During the confusion and fear of the COVID-19 shutdowns, something happened in California that revealed far more than a public-health dispute. It became a defining moment for religious liberty in America.
Pastor Che Ahn chose to stand when most people felt pressure to stay silent. While certain businesses were labeled “essential,” churches were not. Congregations were restricted, threatened with massive fines and even jail time, simply for gathering to worship.
Che refused to treat the church as nonessential. He opened his church and challenged the order in court — and ultimately won a landmark 6-3 victory at the U.S. Supreme Court. That moment mattered. Not just for California. For the nation.
I covered that case closely, and later wrote about it, because it was a clear line in the sand: Would government determine when believers could worship God? Or would the Constitution still mean what it says? Che’s courage answered that question.
But my endorsement of him for governor is not based on a single legal victory. It comes from knowing him personally for decades.
I first met Che in the early years of Charisma magazine. Since then, I’ve watched him build a thriving church in Pasadena and lead a global apostolic network reaching tens of thousands of congregations in many nations. I’ve attended his conferences, observed his leadership and seen how he responds under pressure.
The Supreme Court battle was simply a public example of the character he has demonstrated privately for years. He is not a career politician. Frankly, that is part of the point. Che did not set out looking for a political office. He believes he is responding to a calling — and whether someone agrees with that language or not, it explains his motivation. He is willing to risk reputation, comfort and security because he believes California is in crisis and needs moral clarity as much as policy solutions.
California is a state of enormous influence. Its economy rivals that of nations. Its culture shapes media worldwide. What happens there does not stay there. When California moves, America feels it.
Che believes the problems in California are both practical and spiritual. I agree. Policy matters — crime, homelessness, water, energy, taxation — but beneath those debates is a deeper question about values. Laws reflect a worldview. Eventually, every society governs according to what it believes about truth, morality and human nature.
That is why his candidacy is unusual. He speaks openly about faith, prayer and repentance, yet also talks about enforcing existing laws, protecting families and restoring order. Some people will dismiss that combination. I see it as necessary.
I have endorsed political candidates only rarely. I endorsed Mike Huckabee years ago because I knew his character. I endorsed Donald Trump in 2016 after interviewing him because I believed America needed a disruptor to stem the tide of the country lurching more and more to the left.
In each case, the relationship mattered more than the party label. The same is true here. I know Che Ahn. I know his integrity. I know the fires he has walked through. And I know he already proved he will stand when the cost is high. You may or may not live in California. But the direction of that state affects the entire country. At minimum, I urge believers to pray for wisdom, righteousness and courage in leadership at every level.
And if you do live in California, I encourage you to look beyond personalities and headlines. Examine character. Consider conviction. Ask who has already demonstrated the willingness to defend freedom when it was unpopular. That is why I am publicly supporting Che Ahn for governor in the California gubernatorial primary on June 2. Time will tell what voters decide. But moments come when silence is not the right response. For me, this is one of them.
Stephen Strang