Living Reconciled
Living Reconciled, hosted by Mission Mississippi, is a podcast dedicated to exploring reconciliation and the Gospel that enables us to live it out. Mission Mississippi has been leading the way in racial reconciliation in Mississippi for 31 years. Our model is to bring people together to build relationships across racial lines so they can work together to better their communities. Our mission is to encourage and demonstrate grace in the Body of Christ across racial lines so that communities throughout Mississippi can see practical evidence of the gospel message.
Living Reconciled
EP. 69: Bridging Faith and Politics with Ronnie Crudup Jr.
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Can faith and politics work hand in hand? In this powerful episode of Living Reconciled, Representative Ronnie Crudup Jr. shares his journey from political skepticism to a faith-driven calling in public service. We dive into the challenges of being a Christian politician, the importance of integrity, and how reconciliation moves beyond theory into action. Join us for an inspiring discussion on stepping outside our comfort zones, advocating for our communities, and letting faith guide meaningful change.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Nissan, St. Dominic's Hospital, Atmos Energy, Regions Foundation, Mississippi College, Anderson United Methodist Church, Grace Temple Church, Mississippi State University, Real Christian Foundation, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Christian Life Church, Ms. Doris Powell, Mr. Robert Ward, and Ms. Ann Winters.
This is Living Reconciled, a podcast dedicated to giving our communities practical evidence of the gospel message by helping Christians learn how to live in the reconciliation that Jesus has already secured for us by living with grace across racial lines. Hey, thanks so much for joining us on this episode of Living Reconciled. I am your host, Brian Crawford, and I am with my very incredible and good friend, Nettie Winters. Sir, how are you doing today?
Speaker 2:I'm wonderful man. I'm wonderful, I'm always excited. I stay in that category of incredible friend man, absolutely Always, always excited to keep you in that category, man, I'm wonderful, I'm always excited. I stay in that category of incredible friend man.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Always, always, excited to keep you in that category, brother. Give a quick shout out to our sponsors Nissan, st Dominic's Hospital, atmos Energy Regions Foundation, mississippi College, anderson United Methodist Church, grace Temple Church, mississippi State, real Christian Foundation, brown Missionary Baptist Church and Christian Life Church, also good friends like Miss Doris Powell, mr Robert Ward and Ms Ann Winters. Thank you, guys, so much for the support that you give Mission Mississippi and Living Reconciled. It's because of what you do that we're able to do what we do, and if you're interested in joining this group of sponsors and investors in the work of reconciliation, it's very easy to do. You can do so by visiting missionmississippiorg, again, missionmississippiorg, again, missionmississippiorg. At the top of that page there's a button that says invest. Click that button and you can also invest in the work of reconciliation.
Speaker 1:That includes not only a podcast, but that includes hosting and conducting community days of dialogue, that includes training and equipping, that includes our work in local universities and schools, that includes all of our content that we're authoring and things of that nature. But it also includes great interviews, and one such great interview that we're having today, that we're incredibly excited to have, is with none other than Representative Ronnie Crudup Jr. Ronnie Crudup Jr, isa representative for the Mississippi House of Representatives, and he is in the Jackson area. Ronnie is a devoted Christian, devoted father, devoted husband and a devoted citizen of the state of Mississippi, the city of Jackson, where he serves and where he in which he also loves deeply. So we're incredibly excited to have a conversation with Representative Crudup. Sir, how are you doing today?
Speaker 3:I'm doing wonderful, glad to be here today, excellent, excellent.
Speaker 1:If you don't mind, for those who don't know Ronnie Crudup Jr, would you take a moment and share with us a little bit about yourself, as well as your story and your testimony of faith?
Speaker 3:Ronnie Crudup Sr. I am married. I've been married now 19 years, three lovely children. They were all in the Jackson Public School District but been in South Jackson, living Jackson, all my life, but been in South Jackson predominantly most of my life and my working career. Graduated Murrah High School but also Bell Haven University I got the sweatshirt on today and so I'm just somebody who just loves the city of Jackson and who tries to, you know, seek to do some good around this place.
