Our state will play a major role in determining who will be elected as our next president.

We can help shape the future of southern and rural Ohio by taking advantage of our unique, strategic position. Just as Gov. Ted Strickland has restored the integrity of our state’s executive branch, Sen. Barack Obama will retool the title of “Mr President.”

Once before in our history our best hope pointed to a one-term Illinois Congressman. Abraham Lincoln was called upon to define what it meant to be an American.

He knew it would be a very difficult task. Our Constitution was dusted off and our country was glued back together.

Now our homes are occupied by way too many uns — the uninformed, the uneducated, the unemployed, and the uninsured. By the very nature of change, mistakes will be made and our leaders must be able to learn and grow with us.

Our collective faith commands us to be stewards of courage and to recognize our own role in that which limits us.