Former Missouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler hopes to advance the cause of faith without fear around the world in her new role as a commissioner on the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
“I’m looking forward to speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves around the world, those who are persecuted for their faith,” she says. “And it will be good to reconnect with my former members of Congress as well as members of the administration to try to advance this cause.”Bottom of Form
Hartzler’s appointment comes more than a year after she retired to seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri but lost in the Republican primary to the state’s then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt.
In an extensive 2022 interview with Metro Voice, Hartzler shared her deep faith. She accepted Christ when she was 9, and Jesus has been the Lord of her life since then.
“And I want to do what I can to glorify him and to help others be able to come to know him or live out their faith,” Hartzler said. “This opportunity is a way to live out Hebrews 13:3, which says, ‘Remember those who were imprisoned as if you were their fellow prisoner and those who are mistreated as though you were suffering.’ This is an opportunity to speak out for those who cannot speak out for themselves and hopefully advance the cause of Christianity around the world.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., asked if she would be interested in a two-year term as a commissioner.
“And I prayed about it and looked into it further and felt like this was definitely an opportunity to be able to make a difference for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world and all people of faith,” she said. “Majority Leader Scalise passed along my recommendation to Speaker Mike Johnson, who went ahead and made that appointment. And I feel very honored to have this opportunity, that they thought of me and they’ve entrusted me with this very important mission of speaking up for the persecuted individuals around the world and advancing religious freedom.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice