Cincinnati Enquirer: “How CCV turns beliefs into bills”
In yesterday's front-page profile, the Cincinnati Enquirer published an article focusing on Center for Christian Virtue (CCV), calling us "the biggest group driving [Christian] influence" on Ohio politics.
But in telling the facts, they told our story.
From a Church Basement to the Statehouse
The article traces CCV’s journey from our beginnings in the basement of a Cincinnati church in 1983 to a headquarters across the street from the Ohio Statehouse today.
The Enquirer hit the bullseye with the headline. Faith doesn't belong on the sidelines.
Christians should faithfully and courageously live out their convictions in the public square, especially when it comes to advocating for policies that reflect the timeless truths of the Gospel.
CCV President Aaron Baer speaking at the “Free to Learn” rally outside the US Supreme Court during the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond oral argument on April 30, 2025.
Under Aaron Baer's leadership, the paper notes that CCV has experienced "explosive growth" to become what they call a "policy powerhouse." But we're not chasing power. We measure ourselves by results.
And our work to strengthen families speaks for itself.
We’ve helped expand educational freedom so every family can choose a school that aligns with their values and needs.
We’ve stood up for children, defending them from irreversible medical harm and protecting fairness in girls’ sports.
We’ve worked to protect unborn life, even when it was unpopular and costly to do so.
As one Ohio senator shared, "They work hard, and they’re relentless. They’re not afraid to take on big battles."
That's not an accident. At CCV, we don't buy influence or demand blind loyalty. Lawmakers don’t work with CCV because they’re pressured. They work with us because we show up, we do the work, and we tell the truth, even when we disagree.
CCV moved our headquarters to Downtown Columbus shortly after Aaron became President, a location that allows us to be the voice of the Church in the halls of our government.
The CCV headquarters on Capitol Square is located at 62 E Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.
And that's why we've been able to lobby on more than 300 bills in the last 10 years and testify on nearly 40 bills just this year.
The truth is, Ohio—and the nation—is at a turning point. Even secular observers admit it. The old assumption that the Church must stay silent in public is fading. Christians are once again shaping the agenda. And that’s exactly why our free speech is under attack.
In recent weeks, activists tried once again to silence CCV, attempting to shut us out of a public forum at The City Club of Cleveland. But their efforts to cancel us failed. The Ohio Attorney General even publicly defended our right to speak.
The bottom line is that when Christians stand firm, the stronghold the left has on our culture and institutions crumbles.
Amplify the Missionwork
While the article acknowledges that most of our influence comes from grassroots support, it doesn't fully capture the truth: none of these victories would be possible without our champions.
As 2025 comes to a close, this is your opportunity to join us in the mission field.
A year-end gift fuels the work the reporters covered and more. There is still much more work ahead than a single investigative profile can capture. The battles will continue. The resistance will too, but so will we.
Rep. Josh Williams, who was quoted in the article, also shared this insight with David Mahan, CCV's Policy Executive Director:
"What this article shows is it’s not donations that make lobbying key. It’s aligning on policy. Sitting down, highlighting the issue, and working toward a direct solution through legislation. That is the secret sauce of CCV. You are proactive and not just defensive. Because you are driven by a calling that is devoid of individual egos or power trips. You simply want good policy."
Each tax-deductible gift fuels the work that makes influence possible: the research, the relationships, the presence, and the persistence to show up every day.
Thank you for standing with us and for making this mission work possible.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.
As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