Speaker 3:So that's who I am. I came to, you know. I've been in church all my life, except my father's a pastor. But it was probably the age of about 21 to 22 when I really came to know Christ and really sought to, you know, follow his ways and follow the truth. So just kind of building that journey ever since then, trying to seek God and trying to do what's best, not only for me and my family, but just being led by God of what he wants me to do in life. So that's kind of a little bit who I am and I desire what I plan to do. Who I am and I desire what I plan to do, you know.
Speaker 2:Representative, you represent District 71. Many times, oftentimes, I get introduced to various elected officials and they tell me what district they serve in, but many times I don't have a clue what that means. So what is District 71?
Speaker 3:So there's 122 districts in the House and so I represent District 71, which is more of the central area. It's Hines County. I have a portion of South Jackson and I represent a portion of Barrow, and so in districts we all have about twenty five thousand residents that we we represent the Senate a little bit more, but yeah, so there's twenty five thousand, I represent this portion of Hines County.
Speaker 1:I'm so. I'm so close to calling you Bishop Crudup, I'm so close to calling you Bishop Crudup, and so it just, it just rolls off the tongue. Representative Crudup, so talk to us a little bit about the unique challenges as it relates to faith and politics. Challenges as it relates to faith and politics. You know a lot, a lot of people. When you think about a lot of Christians, when they think about politics in general, they just kind of, you know, it's like it's like the vampire movies where you put the crucifix up and you kind of hold it away, it's like almost trying to avoid it at all costs. And so, and so you, you have this unique role where you are deeply devoted to the Christian faith and yet you have this civil commitment where you really consider the work that you do in the political sphere to be more than just vocation but calling. Talk to us about the connection between the two and how you're able to hold that tension in a healthy way as it relates to the two.
Speaker 3:Sure.
Speaker 3:So you know, just like a lot of things of faith, I try to seek to follow God and the call that he has for my life and I feel like being in politics is definitely a calling for me, and I believe any Christian that they want to get in politics should make sure there is a calling so that way you know at the end of the day, who you do serve, I mean, who's your king of kings and lord of lords, and not just you know, a certain party. And so I would say my journey started back, actually in 2016, when I really felt like God told me to run for mayor. You know you're talking to somebody who I did not like politics, didn't care about it, tried to avoid it at all costs. But in 2016, I felt like God told me to run for mayor, and my wife sort of felt the same way, and so we jumped in the race, not having a clue what we were getting into. But we just kind of be obedient and we dove head in and, you know, not knowing disappointing of the loss at that point, but still feel like, ok, people say, well, you lost. I'm like you know, it wasn't about the wins or loss, we just felt like God told us to do that.
Speaker 3:And so then comes around in 2000, I think it was 17 when the race was but then two years later, in 19, when the position of the representative of this district 71 opened up because my predecessor, she, won a judge seat and it opened up, everybody who was in my community, my neighborhood, was saying you got to run for that position. And I was like okay, what does that mean? And so really prayerful about it, and I just decided, okay, again with prayer and fasting and talking to my wife and spouse about it, we decided to go for it and we won pretty handily, pretty easily I think, and that was kind of and I would say that that made it easy running for mayor first to kind of get my name out to be able to go into here. So, again, just going off the calling, not necessarily knowing you know what I was doing. When I first got in, I remember a key moment when I got elected.
Speaker 3:Philip Gunn at that point, who was the speaker, called me and said say, could come to my office, I want to talk to you. And he said hey, you know most folks come here with certain ambitions. So what's your ambitions, why are you here? And I told him my ambition is simple. I feel like I'm just here just to try to help the city of Jackson. I live in the city of Jackson, I don't think you know. A lot of times we get our fair shake on things. I just here to try to help the city of Jackson as much as I can. He said that's it. I said that's it. I'm not here. I don't want to be governor, I don't want to be a speaker, I don't want to be any of those things. I just want to try to help serve the city of Jackson best I can, and so that's what I've been trying to do.
