Uniting faith leaders for national engagement.

The Danbury Institute was formed to gather and equip pastors and faith leaders across the nation around shared convictions in the public square.

From its inception, the objective was not only rapid visibility, but also long-term credibility—building trust across denominational lines and creating an institution capable of sustained national engagement. Alongside a small team, I led the strategic formation and early growth of the Danbury Institute from vision to execution.

Rather than functioning as a traditional advocacy organization, Danbury was intentionally designed as a convener and coalition-builder—bringing together leaders who shared common priorities while often differing in background, geography, and ministry context. The emphasis was placed on unity, conviction without compromise, and influence built through relationships.

Strategic Mandate

The formation of the Danbury Institute centered on several core strategic priorities:

• Establish a broad, convictional coalition of pastors and faith leaders nationwide

• Build trust-first engagement, prioritizing credibility over public posture

• Create repeatable platforms for equipping, convening, and mobilization

• Position Danbury as a respected partner to national leaders, policymakers, and aligned organizations

This approach allowed the Institute to grow with stability, clarity, and institutional confidence.

Strategic Wins & Emphases

Over its formative years, the Danbury Institute achieved several foundational outcomes that continue to shape its national footprint:

• Assembled a national network of pastors and faith leaders representing nearly every U.S. state

• Built and sustained a coalition model capable of aligning diverse leaders around shared priorities

• Helped drive historic Christian engagement in the 2024 election, equipping pastors nationwide to encourage informed civic participation and voter turnout

• Advanced coordinated advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels, connecting pastors with timely legislative engagement and policy education

• Launched trusted national convenings which became primary gathering points for equipping pastors at scale

• Developed closed-door briefings and leadership pathways that emphasized seriousness, productivity, and long-term engagement

• Raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund operations, convenings, and advocacy efforts

• Established Danbury as a credible institutional presence among pastors, church members, state and national policymakers, donors, and partner organizations.

The success of the Institute was measured not merely by speed, but by durability—relationships formed, trust earned, and coalitions sustained.

Role & Contribution

Working alongside the Danbury co-founders, my role focused on institution-building and strategic alignment, including:

• Organizational visioning and strategic positioning

• Coalition architecture and partner engagement

• Narrative development and messaging discipline

• Platform creation for convenings, briefings, and national engagement

• Ongoing advisory leadership during the Institute’s growth phase

This work required balancing theological seriousness and political awareness—essential elements for building a credible national coalition.

Impact

Today, the Danbury Institute stands as a national platform for gathering and equipping faith leaders, demonstrating that durable influence is built through trust, alignment, and disciplined execution. Its formation illustrates how conviction-driven organizations can grow responsibly—uniting diverse leaders around shared goals while maintaining clarity and long-term vision.