Vote Faithfully
As followers of Jesus, our faith calls us to seek the common good, love our neighbors, and work for justice and peace. Throughout this election season, members of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri are sharing personal reflections on what it means to vote faithfully. These stories are testimonies of how faith shapes our civic engagement and our commitment to the dignity of every person. We invite you to read with an open heart, reflect prayerfully, and consider how God is calling you to participate faithfully in the life of your community.
We’ve come this far…
Bishop Deon K. Johnson
"We've come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in God's holy Word; God has never failed us yet." For generations, those words have echoed through Black churches, sustaining a people who refused to surrender to despair. They are more than the refrain of a beloved spiritual, they are the testimony of a people who have endured unimaginable hardship while trusting that God was always leading them toward freedom.
"We've come this far by faith" aptly describes the long journey of people of African descent in securing the right to vote. From the brutality of slavery, through the sacrifices of the Civil War and Reconstruction, to the long struggle against Jim Crow and the courage of the Civil Rights Movement, each generation has taken another faithful step toward the promise of a more just society. The right to vote did not come easily. It was won through prayer, perseverance, sacrifice, and the unwavering conviction that every person bears the image of God and deserves both dignity and a voice.
Each time I cast my ballot, I am reminded that I do not vote alone. I carry with me the prayers, dreams, and sacrifices of countless ancestors who were denied this fundamental right. I vote faithfully for those who could not. I vote for those who faced intimidation, violence, and even death simply for seeking the opportunity to participate in our democracy. I vote in gratitude for those who believed that their struggle would open doors they themselves might never walk through. And I vote with hope for the generations who will come after me.
As our nation prepares for the 2026 elections, I will once again get up, dress up, and show up at my polling place to cast my vote. My son will be with me. I want him to know that voting is never something to take for granted. I want him to understand that this simple act is both a privilege and a sacred responsibility. I want him to know that our faith calls us not only to worship God but also to seek the welfare of our neighbors, to pursue justice, and to participate in building communities where every person can flourish.
Casting a ballot is, for me, an act of faith. It is an expression of hope that God is still at work in the world through ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things. It is a way of honoring those who have gone before us while accepting responsibility for those who will come after us. Every election reminds me that democracy is not sustained by fear or cynicism but by people who continue to believe that a better future is possible.
We've come this far by faith. By God's grace, we will keep moving forward—one faithful step, one faithful vote, at a time.
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