Speaker 3:There's a lot of things that I agree with, sometimes things that I don't agree with, but I know, at the end of what somebody else asked me to do, I don't answer the man, I answer the God first, you know, and so that's when I vote on something or when I raise a concern issue, that's what I do, cause I know it's my calling to be there to lead by an example. And so I've been blessed to be a part of and I'm a guy who loves to serve, you know, I've been blessed the relationships that I've made at the legislature have helped me in so many different capacities. You know we had our water crisis here back in a couple of years ago when the area I represent in South Jackson we had literally no water. A lot of folks don't understand, and when I say we had no water, we had not a drip of water, but the connections that I was able to make at the state capitol helped us to get water continuously in for the residents of South Jackson. You know connections with the governor's office that they declared a state emergency, but then also some of my colleagues on the coast and other places that we were able to make a huge impact.
Speaker 3:Helping the citizens here in this area and other things is too. So yeah, it's a real calling for me and I don't take that lightly. Be honest, I tell some of my colleagues all the time I don't want to be a lifer here. There are some guys who are there 25, 30, 40, 50 years. I told them that is not what I want to do. I don't want to be a lifer. I'm here as long as I feel like God is telling me to be here, and I'm praying every day, lord, how long you want me to be here, Because sometimes there's some days I don't want to be there. But it's not about me, it's about him. So, yeah, that's who I am, it's what I do.
Speaker 2:Well, I was going to say Representative. You know God might want you to be alive for that and you're ready for God to keep you there for life If he says it. But I sure don't want to you.
Speaker 3:You churched on this just a little bit, but help us understand how your christianity inform your politics. Yeah, so, uh, when I vote on issues, you know, I I think about. I mean, I'm, I'm somebody. I read my devotion to my scripture every morning. That's the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning. I'm going to make sure I take my time to do my devotions and usually it's interesting how God sets things up.
Speaker 3:Sometimes there's some of the things that come under my devotion to some issues that we deal with on a daily basis, and so anything I vote on, I think about. Okay, what do I feel like? You know, is this the best vote for the people in my area? You know, what does God say about this? Even things concerning the poor, things, concerning family issues. Those are the things that I try to make sure that I keep my faith grounded in that, that I'm not here just to be voting, just based on my political party. You know my party. I'm at the Capitol as a Democrat, but I operate more from an independent standpoint in my faith because I, you know, can't follow just, you know, the the normal, certain issues, things like that. So, yeah, my faith is and my belief in God is all of what I do and how I live. I tell you I'm all in, and so you know I can change at any point now. And so you know I can change at any point now. But then they, I got to answer the guy, no-transcript, hey.
Speaker 1:Representative, you know you raise a good point around this idea of just kind of following your convictions as it relates to your faith and as it relates to your Christian faith to make decisions. People on two different sides of an issue and both of those people can be deeply devoted Christians that are saying they're following their convictions and so that creates an opportunity for dialogue, discussion, negotiations, conversations where we get a chance to explore where the root of those convictions exist for us. How do you explore that in the political space that you exist in when you have deeply devoted Christians that are on two different sides of the issue? How do you, how do you explore that in your, in your current tenure in the House?
Speaker 3:Well, it can be difficult at times. And I'll say this I was very naive when I first came up here to certain thinking and certain understanding of how people think. You know, I I, I guess, being in Jackson all my life and sort of moving around a center area of the state of Mississippi, I had no clue of how the people in North Mississippi and how the people in the Delta and how the people down on the coast they think they think a lot differently than we do, and so I've confronted that a lot of times.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's one of the big issues, right, that's one of the big issues is that we think this is a monolith and it's not.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's not.
