America at 250: Capitol Hill Is This Man’s “Mission Field”

Summary

Podcast Summary: GPS: God. People. Stories. — "America at 250: Capitol Hill Is This Man’s ‘Mission Field’"

Date: July 1, 2026
Host: Jim Kirkland, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Guest: Steve Amerson (“America’s Tenor”)

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Episode Overview

This episode features Steve Amerson, a renowned professional singer known for his work in film and for ministering to members of Congress on Capitol Hill. As America approaches its 250th birthday, Steve shares his experience leading worship, offering support to lawmakers, and bringing spiritual encouragement to the heart of the nation's government. The discussion centers around faith, service, and the importance of divine guidance for America's leaders.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Worship in the Capitol & the Spiritual Battle

• Steve emphasizes that the primary struggle in Washington is not political, but spiritual.
  • “It's not about the party of the elephant and it's not about the party of the donkey. It's about the lamb.” (Steve Amerson, 00:18 & 09:04)
• Worship services and praises to Jesus in the U.S. Capitol are seen as vital acts of intercession for leaders.

2. The Jefferson Gathering: History and Impact

• Weekly Worship: Since July 30, 2014, the Jefferson Gathering—a weekly Wednesday night worship service—has resumed in the Capitol after a 144-year hiatus.
  • Organized by Dan Cummins and Jim Gurlo; Steve joined as a worship leader. (03:25)
• Relational Ministry: Steve helps lawmakers identify fellow Christians. “We have given them a forum in the Capitol to come and worship.” (Steve Amerson, 03:59)
• Attendance is challenging due to lawmakers’ schedules, but several prioritize the gathering as their “church” for the week. (Steve Amerson, 04:24)

3. Encouragement, Connections, and Personal Support

• In addition to worship, Steve writes personal notes to around 120 Senators and Representatives, offering prayers and encouragement whether or not he agrees with their politics. (06:02)
• Lawmakers deeply appreciate his notes and prayers, expressing gratitude for the personal touch, especially during times of personal or professional distress.
  • “You will never know how much your notes mean to me. I've got your notes in my office that you're praying for me.” (Congressman to Steve Amerson, 07:45)
• Steve provides comfort in moments of vulnerability, such as praying on street corners or listening to lonely lawmakers in their offices. (08:24)

4. Faith and Politics: Challenges and Conversations

• Some lawmakers confide in Steve about the pressures of their job and personal life.
• Steve occasionally challenges Representatives whose votes seem at odds with their professed faith.
  • “Someday I'd love to talk to you about how your faith intersects your votes.” (Steve Amerson, 07:22)
• He underscores that for many Christian lawmakers, Congress is their “mission field.” (05:01)

5. Billy Graham’s Perspective & Prayer for Leaders

• Billy Graham audio clips highlight the need for divine guidance among those with the greatest power.
  • “Those who have the greatest power always need the greatest divine guidance. No government rules except by the will of God.” (Billy Graham, 01:44 & 10:35)
• Abraham Lincoln’s biblical foundation and prayer life are referenced as an example for leaders facing crisis.
• Ongoing encouragement for listeners to seek God and pray for the nation, echoing Billy Graham’s legacy of interceding for America’s rulers.

6. Action Steps for Listeners

• Prayer + Encouragement: Steve recommends listeners call or write to their Representatives or Senators—not to discuss politics, but simply to say “I’m praying for you.”
  • “Don’t get into politics, don’t get into issues and policy, but just say, ‘Sir, I’m praying for you’ or ‘Ma’am, I’m praying for you.’” (13:01)
• Support Capitol Hill Interns: Steve highlights the challenging environment for young interns handling harsh calls, encouraging positive, faith-filled outreach.
• Focus on God’s Sovereignty Amid National Division:
  • “God is on the throne. It’s not as though God is in heaven wringing his hands, going, oh no, what’s going to happen?” (13:01)
• Call for Spiritual Renewal: On America’s 250th birthday, Steve urges Christians to draw closer to God, regardless of divisive issues.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Spiritual vs. Political Battles:
  “There’s a spiritual battle that’s going on, and the real battle is not a political battle. … It’s about the lamb.”
  — Steve Amerson (00:18 & 09:04)

• On the Mission Field of Congress:
  “Many of the believers who are in Congress see that as a mission field. They're called there. This is a very hard life in D.C.”
  — Steve Amerson (05:01)

