What Is HillFaith’s Mission And Purpose?

 Frequently Asked Questions About HillFaith

 

Why HillFaith?

HillFaith is a fellowship ministry. Our mission field IS Capitol Hill reaching staffers in every congressional office, both House and Senate, all parties, independents, bicameral and nonpartisan.

HillFaith is committed to following our Lord's call in the Great Commission by encouragING and equipING disciples of Jesus Christ, through acts with grace, for engagING with fellow congressional staffers.

HillFaith ambassadors, deeply rooted in FAITH, WORK every day to define and advance national priorities, form public policy and frame opinion,  creating legislation impacting the quality of LIFE in America and PEACE throughout the world.

HillFaith has Four Purposes:

First and foremost, HillFaith, as an apologetics ministry, seeks to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a fact-driven, logical and non-judgmental way with the more than 12,000 mostly young men and women who work behind the scenes shaping America's laws as tremendously influential congressional aides to senators, representatives, committees and agencies.

Second, HillFaith seeks to restore among Capitol Hill aides relevant knowledge about and appreciation for the commanding role of the Christian faith for most members of America's founding generation, as seen in legions of private letters, public documents, sermons, lectures and speeches. This means America's founding was deeply shaped and informed by Christian principles, among others. HillFaith does NOT endorse "Christian Nationalism." 

Third, HillFaith seeks to provide news, information and advocacy on behalf of Capitol Hill aides regarding issues like compensation, working conditions and promotions. Go here for more information on this point.

Finally, HillFaith is a source of professional and spiritual mentoring to help in dealing with the daily demands of congressional work and developing greater understand of how the Gospel can profoundly improve every person’s personal life and professional career.

How does HillFaith fulfill its purposes?

Content that appears on the HillFaith web site is intended to illustrate how the saving, personal relationship with Jesus Christ transforms hearts, minds, cultures and nations, to answer objections of critics of Christianity, and to document the crucial role of the Christian faith in America's founding generation.

"For Hill Aides Only" (FHAO) is HillFaith's weekly apologetical discipleship study for Senate and House aides. The FHAO study meets every Monday at 12:30 pm at the Faith & Liberty Ministry Center, 109 2nd Street NE, the townhouse with the 10 Commandments in stone on the front yard and located right behind the U.S. Supreme Court building. Lunch is provided at no cost. For more information, email: mark.tapscott@hillfaith.org

HillFaith also offers the "Christian Apologetics and Public Life" seminar series on the Hill, as well as apologetical and disciple-making courses, including J. Warner Wallace's “God’s Crime Scene” and his "Person of Interest," as well as Dr. Frank Turek's “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist” and the Discovery Institute's "Secrets of the Cell." These courses typically meet weekly or bi-weekly for 6-8 45-minute sessions. For more information on scheduling and room numbers, please email: mark.tapscott@hillfaith.org.

Coverage of issues and developments concerning Hill staff employment appears regularly on hillfaith.org, mainly via "HILL STAFF NEWS: New Hires, Job Promotions, Open Positions, Great Opportunities," and "HILL STAFF VIEWS."

Mentoring is provided via Mark’s “Office Hours” scheduling. Keep an eye on the "Office Hours" box in the right-hand sidebar of the homepage for scheduling information and directions.

Who is “behind” HillFaith?

God called Mark Tapscott to form the ministry in 2018, and, despite serious obstacles, including the Covid lockdown in 2020-22, has since steadily matured in its capabilities and resources, and its capacity for serving people on Capitol Hill.

Mark has been an award-winning investigative news reporter and editor since 1985. Before then, he was a Reagan administration political appointee from 1981 to 1985, and he worked as a Press Secretary and Chief of Staff for two House members (Bauman of Maryland and Collins of Texas) and as Communications Director for Sen. Orrin Hatch 1978 to 1980. Congress has been a major focus of Mark’s life and careers for many decades. Go here for more of Mark’s personal story.

Is HillFaith partisan?

No, HillFaith is rigorously non-partisan, witnessing to and seeking to serve congressional aides without regard to their employers’ partisan identification or personal leanings. Jesus is neither Democrat, nor Republican, and His life-changing Grace and Salvation are available to every person who repents of his or her sin and asks Him to be their Lord and Savior for eternity.