Speaker 3:So we call them the Soto County legislators. Sometimes they have a different way of thinking than the folks in the South and Central Mississippi think. But I try to balance that and really go and talk to them, tell me why you're thinking this, tell me why you feel this way about this subject. And I try to be open that we talk to. I try to be open that we can have these serious conversations and dialogue. I think that's the only way we're going to be able to get can have these serious conversations and dialogue. I think that's the only way we're going to be able to get things done. I mean, one of the things you see at the Capitol you can't get anything done without relationships. That's how this process works. If you don't have the relationships, you can't get divorced, can't get things done. And so I try to have these conversations, let people know where I stand, what I feel strongly about, and people know that. What I feel strongly about, and people know that I mean you know I've got up and discussed very heavily on issues that affect Jackson and I stand real strong. There are some issues, you know I may not be as strong as some of my other counterparts on the Democratic side. But I try to get a feel from some of the Republicans or some of the other folks like, hey, why are you so passionate about this? And so I try to keep the conversation up, because we are children of God and I think we ought to be able to try to find ways. If nobody else can reconcile and talk, it should be people who claim God to be able to have these conversations. And so if we can't have the conversations, we shouldn't expect the world to have these conversations. So I have to be open about that.
Speaker 3:In knowing the scripture, I mean they. You know description is what convicts me. You know there's times when I don't want to hear a certain thing, I don't want to necessarily forgive somebody for certain things. Then I hear the scripture comes and says you got to forgive them. You know seven times seven. You know what I'm saying. Or some other issues that may come out and say you know I got to love my neighbor. You know I can't hate all those things. So I have to make sure that you know, whatever my feelings may be, that day I got to put my feelings aside to know in day I'm here to represent Christ, the things that I say, the things that I do, the way that I walk, people are watching to know that, hey, there's somebody who's really trying to seek to do what's good and do what's right, and I got to be held accountable, you know, to the good Lord at the end of the day, for it.
Speaker 1:I want to just step a little further into the challenge because I mean, for me it's a fascinating conversation. The Christians in political space is just an incredibly fascinating conversation. So, as you, as you know, we talked about one of those challenges, which is that sometimes that there's Christians on on on both sides of a political issue that are holding convictions and saying, man, you know, I just feel like the Lord is calling me, uh, to to hold this line that I'm holding Right, and how do you navigate through that? And we appreciate you sharing, um, some of the ways in which you're navigating through it, which I feel like is healthy, not just for politicians, but I think it's healthy for just regular folks every day to navigate this issue in a way that you just articulated. But could you unpack a few more challenges that you find significant being a Christian in these political spaces and and and what, what, what pulls, what tensions do you experience, um, being a Christian and trying to hold that line and walking in, walking the integrity that God has called you to walk in?
Speaker 3:Sure, like I said, uh, I try to be somebody, like I said, who really, uh, talks to and, um, you know, meets everybody at different places. I know you're you're never going to get anybody who likes you, everybody's never going to like you but I try to be friends with everybody as much as I can. The Bible says, hey, those who want friends, you got to show yourself friendly and so I try to be friendly with everyone. But you do encounter those folks and you quickly see they don't want anything to do with you. But there's always going to be times and occasions where you still can share the love of Christ, even during those difficult seasons. And you know the Bible says, hey, pray for those who persecute you, pray for those who hate you. You know what I'm saying. So all those things come up.
Speaker 3:Even this past week or last week there was one of my colleagues who came to me, who there's been a lot of. You know, there's sometimes a lot of issues that come in on the house side on the floor, and rumors that swirl, and the speaker had to sort of put some rules in place last week. That kind of I'll say this that sort of kind of lays some groundwork for something and some of our colleagues were pretty upset and hurt about that and they're like I don't have anybody I can trust. I don't have anybody. I feel like people are trying to backstab me. And I had to go to that person and say, listen, you can trust me. But if you allow me to, let me be honest with you on certain things. You know, I said there are things the way you behave. You should not behave that way. I said there's a reason why sometimes you get punished or there's a thing like this, because there's a certain level of integrity and way you have to walk and carry yourself and conduct yourself.
