Killeen City Council At-Large candidate Christy Wilbanks joins Pastor Daniel Hayworth on Under God Podcast Episode 297 to share her testimony and lay out why biblical leadership is urgently needed in local government. Christy explains how walking through her son Martin's four-and-a-half-year battle with cancer shaped her faith and prepared her heart to serve. She then breaks down the critical issues facing Killeen: a $200 million forecasted deficit, property tax hikes maxed out without voter approval, a proposed $300 million city building, council meetings scheduled at 3 PM to exclude working residents, and the instability that has left multiple council seats vacant heading into the May 2nd election. This episode gives Christians a clear-eyed view of what's at stake locally — and why staying silent in the public square is not a biblical option.

Pastor Daniel Hayworth of Vintage Church walks through Christy's story to help Christians think biblically about civic engagement. Together they unpack Jesus' teaching on the ekklesia — the church as a public-square assembly, not a private club behind four walls — and confront the widespread lie that faith and politics should never mix. Christy shares candidly about her call to run, her top policy priority (a forensic audit of Killeen's books), and her plan to fight for financial transparency, sensible taxation, and biblical values on the council. This is exactly the kind of local-election conversation every Christian in Central Texas — and every believer wondering how to engage their own community — needs to hear.

What You'll Discover:

✅ How Christy's testimony of family tragedy shaped her calling to serve

✅ Why Killeen's $200 million financial crisis demands a forensic audit

✅ How the current council is silencing working-class taxpayers

✅ The biblical case for Christians running for public office

✅ Why local elections — not just presidential ones — are the true battleground

📖 Scripture Study:

📖 Matthew 5:14-16 – The light of the world cannot be hidden under a basket

📖 Matthew 16:18 – Jesus builds His ekklesia (public-square assembly) in the world

📖 Proverbs 29:2 – "When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan"

Questions this episode answers:

Who is Christy Wilbanks? — Christy Wilbanks is a Killeen City Council At-Large candidate on the May 2nd ballot, a retired holistic practitioner and small business owner who moved to Killeen with her husband, a retired Army tanker, in 2017. She and her family attend Memorial Baptist Church in Killeen, Texas.

What is Killeen's current financial situation? — Killeen is facing a forecasted $200 million deficit, and the city council recently approved a property tax rate at the maximum percentage allowed without triggering voter approval. A $300 million building proposal has also been on the table despite the city's shortfall.

Why should Christians engage in local politics? — Pastor Daniel Hayworth explains from Matthew 16 and Matthew 5 that the church (ekklesia) was always meant to engage the public square, not retreat behind four walls. Local elections shape property taxes, city services, and community values — the daily realities of every Christian family.

When are the Killeen local elections? — Election day is May 2nd, with two weeks of early voting beforehand. A separate runoff election for statewide races follows on May 26th.

What is a forensic audit and why does Killeen need one? — A forensic audit is a detailed examination of financial records that identifies where money was spent, whether transactions were legal, and whether taxpayer funds have been misused. Christy Wilbanks argues Killeen hasn't had one in years and it should be the council's top priority.

Christy Wilbanks Campaign Resources:

🌐 Website: www.christyforkilleen.org

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christy-Wilbanks-for-Killeen-City-Council/61571827694701/

✉️ Email: Christyforkilleen@gmail.com

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🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/under-god-with-pastor-stephen-martin/id1749695148

🌐 Website: https://www.undergodpodcast.com

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