Ep. 43 / Faith in the Public Square: The Cardus Institute Story ► Michael Van Pelt

When Michael Van Pelt and his colleague Ray Pennings founded Cardus twenty-five years ago, they had a revolutionary insight: politics follows culture, not the other way around. Starting with just $42,000, this Canadian Christian think-tank has grown into an $8 million organization that's become one of North America's most respected policy voices—all while maintaining an explicitly faith-based perspective in one of the world's most secular societies.

Van Pelt reveals the secret to their unlikely success: being "Christian, credible, and public." Rather than retreating from secular spaces or compromising their beliefs, Cardus researchers bring rigorous scholarship and a posture of hospitality to their work on issues ranging from family policy to medical ethics. This approach has earned them a place at the table in mainstream media and policy circles that traditionally exclude religious voices.

Drawing from both Reformed theology and broader Christian traditions, the organization navigates the delicate balance between prophetic witness and constructive engagement. Their work on controversial topics like Canada's medical assistance in dying legislation exemplifies how biblical principles can provide innovative frameworks for addressing contemporary challenges. As Van Pelt explains, "Even in cultural decline, even in an environment where you're sometimes seeing really troublesome animosity, there's that little yearning that just never can go away."

The conversation explores how Christians should respond to changing cultural landscapes, including the rise of Christian nationalism in the United States and increasing secularization in Canada. Van Pelt suggests that in today's "Daniel in Babylon moment," believers must work respectfully within existing systems while maintaining clear theological foundations. This approach allows space for genuine pluralism without abandoning truth claims.

For those wrestling with how faith can meaningfully engage public life, Van Pelt's journey from 12-year-old political activist to think-tank leader offers a compelling alternative to both religious withdrawal and culture war mentalities. In a time of societal anxiety and purposelessness, he sees unprecedented opportunity for Christian witness—not through imposing belief, but by demonstrating how the gospel brings flourishing to institutions, communities, and individual lives. 

You can learn more about the Cardus Institute through their website, Facebook and Instagram.

And you can share this episode using hashtag #Evangelical360 and join the conversation online! 

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