Speaker 3:Within this framework. I said I know you don't like it all the time, I don't like it all the time, but we still have to operate within the rules of the um, of where we are. I mean, there are ground rules, there's rules within our house how we do business, and you got to operate within the rooms and so sometimes you got to find ways, ask God to give you ways to um, not necessarily break the rules, but it got to be smart with it. You know I'm saying, uh, you got to be wise, a serpent, but harmless as a dove. You know, uh, a lot of times people like to use you know we race bait.
Speaker 3:Way too often something comes up if somebody doesn't like, they'll start saying, oh well, they're racist, they're this, this. I said, well, you know, and then a lot of times we start calling somebody racist. Usually you just shut down the whole conversation. You decide, you know what, we can't even be friends and we can't even talk. I said find other terminologies to use instead of saying racist. Find other words that you know be less offensive.
Speaker 3:Because, again, you know, proverbs 15, one says a soft answer is, you know, a generous is concerned to turn away. You know, saying some of these things that we have to use, even in our daily lives, to help make an impact on where we are. And so I feel like, while I'm up there, sometimes I feel like it's me being an advisor to certain people. I have a really good feel of people, how they feel, how they think, you know, people feel comfortable coming to talk to me while I'm there, and so I try to use that time to give folks some wise counsel, some good advice on certain issues, certain things, and so, yeah, that's, that's kind of some of the things I use my, my platform for to try to make an impact, you know, while I'm at the Capitol for to try to make an impact.
Speaker 1:You know, while I'm at the Capitol. Yeah, representative, we say all the time at Mission Mississippi that honest conversation is the quickest way to gain ground, but harsh conversation is the quickest way to destroy whatever ground you gain. And there are times in which there are times in which when you, when you throw out that term, right, racist, it is so loaded and it carries so much social weight that that that when you put that term out there, it's going to absolutely shut down the conversation Because it's a, it's a term that, in and of itself, has the power to isolate a person, has a power to ostracize a person. Nobody wants to be around a quote-unquote racist, yeah. And so once you throw that term out there, then you're putting that person in an incredibly difficult position, and so it becomes deeply offensive and easy to shut down dialogue when you toss it out there. And so I appreciate you your willingness to walk so carefully and to help folks navigate out there, and so I appreciate you your willingness to to walk so carefully, um, and to help, to help folks navigate through these types of, uh, very tough situations.
Speaker 1:I mean one of the things that, one of the things that that I hear when I'm talking to you is you just bring an incredible amount of hope um to the future of politics. I'll be honest with you Um, there are times in which I turn on my TV and then I just want to turn it back off. Uh, because there's not a lot of hope that comes um in the, in the, in the political space these days. What? What brings you hope about the, the future? Uh, political engagement in our state is just in general. Are there some things that you can look at in that, that in your space, and find hope?
Speaker 3:Well, I mean, my hope is totally in Jesus Christ. I don't I don't look at it from any person or anything. I know what I'm saying, that I'm all in. Again, I read the scriptures. I mean, if you read a lot of the Old Testament, new Testament, government and political politics is all in it. You know from Daniel, you know being there in government role, from Shadrach, meshach and Abednego. You know all these folks you see in governmental spots, david, these, these men that God put in place have certain things that are there to testimonies to do. You know you have a job to do. He has a call. You have a job to do.
Speaker 3:And so my hope always is hey, god, what do you have me here for? So when I'm saying I hope I don't want to be here, I'm always praying God. Why am I here, you know? Am I here just for a season? Or why am I here just for a certain event or even a person to be connected to? You know I've been blessed that I have great relationships with some of our top leaders on the house side and you know that I've been able to benefit to get some things done here in my district. Fit, to get some things done here in my district and there are certain people who and I know that's the favor of God that allowed me to even get some of that favor sometimes.
Speaker 3:So my hope is strictly in Jesus Christ, that I'm following his direction to tell me which way to go, direct me, what to say at every key point. You know there are some times, you know we have to go and speak certain ways on bills and you know I'll get that. You know that nudge. That morning I feel like God to tell me hey, these are the exact words I want you to say this morning and I'll go and share those words. Somebody came and said man, that was powerful, what did you get there for? I just felt like there was a nudge and Holy Spirit telling me to say this. And so we have to stand up and do things when that time is there. And so that's, that's all my hope.
