Dear Friends:
On behalf of our ministry, I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support. Eight months into this position, I am both proud and humbled by our accomplishments and we could not do our work without faithful ministry partners like you.
One of our greatest successes so far took place two weeks ago in Dallas where we helped host the 2018 Statesmen Academy—a weeklong conference for on-the-rise Christian legislators and aspiring policymakers. This annual event provides attendees with an enduring fellowship of mutual encouragement and accountability, spiritual strength, and political wisdom. This year we were blessed to have two of our New Mexico State Representatives in attendance—Rebecca Dow (District 38 – Grant, Hidalgo & Sierra) and Rod Montoya (District 1 – San Juan).
Representative Rebecca Dow was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2016. She is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and the founder and director of AppleTree Educational Center, a faith-based, non-profit, and one of Sierra County’s largest employers. Rebecca and her husband, Aaron, live in Truth or Consequences and have two children.
Representative Rod Montoya was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2014 and has served as House Republican Whip for the past two years. Prior to being elected, he was the Chief of Staff for Lt. Governor John Sanchez. Rod spent many years in the coal mining industry and is now a real estate broker. He and his wife, Pearl, have four children and five grandchildren.
Statesmen Academy classes are taught by experienced Christian legislative leaders, both from the state and federal level. Instructors this year included retired U.S. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma; Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida; Senator Paul Gazelka, Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate; Dr. Matt Spalding of Hillsdale College, and Clark Forsythe of Americans United for Life. Academy topics ranged from the theological (“Christian Statesmanship in Practice”), to the historical (“The Founders Intent for American Politics”), to the practical (“How to Rise in Leadership”).
The number of current and aspiring legislators that want to participate in the Statesmen Academy continues to grow, and believe it or not, we are already working to identify and recruit next year’s class from New Mexico—men and women who will be trained and equipped to begin transforming our government from the inside. As Christians, we know that politicians are not the ultimate solution to our problems. However, they are certainly a part of the solution and we need more, not less, Christians serving us in public office.
The Statesmen Academy is just one example of your financial support at work. In addition to training legislators, we are engaging in elections, developing good public policy, and mobilizing Christians to speak out in support of life, family, and religious freedom. So, if you share our vision and passion to change New Mexico, please consider setting up a recurring gift today of $25, $60, or $100 to support our efforts.
Thank you in advance and God bless you and your family.
In Christ’s Service,
Vince Torres
President and Executive Director
