Can America Rebuild in 52 Days?
- gregg34
- 18 hours ago
- 6 min read
MEDIA CONTACT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gregg Wooding,
I AM PR972-567-7660 / gregg@iampronline.com
New Book Challenges Ordinary Americans to Lead with Nehemiah’s Courage
RICHARDSON, Tex. — As Americans increasingly point to a crisis of leadership in government, culture, and the Church, a new book argues the solution may be found in one of the Bible’s most overlooked servant leaders.
In Stepping Up to Lead: Building a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah, (Whitaker House, May 19, currently accepting pre-orders), Bible teacher and ministry leader Bunni Pounds calls Christians to reclaim their influence by following the leadership principles of Nehemiah—the cupbearer God used to rebuild Jerusalem’s broken walls in just 52 days against overwhelming odds. Candace Cameron Bure, actress, producer and CEO of CandyRock Entertainment, writes the book’s foreword.
“Our nation faces a leadership crisis,” said Pounds, founder of the national nonprofit Christians Engaged. “And throughout Scripture, God responds to moments like this by calling ordinary people to step up with extraordinary courage.”
According to Gallup, Americans now rank government dysfunction among the nation’s top problems. Pounds believes the church must not retreat from culture but engage it with biblical conviction and humility.
“Nehemiah wasn’t a king, priest, or prophet—he was a simple cupbearer,” Pounds said. “Yet God used him to unite a divided people, restore moral clarity, and rebuild a nation. His leadership model is exactly what America needs right now.”
Drawing parallels between ancient Israel and modern America, Stepping Up emphasizes that spiritual renewal must precede cultural restoration. Pounds notes that Nehemiah’s success was not achieved alone, but Ezra paved the way, turning the hearts of the people back to God’s Word.
“When God’s presence returned to individual lives and families, self-governance followed,” she said. “That’s the pattern—then and now.”
Like Father, Like Daughter
In one of the book’s most personal sections, Pounds credits her father as her “spiritual Ezra.”
“He gave me spiritual roots and pushed me to love the Word of God,” she said.
As a child, Pounds sat on the front row of Bible seminars her father hosted at their church. She grew up in a community that taught Scripture chronologically—reading it, discussing it, debating it, and memorizing it.
“My dad wrote his sermons on spiral notepads, color-coding key words,” she recalled. “That reckless abandon to pursue God rubbed off on me. I wanted to know God like my father did, so I read and studied like him.”
God Calling Modern-Day Nehemiahs
Throughout the book, Pounds challenges believers to recognize their own spheres of influence—at home, in church, and in the public square.
“God empowers those He calls,” she said. “Great leaders understand they can do nothing apart from Him.”
A former political consultant who spent 16 years in politics and government, Pounds launched Christians Engaged in December 2019 to mobilize believers to pray, vote, and engage biblically in every election. The organization has since reached one million Americans that they serve through election reminders and discipleship tools.
Pounds also shares her personal journey of stepping into leadership, including her 2018 run for Congress—an experience she describes as “a Holy Spirit prompting that both blessed and wrecked my life, in the best way.”
The book also honors modern leaders who have modeled courageous faith in public life, including Rev. James Robison, Dr. James Dobson, Beverly LaHaye, Patricia Heaton, Secretary Scott Turner, and constitutional attorney Kelly Shackelford. The book officially launches May 19, and is currently accepting pre-orders.
America Reads the Bible
This spring, April 18-25, Pounds has galvanized more than 450 Christian leaders to come together for America Reads the Bible, a week-long Bible-reading event to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday at the Museum of the Bible. In the spirit of Ezra, readers from diverse communities will narrate the Bible from Genesis to Revelation – livestreamed to the nation through Great American Pureflix.
“America doesn’t need perfect leaders,” Pounds said. “We need faithful ones—men and women willing to step up, speak truth, and rebuild what’s been broken.”
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About the Author
Bunni Pounds is the founder and president of Christians Engaged and serves as Senior Vice President of Family Policy Alliance and Family Policy Alliance Foundation. She is the author of Jesus and Politics: One Woman’s Walk with God in a Mudslinging Profession and host of the Jesus for America podcast, as well as co-host of Conversations with Christians Engaged.