Speaker 3:And when I first started our conversation earlier I was saying you know, I believe that Christians, I think we need more Christians in politics, but again, I think it needs to be a calling. That way you understand that your hope has to be in Jesus Christ, because if your hope is in, you know certain leaders or certain people, these men and women, they will let you down. People would, people. They will tell you one thing and go do something totally different. And so you have to understand Lord, you're my hope, I get you know.
Speaker 3:I like to say you know, put the word, can't think of it now, but when you realize that God is your source and when I understood that that God is my source is not my father, is not the speaker, is not my father, it's not the speaker, it's not the governor, at the end of the day, when God is your source, you know who your source is. God can make things happen when nobody else can make stuff happen. You know God will put those folks in place. Or have people come to you and say, ronnie, what do you need? You know one of my colleagues right now she's dealing with a situation in Utica where your Utica residents don't have any water right now, and so I'm trying to help her even navigate where to go, to who to deal with, to help get some of these needs met for your district. So I really enjoy sometimes going through the situation, the tough things, because it allows me to help somebody else to go and help them to navigate through some of this same stuff, some of these political challenges dealing with the city or the county or the state. Well, I've been through that, so let me help you on some of this now. And so I love to just kind of do what I can from you know my point to try to help serve and make people's lives better.
Speaker 3:I mean, I think government, in a sense, we're supposed to be there to help solve problems. Government, in a sense, we're supposed to be there to help solve problems. You know we, I see government. You know, pastor Winters, I'm like the church a little bit. You know churches, people pay tithes, you know, and there's a percentage of the tithes that you use to help do a lot of things in the church. From the government's side, people pay taxes and from the taxes, the tax funds that come in are there supposed to be able to help meet the needs of people but also other obligations.
Speaker 3:A lot of times we're not doing it correctly. I remember when I first started working at the church and I got involved in the budget process at the church and I saw pretty quickly I was like man, it's a lot of wasteful spending going on around here. And I got, I got called out and missed it on some things, but you know what it taught me a valuable lesson that the church politics in there and uh, but some of the same things happen at the government. You know it's like man, why are we spending money on this? We could be really helping meeting some real needs, uh, at the state level and in these cities. So, yeah, but it's good, I'm there. You can't wear your feelings on your sleeves. You got to understand. You put your big boy britches on every day and seek to do what's good and seek to follow God and let him handle the rest.
Speaker 2:I like the way you roll the church into that. I'm impressed with your answer to how your faith inform your politics and so forth. And there are difficult times ahead, I'm sure, as we get more into how all things are working out now, not only in the political realm but in the economic arena as well. And so the Christian community, I believe, has the greatest opportunity in my lifetime to be who they say they are and who they confess to be, to stand up and stand firm and go forward in the name of the Lord. That's just my little commentary for some of our discussions.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know. I mean, you know, as Christians believe, the light always shines brightest in the darkest and even in these times of you know, some dark time situations, right now, I think it's a great time for believers to show their light and be the salt of the earth and show a difference. You know, even though people are bullying each other, college, all kind of names all over the spectrum, right now it's time for believers to try to bring folks together and say listen, we're better than this. How can we meet the needs of the people that really care and show a difference in our nation of who we really are? Yes, sir, amen to that, ronnie.
Speaker 1:Let me ask you another question, representative Cruder, as you reflect on again your calling in the political sphere. How does your calling in the work of politics and in your faith, how does it play out in terms of reconciliation and racial healing? Racial healing what are some of the things that you found, or what are some of the ways that you've been able to experience healing across divides through your work in the political space?
