Michele Bachmann Shares a Faith Story at Chapel Session

Far from the political cancor of Washington D.C. and the hectic bustle of the campaign trail, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann paused Wednesday morning to deliver a fiery, faith-based message to students at Northwestern College in Roseville.

Bachmann, who is seeking re-election to Minnesota's Sixth Congressional district, exhorted some 300 students,who packed Nazareth Hall for a morning chapel, to seek God's will for their lives. Bachmann was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, making her the first Republican woman from Minnesota to get elected to the House. 

More recently, Bachmann hit the national spotlight as an initial but unsuccessful contender for the 2012 Republican nomination for President. A high-profile conservative, Bachman was named by Time magazine to its 2011 list of the world's 100 most influential people. 

But on Wednesday morning, Bachmann had come to talk about other things at the private Christian college.

"This is not a political message but a message on pouring your life out to the Lord," Bachmann, a devout Christian, told the students.

With the deft skill of an old-time preacher, Bachmann told of how "coming to the Lord" as a teen-ager radically changed her life, eventually putting herself on the path of becoming mother to five of her own biological children and serving as a foster parent to 23 kids.

Bachmann's chapel message was partly based on a passage from New Testament story of Mary, who broke a valuable alabaster container filled with a priceless fragrance, nard, and poured  it on the head and feet of Jesus. Bachmann said the story symbolized how Mary had poured out her entire life to Christ. 

Bachmann said that Bible story is among many that have deeply affected her life, helping her persevere through personal trials, such as the divorce of her parents when she was a kid, a split that left her family in poverty.

While not talking about campaign issues, Bachmann alluded to politics, indicating her faith has helped her to stand up in Congress for her beliefs. She said too often in Washington, elected leaders only want to play things safe. "I love cats. I love dogs," she said.

Afterwards, students like Isaac Schultz, a member of Northwestern's student senate, said they were impressed with Bachmann's message.

"It (Bachmann's message) was hitting hearts and it was a very convicting message," said Schultz, also a member of Northwestern College Republicans.