Friends: No prisoner of shyness or doubt, the dependable advice and leadership of Ed Simcox has been a blessing to nearly 50 years of Indiana Christians. And now, he’s written a book, He Leadeth Me. See the column below. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #912

May 7, 2024

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Led by Faith

By Bob Walters

“Do you play golf?” “No, I visit prisons.” – Ed Simcox, from his new book, He Leadeth Me

A few years ago, a friend of mine – a Christian – was serving a federal prison sentence for business fraud complicity, and I had no idea how to encourage him.

Hence, I did the most normal thing I could think of: ask Ed Simcox for advice.

Ed’s advice – as a longtime board member of Prison Fellowship Ministries – was heartfelt, immediate, and simple: write letters to your friend.  Mail “on the inside” is treasured, Ed said.  So, for nearly two years I wrote weekly personal letters to my friend, and sent along a copy of my weekly column until his early parole – thank you, Covid.  Amid few positives of the pandemic, my friend’s early return home was one of them.

“Ed Simcox” is one of those Indiana names that rings a bell with most, let’s say, more mature Hoosiers, even if they can’t quite place specifics or where they heard it.  Ed, an attorney and perennial state Republican Party organizer and leader, was Indiana’s 55^th Secretary of State (elected, not appointed) from 1978-1986.

I know Ed from church, East 91^st Street Christian Church here in Indianapolis, where he has served multiple terms as an elder, elder chairman, fundraiser, Sunday school teacher, and frequent presenter of the church’s weekly communion meditation. Each meditation Ed presents is a master class on the body and blood of Christ.

But that’s local stuff. Ed has served in the big game of state, national, and international Christian issues.  He was a 29-year executive board member of Chuck Colson’s international Prison Fellowship Ministries, the longest serving board member in the organization’s history. I was thankful to lean on his counsel with my friend in trouble.

Ed, given his years of service, understandably affords Prison Fellowship Ministries top billing in the compilation of his life’s work, but there is so much more.  

He was the long-time chair of the annual Indiana Leadership Prayer Breakfast. He also chaired the 1999 Indianapolis Billy Graham Crusade, and was one of only a handful of Hoosiers, along with Vice President and Mrs. Mike Pence, who attended Graham’s North Carolina funeral, March 2, 2018.

Ed is a humble guy with a humbling CV.  Political, Christian, career, and legal entries abound. He was president of the Indiana Energy Association from 1986-2010, has been bestowed by Indiana governors eight – eight! – elite Sagamore of the Wabash citations for various leadership accomplishments. Ed was on Pence’s personal prayer team during his 2016 presidential election and subsequent term as vice president. 

Ed’s just-out book, He Leadeth Me – the title an obvious nod to Psalm 23:3, “He leadeth me beside still waters…” (KJV) – more-or-less chronicles Ed’s enormous leadership talents.  But the book isn’t about that.  It is a loving offering of his gifts for writing deeply perceptive Christian devotionals, meditations, and speeches.

The book is a gold mine of quotes and stories – highly relatable, often famous, and always intriguing – through the Kingdom lens of one of Christ’s front line soldiers.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) is among the E91 communion meditation presenters (so is his wife Pam), but Ed is one of the guys they save for special occasions (Easter, Christmas, etc.), along with Ken Nelson, Rick Justice, and John Samples.  When any of them speak, Walters takes notes.