The former Rev. Bredesen (right), Lewis' mentor & a minister to several world-leaders introducing Brownback at MSNY's congregational meeting in January

January 8, 2006 New York, NY --- Knowing that New York City is a hub of world leaders and future world changers, Senior Pastor Ron Lewis and the pastoral team at Morning Star New York have come up with various ways to cultivate the leadership gifts and skills of MSNY's members. A particular emphasis is made on leadership development, with many special courses, ministries, and geared towards this important subject.

One of MSNY's most significant leadership development events yet occurred when U.S. Senator Sam Brownback visited the congregation's Sunday evening service last January to speak on leadership principles. Brownback was joined in by the former Rev. Harald Bredesen, a long-time minister to world leaders, and a number of close friends of MSNY family from around the country.

Senator Brownback began by sharing a brief history of his spiritual development. Although he became a Christian at an early age, he now admits that for many years he pursued his faith primarily as a way to earn favor with God and others on his quest to serve in public office. It was not until 1995 to 1996 as a US Congressman that things began to change when he received what he calls "the greatest blessing of my life" - a diagnosis of melanomic skin cancer.

He then described how his battle to overcome cancer resulted in a new understanding of what it means to truly serve God. By accepting God's challenge to face his disease and to trust that God would take care of the situation, Senator Brownback came to appreciate what the Bible means when it exhorts us to "die to ourselves." (Rom 14:7). By learning to respond to hardship with rejoicing rather than fear and doubt, Sen. Brownback can now see God's power operating in his life like never before.

The result of this transformation is a new perspective on his role as a US Senator. He explained that as a Christian, the primary "constituent" that he must serve is Jesus Christ. As he has sought to know God's will for his role in making many key and hard decisions as a US State Senator, he has become increasingly focused on major issues of human rights around the globe.

The Senator concluded with an exhortation to the congregation to make the most of the several great potentials that MSNY members have been given. Citing the Biblical lesson of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31), he challenged the crowd of mostly young people to reject the temptations of a safe, comfortable life and to live a life of significance and impact.

Brownback sharing his 'lessons learned' and 'leadership principles discovered' as a State Senator with the MSNY congregation

Flanked by world-changers, Lewis enjoying an exchange of insights, counsel & wisdom with the fomer Rev. Bredesen & Sen. Brownback

By choosing to deliver a message that focused primarily on spiritual principles, Senator Brownback was able to encourage and inspire the bi-partisan gathering at Morning Star New York.

In recent years, Lewis and the Senator have built a relationship through their mutual friendship with Bredesen. Born and raised on a small farm in Kansas, Sam Brownback has served an illustrious career of public service. Elected to the US Congress in 1994, he was then quickly promoted to the US Senate in a special election held in 1996 to fill the seat vacated by Bob Dole. Brownback currently serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Judiciary Committee, and is the chairman of the Helsinki Commission.

A strong man of faith, Senator Brownback is a champion for human rights worldwide. Ron Lewis and US Senator Sam Brownback are both campaigning for the rights of oppressed all over the world.