The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Grace H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Take Action - Volunteering for a Political Campaign
Volunteering in our local campaigns to help candidates get elected was a very good experience. I was able to go door to door, telling people about the candidates I supported. I also did two literature drops with information about the candidates, and had the opportunity to make phone calls, informing people of the candidate I was representing. Working in the different campaigns pushed me out of my comfort zone to share worthwhile thoughts and views with others. It gave me a better understanding of how much effort office holders must put out before they are even elected. I also learned about the discouragement of those candidates who work incredibly hard and then lose in the end.
People respond to campaigning in all kinds of ways. Some are rude and slam the door in your face or hang up on you. I assume these people are supporters of the candidate's opponent. Generally though, people are kind and reasonable if you don't blab on for too long. Then once in a while you meet a curious one who wants to talk and is eager to learn about your candidate.
I learned the importance of getting involved in local races because it is so vital that there are righteous men and women in office. So many Christians just sit back and relax, telling themselves it is not the church's job to get involved in politics. This is a lie that Satan is telling us. Politics are one of the most important jobs of a Christian. It is our duty to place upright Godly leaders above us, so that when hard times come the right decisions are made. We need leaders that will be the first to go into battle and the last to retreat; men and women who will give their all for the people, and not just for themselves. We need to elect leaders that are in office on a holy mission from God to serve their country.
It was sad to see how many people were uninformed about the truth of this year's candidates and how their vote was cast one way or another merely on whims or trivial matters. So few base their vote on the standard of God's word, or on any standard at all. Our job is clear, to make sure that correct facts are available to everyone and to produce non-biased news. This should not only be put on adult's shoulders, but also on the younger generation. Even though we can't vote we can still make a difference in the outcome of the election. People are impressed when they see youths out there working on campaigns and trying to make a difference in this world. Seeing this, some are inclined to ask why we are supporting and working for a candidate even though we can't vote. It is our job as Americans to step up and take action in government. This freedom we take for granted every day has been bought by the blood of our soldiers and ought not to be taken lightly.
Working in the election this year opened my eyes to see the importance of getting involved. It has given me a better understanding of our government system and the work our founding fathers and every great statesman since, has put into it. I have learned many things through this experience, but the most important lesson is that government without Christ as the center is corrupt and worthless and will eventually fail.