Is HillFaith associated with a non-profit foundation?

Yes, HillFaith is a project of the 52-Week Ministry, Inc., an Eldersburg, Maryland-based, federally tax-exempt 501(C)(3). Mark is President and Chief-Executive Officer (CEO) of the foundation, while Thom McKee, a successful Washington region commercial real estate developer, is Chairman.

Mark Massey, Senior Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church (FBC) in Sykesville, Maryland, is Vice-Chairman and Mark Klimovitz, FBC's Associate Pastor for Education, is the Treasurer.

Bret Bernhardt, retired long-time Chief of Staff to two U.S. Senators (Nickles of Oklahoma and DeMint of South Carolina) and a founder of the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI), and Cynthia Canevaro, retired former Vice-President Public Affairs of Houston-based McNair Interests, are members of the board.

Also serving as members of the board are Paul Smith, a principal in the Houston-based Mobius investment firm, and Richard Baker, a career Maryland court reporter who is the (non-voting) board secretary.

Past board members have included Washington attorney Cleta Mitchell and Houston philanthropist Jan Duncan.

Are contributions to HillFaith tax-deductible?

Yes. And devoutly appreciated.

What is “Apologetics?”

The word comes from the Greek, apologia, as used in II Peter 3:15 where the Apostle instructs followers of Jesus to “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

Why so many videos on HillFaith?

There has been a veritable explosion of Christian apologetics research, advocacy and communication in recent decades that answers all of the major critical objections to the claims of Jesus Christ to be God Incarnate, who was crucified dead, buried and resurrected three days later, as well as to the historical reliability and credibility of the Bible.

HillFaith relies extensively on the thoroughly researched and verified work of the most respected Christian apologists, including J. Warner Wallace of Cold-Case Christianity and NBC’s “Dateline,” Dr. Frank Turek of cross-examined.org, Dr. Sean McDowell of Biola University and son of Josh McDowell, Philosopher William Lane Craig of reasonablefaith.org, Dr. Gary Habemas of Liberty University, Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe, and, concerning Intelligent Design issues, the Discovery Institute, and others.

Much of the work of these great apologists is best expressed in the videos they produce, typically between one and 10 minutes in length, which provide a handy, easily consumed and recalled format for conveying the truth about Jesus, the Bible and the Intelligent Design of the universe.

Is HillFaith connected with the Family Research Center (FRC)?

No, there is no legal connection between HillFaith, the 52-Week Ministry, Inc. and FRC. Mark covers Congress as Senior Congressional Analyst for FRC's The Washington Stand. His continued journalism work represents Mark's “tent-making job” that enables him to pursue the development of HillFaith ministry on his own time.

Is HillFaith connected with Faith & Law or other existing Capitol Hill ministries?

No, but Mark has been a regular participant in Faith & Law activities and works with other ministries on activities and shared concerns on Capitol Hill. HillFaith is unique in being the sole apologetics-based ministry focusing entirely on the mostly young men and women working in Congress and on Capitol Hill as congressional aides.

If I want to support HillFaith, how do I do that?

First and most important, pray for the ministry and for Mark. Capitol Hill is not always a welcoming environment for Christian advocacy, and every ministry must deal with a variety of misconceptions, falsehoods and prejudices that make sharing the Gospel a difficult challenge under the best of circumstances.

Second, if you desire to support HillFaith financially, you can do so by check made out to 52-Week Ministry, Inc. and mailed to 1213-J Liberty Road, Suite 235, Eldersburg, Maryland, 21784. Or you can do so via PayPal or Venmo. The foundation’s EIN is: 82-5196912. All contributions are tax-deductible under federal law.

What is the HillFaith “Free Books Offer?”

Two books are offered on request and at no cost to anybody interested in learning more about the solid evidence for the existence of God, as understood in the Bible, as well as for the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ after His death on the cross.

“More Than A Carpenter” is the latest updated edition of the book originally researched and written by Josh McDowell that in many ways launched modern Christian apologetics.

“The Case for Christ” is a comprehensive presentation of evidence compiled by former Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Lee Strobel documenting the truths of the Christian faith and the Bible as the Word of God.