Open Letter To Pastors & Churches of Miami and Darke Counties

Hi! I’m Jena Powell, your State Representative. Thank you for serving our community through your calling as a pastor, and through your leadership with your Church.

I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself and about my testimony. I grew up on a farm in southern Darke County. Currently, I own a billboard company with my family across Ohio and Indiana called Huntington Outdoor. While in Columbus, I work to reduce regulation, cut taxes, enact pro-life and pro-family legislation, and defend our 2^nd Amendment rights. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, I view every policy through the lens of Scripture.

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins and rose again, having eternal victory over sin. Romans 10:9 says that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

We are sinners in need of a Savior, because sin brings death upon us. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The good news is that Jesus came down to earth, lived a perfect life, and was the atonement for our sins. As Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are forgiven of our sins when we call upon the name of the Lord. That’s the gospel. But the chief good of the gospel is not forgiveness, justification, or eternal life — as wonderful as these are. The highest, fullest, deepest, sweetest good of the gospel is God Himself, enjoyed by His redeemed people. The gospel is the good news that we get to be in relationship with Jesus and get to worship Jesus, every single day. No work we do can earn salvation; it’s already bought by Jesus by His perfect life. What a beautiful gift He gives His people.

I am incredibly blessed by His gift of salvation in my life. As an undeserving sinner, my Hope is in Jesus Christ alone.

The Christian church is not a building, but a body of believers united in Christ. Its role is to worship God, nurture and edify and reach out to a suffering world with the saving message of the gospel as well as the practical compassion and mercy exemplified in Christ.

With this knowledge, the church should be at the heart of every community – sharing the Gospel, loving our neighbors, and providing a space for fellowship. I will always be fighting for religious liberty, and for the rights of churches to be faithful to their witness in the world.

Thank you again for everything that you do for individuals and families in our community. If there is ever anything that our office can do to serve you, or if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call us at 614-466-8114 or email us at Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Sincerely,

Jena Powell

State Representative | OH-80

State Representative Jena Powell represents Ohio’s 80^th House District. She can be reached at Rep80@ohiohouse.gov or (614) 466-8114.