Breaking Free from Self-Censorship–What $120M Cannot Buy!
This past election season has been a deeply eye-opening journey. First, congratulations to the 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.
Despite the challenges of public life and a full career behind him, President-Elect Trump stepped up again, committing to what he believes is best for our nation. Rather than return to building his business empire or opting to retire comfortably, he has continued to pursue a vision for America rooted in values he holds dear. His decision to leave comfort behind is a powerful reminder for all of us.
In Florida, we witnessed similar bold leadership in Governor Ron DeSantis. He led a strong fight to defeat Amendment 4 (which would have created a constitutional right to unrestricted abortion), despite a $120 million campaign to advance a pro-abortion agenda.
Governor DeSantis’ unwavering position and the grassroots efforts of many faithful individuals underscored the importance of aligning values with action. Watching him inspired me to leave my comfort zone and step into the public square in a new way.
For the first time, I found myself alone at a polling location, holding a “Vote No on 4” sign. Though I’ve spoken about faith and the sanctity of life comfortably in church and as president of the US Christian Chamber, something held me back from taking this stance more openly. I recognized that it was fear—self-imposed censorship. I was more focused on personal comfort than on fully living out my convictions.
Standing publicly outside the polls was eye-opening. I saw the division on this issue up close as some drivers waved their support and others shouted angrily or expressed hostility in other ways. But we are called to respond with grace, even in the face of anger. If we can’t be a light publicly, how can we hope to bring change?
This experience taught me that stepping out in faith means embracing discomfort for the sake of Kingdom impact.
I learned that our impact isn’t defined by one election; it’s defined by our commitment to truth and grace. This journey has left me with a question for all of us: What are we willing to do to maximize our impact?
It doesn’t take millions of dollars to make a difference—our time, talents and courage aligned with God’s power can create a Kingdom impact far beyond what money alone can achieve. As believers, we have a unique opportunity to advance faith-based principles in every area of our influence.
I want to acknowledge all of you who also invested your time, prayers, and resources during this election season, even if the results weren’t what you hoped for. The outcome doesn’t diminish your faithfulness or the impact of your efforts.
Our influence is not defined by one election; it’s strengthened by the resilience and unity we show as we keep moving forward regardless of the outcome. This isn’t a one-time effort; it’s a continuous call to be the salt and light wherever God has placed us. Let’s break free from the self-censorship that holds us back and step boldly into every opportunity to be salt and light in this world.
Thank you for being part of this journey, getting out to vote, and being a bold disciple of Christ in our nation. Let’s go forward together, standing for truth, working in grace, and multiplying our impact in ways that are only explainable by God.
