On September 8, 2015, I drove eight hours to the Rally to Free Kim Davis, the Clerk of Court of Rowan County, Kentucky who has gone to jail rather than sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples. I did it for three reasons. In a 35-year legal career, which included serving as the founding Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a public interest law firm specializing in religious liberty cases, I know when a case has historic implications.

Second, I went to be a visible witness to my Evangelical brethren that many Catholics support Kim Davis. Her willingness to suffer the deprivation of liberty rather than bend the knee to a new Caesar draws me to my knees in prayer.

Third, I wanted to stand with Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. Mat is not only providing an excellent legal defense, he is standing up to media mockery, the fury of anti-Christian zealots and the arrogance of even some fellow Christians.

What I didn’t expect at the rally was to meet a man who drew me in by his warm, sincere presence and an infectious smile. He was kind and down to earth, and before long we were sharing our stories with one another. We shared our mutual admiration for Kim Davis and desire to do all we could for her. We shared our Christian faith and love for our nation. We spoke of our desire to restore the moral foundations of freedom, so we could hand the legacy of liberty on to our children and grandchildren.

That man was Matt Bevin, a Kentucky gubernatorial candidate.

He told me about his wife and children, including their adopted children, and spoke of his business background. I thanked him for leaving a lucrative career to pursue public service. I affirmed his Christian faith and spoke of the need to be morally coherent and not separate our Christian faith from our participation in every segment of society. He agreed and spoke eloquently as an Evangelical to me, a Catholic.

Then, he was called to the stage by the announcer. He inspired the crowd by supporting Kim Davis and exhorting the thousands assembled to trust the Lord and never lose hope. I have no doubt that GOP operatives and pundits thought this was a serious mistake, one that would cost him the election.

I had not thought much about my encounter with that candidate for governor until the evening of November 3, 2015, when I watched the coverage of the election returns. I saw him, with his wife and children. He gave an inspiring and moving acceptance speech consistent with his campaign.

Governor-elect Matt Bevin defied the polls and the pundits by winning an overwhelming victory. Unlike so many politicians, he didn’t waffle and give in to the pressure of conventional wisdom. He ran with moral coherence and was not beholden to the political establishment, which no doubt encouraged him to soft sell a “social issue” like marriage. He ran as a Christian, unafraid to speak of principles derived from his faith. He noted that those principles informed the American experiment. He made his support of Kim Davis and commitment to religious liberty clear.

Upon hearing of Matt Bevin’s victory, Kim Davis told the press, “I am ecstatic. He is such a genuine and caring person. I will be forever thankful that he came to visit me while I was in jail. At a clerks’ meeting he hugged me and said he was praying for me. I am looking forward to his leadership as our new Governor.”

Mat Staver said, “We look forward to working with Governor-elect Matt Bevin to accommodate the religious convictions of Kim Davis and other Kentucky clerks. Finally, we will have common sense and the Constitution prevail in Kentucky.”

As for me, I rejoiced that I met the new Governor of Kentucky at that rally to free Kim Davis. His election gives me great hope for the return of liberty, if its defenders will take notice of what just happened in Kentucky and stiffen their spines for the long road ahead.