In a deeply divided America, one evangelist says Christians cannot allow politics to determine who is—and who is not—worthy of hearing the gospel.
Evangelist Frank Shelton recently told CBN News about an unexpected encounter with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. This encounter ultimately led him to return to her congressional office with a personalized Bible.
Shelton was walking through the Capitol with his wife and the late Dr. Ben Graham on their way to an after-hours Bible study when he spotted Ocasio-Cortez with an aide. Shelton called out to the New York Democrat, and, to his surprise, she stopped.
He told her they shared a mutual friend: Nathan Kistler of Hope to the Hill, a Christian ministry focused on reaching members of Congress. According to Shelton, Ocasio-Cortez immediately recognized Kistler’s name.
What she apparently did not know was that Kistler had recently died in a plane crash.
Shelton said Ocasio-Cortez reacted immediately. Her eyes widened, her mouth dropped, and she placed her hand on her chest.
“This is where I felt like the Holy Spirit said, ‘Frank, this is where you may be able to reach her,'” Shelton recalled.
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The encounter didn’t end there.
Shelton later returned to Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional office with a Bible engraved with her name. He told CBN he had called her office twice and eventually drove from Maryland to Washington specifically to deliver it, leaving the Bible and a personal letter with her staff.
For Shelton, however, the story is bigger than one congresswoman.
He says Christians must be willing to take the gospel to people on both sides of America’s increasingly bitter political divide.
“When Jesus was on the cross, he died for the right and the left,” Shelton said, explaining that his ministry has sought opportunities to reach lawmakers regardless of party.
That doesn’t mean compromising biblical truth. It means remembering the real mission.
Shelton put it plainly: “Not are you Republican, not are you Democrat. It’s are you delivered? Do you know the divine? And are you redeemed by the blood of the Lamb?”
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