• On Encouraging Lawmakers:
  “I was in the office of a congressman a few months back and he closed the door and began just to pour out his heart and tell me how lonely he is, how lonely life is on the Hill.”
  — Steve Amerson (06:44)

• On Prayer and Action:
  “My encouragement would be … just to say, ‘I'm praying for this representative or I'm praying for this senator.’”
  — Steve Amerson (13:01)

• On God’s Sovereignty:
  “It's not as though God is in heaven wringing his hands, going, oh no, what's going to happen?”
  — Steve Amerson (13:01)

• Billy Graham’s Guidance:
  “Those who have the greatest power always need the greatest divine guidance. … No government rules except by the will of God.”
  — Billy Graham (01:44 & 10:35)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:18 – Steve Amerson outlines the spiritual battle in Congress.
• 03:25 – Start and significance of the Jefferson Gathering.
• 04:24 – Lawmakers carving out time for worship amid busy schedules.
• 06:02 – Steve’s noting ministry and acts of encouragement.
• 06:44 – Lawmaker’s confessions of loneliness.
• 07:22 – Challenging lawmakers about the intersection of faith and policy.
• 09:04 – Reiterating the real spiritual battle in the Capitol.
• 10:35 – Billy Graham on the necessity of divine guidance for leaders.
• 13:01 – Steve’s advice to listeners: pray for and encourage congressional staff and representatives.

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Conclusion

Steve Amerson’s ministry in Washington, D.C., as highlighted in this episode, demonstrates a unique and powerful intersection of faith and public service. By offering worship, encouragement, and prayer, Steve brings hope and spiritual support to America’s lawmakers—emphasizing unity in Christ over division in politics. As the nation celebrates Independence Day and reflects on its heritage, listeners are encouraged to pray for America’s leaders, reach out with kindness, and trust in God’s ongoing sovereignty.

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Resources Mentioned:

• findpeacewithgod.net
• OneNationUnderGod.com

Host: Jim Kirkland
Production: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

"Always Good News."

Transcript

[Steve Amerson]

Just how important do you think it is that praises to Jesus are being sung in the Capitol?

[Jim Kirkland]

That's Steve Emerson, a professional singer who has followed a calling to minister to members of Congress.

[Steve Amerson]

There's a spiritual battle that's going on, and the real battle is not a political battle. It's a spiritual battle. And it's not about the party of the elephant and it's not about the party of of the donkey. It's about the lamb. It's the opposite of politics, power or prestige. It's about a simple message and whether

[Unidentified Narrator/Commentator]

we believe it's still the crow.

[Jim Kirkland]

Twice a month, Steve travels to Washington, D.C. to sing and to hand deliver notes of encouragement to every senator and every member of the House of Representatives that he can, regardless of which side of the aisle they sit on. He's passionate for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our nation's capital, and he's going to share all about this unique ministry here on GPS God People Stories. It's an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I'm Jim Kirkland. We first met Steve nine years ago. As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we thought a revisit with Steve and his ministry would be especially relevant during this season. Steve Amerson desires that our nation's leaders seek God for their wisdom. Billy Graham did, too.

[Billy Graham]

Those who have the greatest power always need the greatest divine guidance. No government rules except by the will of God.

[Jim Kirkland]

We'll hear more from Billy Graham later in this episode. If at this moment you're feeling like you need divine guidance in your life, we can help. Visit our website findpeacewithgod.net when you're there, click. Begin a relationship with Jesus. The website again is findpeacewithgod.net and the quickest way to get there is through the show.

[Steve Amerson]

Notes GPS God People Stories

[Jim Kirkland]

Steve Amerson is sometimes referred to as America's tenor. You may not recognize his name, but you've likely heard his voice.

[Steve Amerson]

I've sung on over 175 feature films on the scores of these films, things like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Hunt for Red, October, Home Alone 1 and 2, Sister Act, Men in Black, Fantastic Four, recently Bridge of Spies, La La Land just did Star wars. So I've sung for movies and commercials and television shows.

[Jim Kirkland]

Steve has also sung at several Billy Graham crusades, and he's got a full schedule of concerts throughout the year. Part of Steve's busy schedule is traveling twice a month from his home in Southern California to Washington, D.C. he goes there to help lead a weekly Wednesday night worship service in the basement of the Capitol Building. It's called the Jefferson Gathering.