Speaker 3:Well interesting the racial healing I would say. I mean there has been some real, just honestly. There's been some times when some of the politics can get in the way of really. You know the hard feelings. You know because, be honest, at the Capitol there are not a black folks who are really in charge of anything and you know, a lot of times there are white gentlemen who are making decisions that affect our community and you're not necessarily brought to the table of, you know, in the decision making process. So it could easily sometimes get you down and weigh you down. So you know, man, I don't want to deal with these white folks and all this kind of stuff. You know, you have these feelings of that sometimes. But then quickly I remember of some of the folks who really support me. But then quickly I remember of some of the folks who really support me. You know, I have a wonderful friend who's supported me wonderfully, financially out of Iowa, he, and who's a white gentleman, another guy, who helped support us in the pool, whatever we've done, and so even when I get frustrated on the political side of things, god brings me back to remember, like you know, again, he's my source. I can't worry about those guys. You know, because you know when we as political leaders we all can ask for resources to come to our communities for certain things, you know some communities get very little and some communities get a whole lot and but again there are certain leaders who are making these decisions and you get frustrated. You're like man, why can't we get this, some of this resource? But then again, when you realize who your source is, god always finds a way to bring the things that you need during those times. So I've never lacked for anything. And so that's when it comes to really my uh, my the, the, the racial reconciliation, that point of you know what. I can't hate that person, uh, hopefully that you know God has showed him. They can see and you know the. The source of knowing who God is will help them to understand and open their eyes Like it's somebody who's really trying to work to help make things better.
Speaker 3:You know I tell folks I'm not. The things that I ask for money for are things that really affect our day-to-day living. You know streets how to pave streets, water. You know making sure I park to save. You know kids are not going to school. Look at all these abandoned buildings all the time. All these things, these are things that I'm really passionate about. But yet, you know, we see resources go to certain places that are just like man. They got streets of gold down there, you know.
Speaker 3:But Again, I come to the point of the realize. God, you know what You're going to make these things happen every time. He always makes it happen. And so that's where I realize. And then most times God use people who don't look like me, who are from the other race, to try to help make make those things happen. So that's where I find my, my reconciliation kind of comes from that, because, you know, I'd say it, there's a lot of times I am very disappointed about that. Things could be better from the people that could make it better. But you know, again, that's why. That's why, quickly, I'm always saying you have to know who's your King, who's your source, who's your Lord and saver, cause if not man, folks, they will let you down all the time. And and you just got to know that. Hey, okay, I mean when I, when I I'll, I'll say this last little point, I'll finish.
Speaker 3:But a couple of years ago there was a big debate, there was a, there was a thing I was working on. So one of the things I've been passionate about since I've been there is kids come out of foster care too, because those kids are the least of these. And so we had a bill that we were working on to try to get free scholarship for kids coming out of foster care. And it was moving through the process, you know, pretty easily. But then it got left on, it kind of got kicked down the rug and it's like, man, what happened?
Speaker 3:I was and I left very upset, you know, and I had to go home and pray. My wife could tell you I was really upset about it, couldn't talk. But then you know, god's like, you know what, I'm going to fix this and I, I, I, I felt the ease from it when God fixed it. Then they found a way to bring it back to life, even when the bill was dead. That you know what we got to do this. We got to take care of these kids and help provide this. So we, we did a thing two years ago called the faith scholarship, and now here's, coming out of foster care, can go to any college in the state of Mississippi, private or public, for free of charge, and so, but again, it's having that faith and hope in God that he's going to make sure those things come through, and I've been a witness to see that over and over again.
Speaker 1:Representative Mann, we're so incredibly grateful for, for your service, not just our the city of Jackson and to our state, but to the kingdom.
Speaker 1:We desperately need politicians like yourself. We need Christians like you in the political space and in the political sphere. So thank you so much. And we haven't even got a chance to touch the work that you're doing with the ARC and the incredible work that the pillar that it is in our community and how it's serving kids all around South Jackson and so so there are so many things that you have your hands in man that just that serve, that serve our cities and serve our, serve our communities but serve our Lord so incredibly well, serve our communities but serve our Lord so incredibly well. So we're so grateful, so thankful.
