Federal Layoffs Shake Christians In Government

In February, speaking before faith leaders and political officials at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Donald Trump pledged to “protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares.”

But with 26,000 federal jobs axed and widespread layoffs in the name of government efficiency, pastors in the Washington, D.C., area and Christians working in civil service have seen morale plummet. Those who felt called to live out their faith and serve their country in federal jobs worry that the moves threaten their mission and livelihood.

“I’m not going to talk about government spending. That’s not what I’m most interested in. But what I am interested in is that we have some of the brightest, hardest-working people I’ve ever known in my life who have lost their jobs this last week without cause,” said Bill Riedel, lead pastor of Redemption Hill Church in D.C.

Redemption Hill is a politically mixed congregation with many young professionals — some single, some married with kids — who work for the government.

“We know that we can’t pay rent for a third of the church if a third of the church gets laid off,” Riedel said. But the church has tried to do what it can, much of the support springing up organically from within the pews.

You can read the entire article at Christianity Today.

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Harvest Prude is a staff writer at Christianity Today.