[Steve Amerson]

The first night of doing the Jefferson Gathering, which is the first weekly worship service in the capital in 144 years, started on July 30, 2014.

[Jim Kirkland]

The Jefferson Gathering wasn't Steve's idea. It was organized by two pastors, Dan Cummins and Jim Gurlo. The three men believe it is critically important for Christians in Congress to come together. The problem is those members don't always know who their fellow Christ followers are.

[Steve Amerson]

So one of the things we've been able to accomplish is to help identify who are the people that claim the name of Jesus that has helped. We have given them a forum in the Capitol to come and worship.

[Jim Kirkland]

But making it to that Wednesday night worship service can be a challenge because being a member of Congress means you are inundated with invitations.

[Steve Amerson]

There are events, dinners, banquets, speaking opportunities. And it is not uncommon for a member of Congress to try to make 2, 3, 4, 5 of these in an evening. They'll pop in and do their thing and move on. We have members of Congress that tell their scheduler, Wednesday night, I'm going to church. So I feel that we are an encouragement to them.

[Jim Kirkland]

Encouragement because being a member of Congress is one demanding job. Actually, Steve says for most Christian lawmakers that he knows it's much more than a job.

[Steve Amerson]

Many of the believers who are in Congress see that as a mission field. They're called there. This is a very hard life in D.C. your days there are from like 7am in the morning. They'll sometimes be voting on pieces of legislation until 10, 11. I've been there when they've been voting until 1am in the morning. So it's a very hard time there on the Hill. And then when they go home, their times home are not their own because they need to see constituents and so forth. So I really believe that our presence doing the Jefferson Gathering is a time of encouragement for them, a time to uplift them.

[Jim Kirkland]

Those Wednesday night services aren't the only way Steve encourages members of Congress. He also meets with them, prays with them, and prays for them when he's not in D.C. and Steve has another way of encouraging the congressmen and women.

[Steve Amerson]

As I'm traveling, I write personal notes to members of Congress. Right now I have roughly about 120 members of Congress, both in the House and the Senate, on my list. So as I'm flying, I'm writing notes to them Just saying, I'm praying for you today or this past week. I wrote notes just saying I'm praying for this time of transition. So I do those. Actually there are so many, I can't do it on the flight any longer from Los Angeles to D.C. as a five hour flight. So I have to do some of these before I leave home to get them all done.

[Jim Kirkland]

On those two Wednesdays a month that Steve's in D.C. he packs his day with visits to lawmakers offices.

[Steve Amerson]

I was in the office of a congressman a few months back and he closed the door and began just to pour out his heart and tell me how lonely he is, how lonely life is on the Hill. What many people don't know is many congressmen live and sleep in their office. To own a place or to rent a place in D.C. is very, very expensive.

[Jim Kirkland]

Occasionally, Steve's ministry is to offer some loving truth. He remembers talking with a member of Congress whose votes weren't in keeping with the biblical values that Steve knew the lawmaker had grown up with.

[Steve Amerson]

So I said, someday I'd love to talk to you about how your faith intersects your votes. And they looked at their watch as if to say, my time was up. And they said, yes, we should do that sometime. And so that was a very poignant thing to kind of experience.

[Jim Kirkland]

For me, that kind of encounter isn't as common as ones like this.

[Steve Amerson]

I was walking into an office of a congressman from Texas, and as I walked in, he said, walk with me. And I was walking down the hall and praying for him. And that's when he shared that his chief of staff was on life support. Even this past week, I'm walking down the hall and this congressman, I wave at him, he walks over, he said, you will never know how much your notes mean to me. He goes, I've got your notes in my office that you're praying for for me. So these are just powerful days in

[Jim Kirkland]

D.C. some of Steve's ministry is very impromptu, like this meeting he had outside of his hotel one evening.

[Steve Amerson]

I just gotten in and I look across the street and I see a congressman. So I cross the street, greet him at the intersection, and I said, sir, how are you doing? He goes, I'm fine. Just got back from home. My wife had surgery for cancer this past week. And just to stand and pray with him on the street corner to realize here are men and women that are leaving their homes, leaving their families, some who have just had surgery to serve our nation. It's humbling to be able to be with these men. And women and try to encourage them.

