 U.S. House of Representatives
Eighth Congressional District, Indiana
In the early nineties, John Hostettler was living in his comfort zone. Married to his high school sweetheart, Beth, John kept himself busy with his job as a performance engineer and with his family. He wasn’t headed toward public service. In fact, prior to his election in 1994, John was never involved in politics, except to vote.
Life Changes…
However, things began to change for John and Beth. As I considered my family and my own mortality, I asked myself, ‘Am I going to make this world a better place as a result of my actions, or am I going to make it a worse place as a result of my inaction?’” “I saw my country changing in ways that distressed me, and I thought, ‘This is what Christ meant when He spoke of being salt and light in Matthew 5,’” said John who received Christ when he was seven years old at an evangelistic meeting. “She [my sister] leaned over and asked me if Jesus came through the roof of the stadium, would I be ready to go with Him to Heaven.”
As John thought about how he could be salt and light, he started learning about culture issues that directly affected him and his family.
A Call to Duty…
“That led Beth and me to the conclusion that we would have to engage the debate much more significantly than we had ever imagined. I felt a sense of duty—even an obligation—to run for office.” John said that Dr. D. James Kennedy powerfully influenced his decision to pursue public office. “He was one of those strong, positive influences in my life,” said John as he described how he routinely listened to Dr. Kennedy’s radio program on his way to and from work. “I heard
Dr. Kennedy’s call for Christians to get involved in changing our culture for the better. His encouragement clinched my decision to run.”
In 1994, John surprised political experts by topping a six-person field in the state primary. He then faced a tough, six-term incumbent and won. “We ran with no idea that we would win,” he says with characteristic humility. Congressman Hostettler is now serving in his fifth term and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Immigration, Border Security and Claims.
John and Beth have been married 21 years. They live in Blairsville, Indiana with their four children, Matthew, Amanda, Jaclyn and Jared.
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