Former Pro Basketball Player Leads Bible Study for Trump’s Cabinet

By Nancy Flory Published on April 10, 2018

Every Wednesday, a group of cabinet members meet for a Bible study in Washington, D.C. People like Vice President Mike Pence, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Energy Secretary Rick Perry gather in a secret location to learn about God. And leading this weekly study of the scriptures by members of President Trump’s cabinet? A seven-foot tall former pro basketball player.

The Man Behind the Bible Study

Ralph Drollinger went to church maybe a half a dozen times as a kid. He didn’t read the Bible much and didn’t understand it. But in high school he was invited to a Bible study after a basketball game. That night, he accepted Jesus as Lord. 

Drollinger fell in love with the scriptures in college. He’d been offered chances to play pro basketball three times but turned them down. “I sensed such a passion for ministry that everything paled in comparison,” he told BBC. He went on to join Athletes in Action — a group that played basketball and preached at half-time. “That was kind of perfect for me,” said Drollinger. “Because I really didn’t like basketball, but I liked to preach.”

He did go pro in 1980 when he signed on with the Dallas Mavericks. He did it because he wanted to attend a Dallas-area seminary. He retired after one season. After working in sports ministries, Drollinger and his wife, Danielle, started Capitol Ministries.

Capitol Ministries

In 1996, Danielle worked as an executive director of a political action committee in California. She worked hard to get Christians elected at the state legislature. “But she was frustrated,” Drollinger said. “They would send guys to California’s capitol — and she was great at getting them elected — but they would soon lose their Christian moorings.” The couple started Capitol Ministries to provide “weekly Bible studies, support, prayer and one-on-one ministry.” They now operate Capitol Ministries in 43 U.S. state capitols and in legislatures worldwide. 

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Capitol Ministries began their D.C. ministry in 2010. The Fellowship already operated as a ministry in the area, but Drollinger felt that it was lacking. He described The Fellowship as “candy floss Christianity — big, sweet, unsubstantial.” He wanted to provide a “high-protein diet.” For Drollinger, that meant teaching the Bible one book at a time. “If you don’t have a spiritual coach that’s really driving you in the Word of God and driving you toward holiness rather than your own sinful, latent nature, and your own depravity, then you’re not going to grow into Christ’s likeness.” Capitol Ministries began to lead Bible studies for representatives that year.

In 2015, Drollinger started a senator’s class. In March of last year, the group started the cabinet members Bible study. While the state capitol Bible studies are led by a local pastor, Drollinger leads the Washington, D.C. Bible study. 

Just a Waiter

Drollinger described his role as a waiter in a restaurant. “If God is the chef, then I’m just the servant, and I hope the guys like the meal,” he said. “But on the way out of the kitchen, I’m not going to alter what’s on the plate. So my job is just to be a servant.” When asked what would happen if people don’t like the message, Drollinger responded, “You have to go talk to the chef [God]. Unless I’ve altered what’s on the plate — which, hopefully in my discipline, I don’t.”

Drollinger thinks about how he teaches some of the world’s most powerful people.  “One of the emotions is, ‘Who am I to be here?’ You know, kind of like Moses, ‘Lord, I can’t even speak.’ I’m just a jock with bad knees, and here I am. ‘Only you [God] could have done this — why me?’ So that goes through my mind a lot, and I think that’s healthy.” On the other hand, he thinks about his experience. “But then there’s the other standpoint, where I sense that I’ve got 21 years of expositing the Word of God, specifically to apply to the life of a public servant.”

“So in that sense, I feel like I’m the most qualified guy in the world.”

It Works

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry told Decision that studying the Bible with other cabinet members was like an oasis in the chaotic busyness of Washington, D.C. “I look forward to Wednesday mornings,” said Perry. “I know that when I walk out of there, I’m going to be edified.” 

“There’s nothing more exciting,” said Drollinger, “than expositing the Word of God, drilling deep in the Word of God, making custom application for the life of a public servant, and then having them respond with comments like, ‘You know, I never knew that’ or ‘I never saw it that clearly.’”

“If we can create outposts for Christ like we have in D.C., not only in all 50 state capitols but in thousands of local city and county governments throughout America, then we will be able to effect change in our nation,” Drollinger said. “Not through pressuring lawmakers to vote right, but by winning them to Christ, discipling their hearts and giving them a Christian worldview through a regular, high-protein diet of the Word of God.”

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