Leading with Faith: A Mayor's Journey of Love, Service, and Kingdom Purpose

This conversation with Mayor Stephen Kepley of Kentwood, Michigan, reveals how authentic Christian faith can transform public service. Mayor Kepley shares his journey from engineer to four-term mayor, emphasizing that his identity is rooted in Christ rather than his position. He demonstrates that effective Christian leadership in the public sphere requires three core virtues: loving God, fearing God, and loving people. Throughout his testimony, he illustrates how seeking God's reality and kingdom first, maintaining integrity, and genuinely caring for all people—regardless of their religious or cultural background—can create lasting impact. His approach challenges the assumption that bold Christian faith is incompatible with political office, showing instead that authenticity, servant leadership, and dependence on God's guidance can be the very qualities that enable effective governance in a pluralistic society.