In California’s agnostic Capitol, a Sacramento man shares the glory of God | Opinion

Jesus can reach us in very unlikely places, even in the corridors of political power in California

It’s not uncommon to find Pastor Frank Erb somewhere in the Capitol Annex Swing Space, giving tours to visiting churches, holding Bible studies, pastoral meetings or just hanging out in lobbies talking to people and making friends.

The Legislature is a relatively agnostic place, but Erb finds plenty of people eager to talk. He has been serving California’s Capitol community since 2008, meeting regularly with lawmakers, Administration officials, staff, lobbyists and anyone else you might find in the area.

“I’m still surprised by the many ways God is at work,” Erb told me on the phone recently. “I have so many conversations with people who want to learn more about God.”

I was one of those people.

It was spring of 2021 and the winter of COVID. I was an assembly staffer Zooming to work from my tiny studio apartment in Long Beach, having moved to the city just weeks before a statewide shutdown order.

I spent way too much time alone, and my main hobbies were reduced to watching local church services online and getting ice cream sandwiches at Gelson’s, the popular gourmet food market in Southern California

I was not a Christian, but COVID loneliness made me Christ curious, and I often found myself in long talks about God with a coworker. One day I accepted his invitation to attend a Bible study hosted by Erb who served the Legislature.

That simple “Yes” changed my life.

Erb doesn’t have any official role with the government. Instead, he is accountable to a few ministries, gets paid through the generosity of individual donors and churches and works out of the basement of the Senator Office Building across from the Capitol.

Months after that Bible study, once I’d moved back to the Sacramento area, I met Erb for coffee in Roseville. As he had given to so many others before me, Erb gave me a pocket version of the Gospel of John and told me it was the greatest biography ever written. As a die-hard skeptic, I was put off by the fantastical claim, but I couldn’t argue against it either. Son of God or not, Jesus was the most influential person who ever lived.

Reading the Gospel of John as a biography made me see the story in a new light. While the story of Jesus does require some faith, it didn’t require as much faith as I would have thought. This man really once lived, as did his disciples. He was really crucified. People at that time really believed he performed miracles, and his followers really believed he was resurrected.

All of a sudden, the story didn’t seem so far-fetched. Soon enough, I accepted Christ as my savior. I thought I lived a moral life, by my standards, but He saved me from my sins, like pride, lust, greed and idolatry, all of which caused a divide between me and God (if that doesn’t make sense, feel free to ask someone or read John, like I did).

I was joined at the Bible study I attended by two friends from the Assembly Republican caucus and two Democrat staffers for one of the more progressive senators. It was a diverse group of people of varying backgrounds and ethnic identities. Erb also holds Bible studies attended by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Focusing on God’s word helps bridge divisiveness.

“What I try to do is teach the world of God and not get caught up with talking about whatever is going on politically,” Erb said. “The most important thing is that everyone has a close relationship with God in order to make good decisions in their life. God is neither Republican nor Democrat.”

In fact, Erb says the hardest part of the job is not political divides, but simply finding time to meet with people who are extremely busy and hardworking.

I, too, found it hard to find the time to meet with him. But like so many others, I saw it was worth it.

I was one of the lucky ones who came to Jesus without any prior church hurt to get past. Erb says many of those he encounters in the Legislature are of that type. In fact, Erb himself was one of those people.

“I encourage people to set aside what they didn’t like and go back to what Jesus said and did and remember He was doing this before any of the churches existed,” Erb said. “It’s very hard for people to do, but that’s what happened to me.”

It’s a tough time for pastors. COVID accelerated burnout caused by several factors, including political divisions within congregations, causing many to consider retirement. Unlike others, however, Erb pastors to an inescapably political environment.

“Our groups are extremely diverse,” Erb said. “It leads to very interesting and rich conversation. I think we could actually help the church learn how to navigate these things.”

This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "In California’s agnostic Capitol, a Sacramento man shares the glory of God | Opinion."