U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared his testimony and insights into Christian leadership today at the 2019 American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference in Nashville.
Pompeo told the crowd that he appreciated their mission because he seeks to change behavior by appealing to hearts and minds just as they do as counselors. And he made it clear he looked to God for guidance in every step.
“As believers, we draw on the wisdom of God to help us get it right, to be a force for good in the lives of human beings. Even having just said that, I know some people will break out the pitchforks when they hear that I ask God for direction in my work. But you should know, as much as I like to claim originality, it is not a new idea.”
He then quoted President Abraham Lincoln: “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction I had nowhere else to go.”
Pompeo spoke on how to be a Christian leader in this world in three areas: disposition, dialogue and decisions.
“These are things that you face in your work every day, and they’re issues that the State Department and President Trump—each of us must face,” he said.
He then shared his testimony, explaining that his relationship with Jesus was not always a priority in his life. It took two young men in college to open his heart to God’s truth.
“Like a lot of people, I grew up going to church but with a relationship with God that wasn’t especially important for me because I was destined to be in the NBA. But as I grew older and I started my time with the United States Military Academy, there were two young men in the class ahead of me who invited me to a Bible study. They were very intentional to me in explaining God’s Word. And after some studying and discipleship with them, they helped me begin my walk with Christ.”
Pompeo says he and his wife, Susan, have always kept Christ at the center of their lives. As a deacon at his church, Pompeo taught Sunday school, which he jokes was a fantastic training ground for his current job as secretary of state.
Watch Pompeo’s entire speech in the Facebook Live video embedded in this article. (Start at the 20:20-minute marker for the beginning of the speech.)