[Jim Kirkland]

These are men and women, says Steve, who are engaged in something much bigger than politics.

[Steve Amerson]

There's a spiritual battle that's going on, and the real battle is not a political battle. It's a spiritual battle. And it's not about the party of the elephant and it's not about the party of the donkey. It's about the lamb.

[Jim Kirkland]

The lamb is Jesus Christ, and he loves people regardless of their place. Political persuasion. He died for all of us so that each one of us can live forever in heaven with God if we'll accept his offer of forgiveness. You can learn more about that at this website, findpeacewithgod.net that's findpeacewithgod.nets that website is also helpful if you just have questions or you want to grow deeper in your faith in Jesus Christ. The address again is findpeacewithgod.net and you can always find that website address in our show notes. Coming up, Steve Amerson has a suggestion for how you can minister to your representatives in Washington, D.C. don't worry, you won't have to sing.

[Steve Amerson]

You're listening to GPS God People Stories, a podcast production of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

[Billy Graham]

Those who have the greatest power always need the greatest divine guidance. Billy graham, no government rules except by the will of God. In the midst of the bloody Civil War, Abraham Lincoln read his Bible regularly. He memorized passages from its pages. He used the word of God to help him make decisions and solve problems in matters of right and wrong. The Bible was Lincoln's final call. The overwhelming problems of his day drove him to the Scriptures and to his knees in prayer. And out of this humble dependence upon God came the preservation of the Union. History always throbs with crisis, but the gospel is that God is for man and that in the greatest crisis this world has ever known, when Jesus Christ went to the cross, God transcended, transformed that tragedy into triumph and wrought redemption for those who trust in him.

[Jim Kirkland]

Have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ? He can. He will change your life. Find out how by visiting findpeacewithgod.net when you're there, click on Begin a Relationship with Jesus one more time. The website is findpeacewithgod.net and there's also a link in our show notes. Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic association have been asking Christians across the country to be praying for the United states for the 50 days leading right up to our nation's 250th birthday on July 4th. That's one day for every one of the United States. Although we are nearing Independence Day, please continue the divine movement that has begun. Lift America up in prayer daily. For more information, visit One NationUndergod.com let's all continue our prayers and finish strong in the next few days leading to July 4th and for beyond. Again website is one nationundergod.com and we'll provide a link in our show Notes Our guest on this episode has been Steve Amerson. He caught up with us for one last suggestion on how to minister to our representatives and to hear what he's feeling in the nation's capital on these days, just ahead of our country's 250th birthday.

[Unidentified Narrator/Commentator]

Over 18,000 people work on Capitol Hill. And especially during these summer months, congressional offices are filled with interns that are here for maybe a six week stint. These are either high school students or college students that are coming to the Hill to serve in some way to learn about what goes on in government. Part of what they do is answer phone calls. I wish it were not true, but the phone calls that come into congressional offices can be very vile, can be just profanity laced. And here are these young kids fielding these calls from people. So my encouragement would be for people to, for them to make a call and just to say, I'm praying for this representative or I'm praying for this senator. And I also would encourage people to just take out a piece of paper and write a brief note to their senators or to their representative just saying, I'm praying for you. And don't get into politics, don't get into issues and policy, but just say, sir, I'm praying for you or ma', am, I'm praying for you. Regarding the 250th, I think there's a deep desire to celebrate the nation and celebrate the 250th. Unfortunately, even celebrating the 250th has taken on a partisan kind of divide. My encouragement is God is still in charge. God is on the throne. It's not as though God is in heaven ringing his hands, going, oh no, what's going to happen? I want listeners to focus on the word of God and His omnipotence. It's a call for believers to move closer to God. So during this time of celebrating the 250th, my admonition is for believers to want to move closer to God, to want to know him more.

[Jim Kirkland]

A big thank you to Steve Amerson, a pastor's son, a husband, a father, a vocalist and an encourager of our nation's leaders. All in the name of Christ. And a big thank you to you for listening. One last reminder to visit One NationUndergod.com and join with us in praying for the United States ahead of Independence Day. And also, a quick reminder to share GPS with a friend or your family. They can find us anywhere. They listen to podcasts and on YouTube. In the middle of life GPS is here in the middle of the week every other Wednesday. I'm Jim Kirkland. Happy Independence Day. May God bless you. May God bless America. This is GPS God People Stories, an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Always good news. Sam.