Engagement and Training05:06 Challenges in Recruiting Leaders06:10 Success Stories and Legislative Impact08:38 Richard's Book: Christianity and Politics10:29 Engaging with Opponents with Grace12:02 The Role of the Church in Public Policy27:31 COVID-19 and Church Responses29:18 Responding with Grace and Kindness30:05 Battles with Sexually Oriented Businesses32:18 Encouragement in Political and Policy Work32:41 Christians Getting Involved in Government34:40 Separation of Church and State37:34 The Impact of Gambling Legislation40:39 Pastors and Political Endorsements42:37 The 2020 Presidential Election and Its Implications47:28 Lessons from Running for Office50:47 Final Thoughts and Encouragement