An Open Letter to California’s Current & Future Governor

By Shane Idleman Published on January 31, 2025

Californians will elect their next governor in 2026, and the stakes have never been higher. The need to address critical issues confronting this great state is urgent. Having been born and raised here, and now serving as a pastor in northern Los Angeles County, I have witnessed the slow deterioration up close.

But there is hope.

Many do not know that the preamble to California’s Constitution states: “We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution.”

From the early days of the Spanish missions to the Billy Graham Crusades in Los Angeles in the 1950s to the Calvary Chapel movement of the 1970s, God’s hand has clearly been on California for a long time. Unsurprisingly, it has the fifth-largest economy in the world and global influence. God has truly perpetuated California’s blessings.

But over the decades, under the banner of “progressivism,” we have strayed away from the foundation noted in our preamble — reliance on God. Ronald Reagan said: “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” This applies to California as well. Once a place of hope, California is now the place where dreams die.

Exiting California

Although many factors play into a person’s decision to move out of state, such as the way our leaders approached the lockdowns during the COVID pandemic, or the increasing loss of freedom, cost of living, and regulations on corporations and business owners, my focus here is on one of our biggest concerns — illegal immigration.

California is a state of thankful immigrants. Most came here to better themselves and to contribute to society. But now things have shifted BIG time.

To properly handle immigration, it must be a legal process. Second, we must prioritize citizens and citizenship — because if everything is a priority, then nothing is.

When an airplane loses cabin pressure, parents put on their own oxygen masks first so they can then assist their children. This isn’t selfishness; it’s wisdom. In the same way, the governor must put the safety of his people above those seeking to come in from outside. We are about to pay a heavy cost given the fact that many convicted murderers are here illegally, and Gavin Newsom and California Democrats recently reached a $50 million deal to Trump-proof the state, particularly concerning his plans to crack down on illegal immigration via mass deportations of the worst criminal offenders. Yes, you read that correctly. Confused? So am I.

It Makes No Sense

I have a hard time understanding why many are silent on this issue — unless it’s to attract more voters to California. Just recently, California would not allow polling locations to require people to show IDs in order to vote. Please tell me how this makes sense.

Do we want power and control so much that we will literally sacrifice the lives and security of our citizens for it? God help us!

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I’m not naïve; I know that all ideas have flaws, but we need to begin the conversation and get the ball rolling. Our motto must be: Compassion Meets Concern. We must show compassion, but also fervently guard our citizens — which is actually the proper role of government. Here are some ways we might begin to do that:

Secure the border and severely curtail crossings while increasing security.
Use a lie detector or other technology to gauge the intent and motives of those without any criminal convictions. (I know this isn’t bulletproof, but it adds another layer of accountability.)
Determine whether a “family” seeking to enter our country truly needs assistance, or if some of them might pose a security threat.
Develop programs to help all immigrants learn English within two years.
Ensure that they have a plan for seeking employment; end free handouts.
Streamline the citizenship process, such as by issuing a temporary “pass” while the details of the person’s application are investigated.

Adding measures like these would show compassion for those seeking to enter our country legally, and also ease immigrants’ fear of deportation.

However, it is nearly impossible to vet most of those who cross our borders illegally. This invasion will not stop until we remove the incentives to come here, such as government handouts of free money, food, and medical care. We need a defensible border and courts that actually enforce the laws. I’m well aware of the challenges, but we’ll miss 100% of the shots we don’t take.

The Greatest Threat

Although securing our borders and communities is essential, it pales in comparison to securing our relationship with God. We walked away from our state’s foundational preamble, mocked God’s Word, and scoffed at His principles — and now, we are reaping the whirlwind. We must return to Him: “Return to Me, and I will return to you” (Malachi 3:7).

As America’s Founders did in their time of crisis, it’s time to call for a season of prayer, fasting, and repentance. At this stage in the game, this is the best way to divert disaster.

There still is hope for California.

Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network. His program, Regaining Lost Ground, points us back to God and reminds us that although times change, truth does not. His books, blogs, and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com.