MEDIA
To arrange your NRB interview with Bunni Pounds, contact:Gregg WoodingI AM PR972-567-7660gregg@iampronline.com
BIOGRAPHY
Bunni Pounds is the Founder and President of Christians Engaged as well as a Senior Vice President for Family Policy Alliance and Family Policy Alliance Foundation – founded by Dr. James Dobson. She is the author of Jesus and Politics: One Woman’s Walk with God in a Mudslinging Profession and the upcoming book releasing in 2026 – Stepping Up to Lead: Rebuilding a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah.
She was a political consultant for 16 years - once leading a firm with 32 clients and 9 people in her office. For years - she worked with Members of Congress running their campaigns. She then ran for Congress herself in 2018 becoming the only woman to make the Republican Runoff Ballot in Texas out of 6 open seats. It was after this race that God called her to start mobilizing the Church.
God has been using her over 20 years of Christian ministry experience and political experience to lead this national ministry today. Now reaching almost a million Christians in their communication system to pray, vote, and engage regularly – they are just getting started as they engage with churches, national ministries and individual leaders around the country. Through their 8 courses like On-Ramp to Civic Engagement, podcasts like Bunni’s Jesus for America and Conversations with Christians Engaged, and their young adult program – 1630, Bunni and her team are discipling believers every day to be leaders for our nation.
A graduate of Christ for the Nations and Dallas Baptist University - above all Bunni loves Jesus and loves sharing the gospel with anyone who will listen - from the halls of Congress to her own hometown.
Bunni has been married to her husband Tim since 1996. They have 2 grown sons, both married and three precious grandchildren.
BOOK SUMMARY
After the Babylonian Exile, Israel was in desperate need of godly leadership. So God raised up the prophet Nehemiah, who effectively mobilized his people to the stunning achievement of rebuilding the broken-down walls of Jerusalem in only fifty-two days.
This is the type of leadership that America needs—and author Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged, believes hearing and understanding Nehemiah’s story can help us rebuild and strengthen our land.
“At all levels of our society and culture, we are faced with issues that seem insurmountable,” she says. “Oftentimes, because of this, we become overwhelmed and ineffective. Nehemiah shows us how we can overcome the obstacles we face.”
Nehemiah’s life was marked by prayer, devotion to God’s Word, humility, wisdom, and service, and the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament offers a rich legacy for us to draw upon and emulate.
In Stepping Up to Lead: Rebuilding a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah, you will:
Discover the timeless principles of effective leadership that Nehemiah used to make a lasting impact
Hear stories of modern-day leaders who are making a difference thanks to the same type of character traits that the prophet exemplified
Learn how God has put you right where He wants you in order to be a leader empowered by the Holy Spirit
Be inspired through a deeper understanding of biblical leadership in our modern world
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have all been called to leadership roles within our spheres of influence. Whether you serve in government, ministry, business, or family, God is calling you to have a vital impact as a disciple-maker. Your leadership is needed right now!
SUGGESTED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Why did you write the new book, Stepping Up to Lead?
Why do you believe the story of Nehemiah is especially relevant for Christians right now?
You describe America as facing a leadership crisis—what does biblical leadership look like in a moment like this?
Nehemiah wasn’t a king or a priest, but a cupbearer. What does that tell everyday believers about God’s call on their lives?
In the book, you emphasize that spiritual renewal must come before cultural restoration. Why is that order so important?
You write that Nehemiah didn’t rebuild alone, but alongside Ezra. Why do spiritual fathers and mothers matter so much in raising up leaders today?
You call your father your “spiritual Ezra.” How did his example shape your faith and your courage to lead?
Many Christians feel discouraged or hesitant to step into leadership. What would you say to someone who feels unqualified or afraid?
You’ve spent years in politics and ministry—what have you learned about relying on God’s power rather than human strength?
What does it practically look like for Christians to ‘step up’ in their homes, churches, and communities right now?
If believers embraced Nehemiah-style leadership today, what do you think could begin to change in the church and the culture?
How can the public keep up with your ministry online and purchase copies of your book, Stepping Up to Lead?