Speaker 1:Let me let me let me try to see if I could put a bow on this by just asking you this last question If there was one thing from your, from your vantage point as a Christian, a public servant in the political space, in the political sphere, if there was one thing that you felt like Christians could do to step into their communities and make them better, be a part of the solution, what instruction, what encouragement would you give Christian listeners that may be listening to this podcast right now. What help would you give them?
Speaker 3:Pray and do something. You know, a lot of times we pray and we just kind of sit back and wait. I would say pray and do something, Find out something, Even if that's just cleaning up your street. You know, when you start with those small things, it's being faithful. Those few things, God will make you a steward of many and bless you with many. So a lot of the ideas that I've had, things that I've done, just kind of start with those small things.
Speaker 3:There's a and I'll tell you so, in that timeframe when I did not win the seat of the mayor, when I lost that election there were, there was like a year and a half when I was really deeply depressed. Just being totally transparent, my wife and I, you know, we both quit our jobs per se just to try to run for that seat because we felt like God tended to do it. But then it was like, OK, God, now what we're here, you know, not knowing, not necessarily working. You know my wife had to get another job that was sort of out of her purview, myself too, and then just didn't know. And I'll be honest, I heard, I think there was a message that our bishop, Henry Joseph, preached one day at our church and I was going, and he just said you know what? You got to do something. You can't just be sitting down. You got to do something. And you know what? I just started gathering some people to do some prayer walks in my community. We started just going around doing prayer walks and then from there you start seeing, OK, some of these neighborhoods need to be cleaned up. We started doing some cleaning, cleanup days. Then from the cleanup days we start, you know, renovating houses, and for renovating house you start seeing other needs that need to be met.
Speaker 3:And so I would say pray, but, like I said, do something. You know, be the hands and feet of Jesus. You know what I'm saying. But you got to get out of your comfort zone, not just staying there, not staying in it. And once you get out and start doing something, you will see there's a lot more opportunities to be able to serve and to bless. You know, the Bible says the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. He says but pray to the God of the harvest to send the laborers, and but pray to the God of the harvest to send the laborers. And so we need more laborers who are going to be out here, be in the hands and feet of Jesus to do the work, the tough work. It's not always easy, it's going to be hard, but it's worth it. It's worth it. You know, we'll get out, we'll get our crown in glory, so you don't worry about here, but we get to clap crown in glory. So that was the truth. I say pray and do something.
Speaker 1:It's been a pleasure, Representative Crudiff, to have you join us on this episode of Living Reconciled. It's easy to keep up with Representative Crudiff. You can search on Representative Ronnie Crudiff Jr and there'll be plenty of information on Google and, whether it's the House web page, whether it's social media channels, he's easy to find, so we don't even have to ask him. How can we keep up with you? Because if you search Ronnie Crudup Jr online, you're going to find Ronnie Crudup Jr Very easy to keep track of him and all the incredible work that he's doing. Thank you so much, sir, for your service to the kingdom, first and foremost, but also your service to our state, your service to uh, to our communities. We're incredibly grateful for you.
Speaker 2:I want you so much, appreciate it. Yeah Well, I'm praying for you that you'll keep up the good work and, uh, there, as you already know, there are a lot of people praying for you and behind you. So you keep up the good work on that line that you call independent between the DNR, and you're doing good. God bless you Will do.
Speaker 1:It's been a pleasure to have Representative Ronnie Crudup on this episode of Living Reconciled. Please feel free to subscribe. You can go to any podcast app to find us Living Reconciled Mission, mississippi and also feel free to share. Share this episode, but also share the podcast. We have incredible conversations like this all the time and we would love for you to be a part of those conversations as they are happening. But on behalf of my good friend Nettie Winters and Austin Hoyle, who is out on today, I am Brian Crawford signing off saying God bless, god bless. Thanks for joining Living Reconciled. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of the ongoing work of helping Christians learn how to live in the reconciliation that Jesus has already secured, please visit us online at missionmississippiorg or call us at 601-353-6477. Thanks again for listening.
