Close to a thousand pastors gathered at the Baton Rouge River Center in Louisiana in mid-January to share resources, ideas and strategies related to them running for political office in 2016. All of the faith leaders met at the Issachar Training Event, which was organized by American Renewal Project, a group that is working towards involving as many as 1,000 preachers in the public square by the next election cycle.

David Lane, founder of American Renewal Project, said he noticed a similarity between politicians and preachers and that is when he decided to start a mass initiative that would help him recruit pastors, who are eligible to run for a wide range of electoral posts in 2016.

“I’m a political operative as you know. I saw that the skills as a successful politician are the same skills of a successful pastor,” Lane said. “The skill set is about the same.”

According to Lane, thinking about a societal transformation helped him launch the American Renewal Project.

“Somebody’s values are going to reign supreme. Our values or somebody else’s values,” said Lane. “It’s our goal to bring spiritual men and women into the civil government arena.”

Reportedly, the event included suggestions for pastors on how to approach running for office, run campaigns and offer keynotes – all elements deemed necessary for a successful electoral victory.

Even though this particular event was not officially connected with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s highly publicized prayer rally The Response, which was organized the following day, Jindal ensured not to miss this event. As a matter of fact, both the events were funded by the American Renewal Project.

“Nobody’s confused that politicians are going to save America,” Lane told the media before the Issachar Training Event. “These engaged evangelicals would be voting for their biblically-based conservative values.”

Photo Credits: Crooked Crosses