Pastor Flees Blue State to Build Bible-Based Community in Tennessee
Those who prefer a smaller federal government with less power are also often advocates of states’ rights and the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment. In a nutshell, the Tenth Amendment basically limits the federal government to only exercise its power as specifically noted in The Constitution, and it allows the states to exercise power and create legislation regarding anything that isn’t specifically prohibited in the Constitution, according to The Tenth Amendment Center.
With America’s forefathers designing the Constitution in a way that the states have more power than the federal government, this allows residents of each state to decide what legislation is preferable for them, and also allows residents who are really in disagreement to move to other states that are more suitable for their lifestyle.
Residents of Progressive States are Moving to Conservative States
An interesting trend has been spotted that started in 1990. The policies of the most progressive states seem to have led to a pretty significant population loss. More specifically, a total of 13 million citizens (collectively) of California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts have moved out of these states during the years 1990 -2021, according to an IRS state migration summary. That same summary found that the conservative states of Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, Tennessee, Nevada, and South Carolina experienced a population increase of 13 million collectively during the same time period.
The policies that drove people to leave the more progressive states included issues such as out-of-control state spending and ineffective state implemented programs in areas such as subsidized housing, hindrances to school choices, public schools that have ineffective teaching but welcome WOKE agendas, unaffordable housing, excessive taxes in all areas of taxation, high crime, and increasing levels of homelessness, according to Newsweek.
Looking at state migration through an even narrower lens, from 2022-2023, the states with the fastest growth in their populations were South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Idaho, North Carolina, Tennessee and Utah, according to a U.S. Census Bureau. If these shifts continue into 2030, it will seriously impact the efforts of the democrats to win back the White House because of how electoral votes will shift, according to USA News.
Why a Minnesota Pastor Wants to Leave and Build a Church in Tennessee
A small group of developers are taking the idea of moving to a state that’s compatible with your values to a whole new level. Andrew Isker is participating in that development. He’s originally from Minnesota, and his family has been there for six generations. Isker is also a pastor. The breaking point happened for him when the democrats won the state election in 2022. Tim Walz was the governor, and the Democrat-controlled Congress began implementing liberal policies that were an offense to his Christian values. Most notably, legislation was created that’s friendly to partial-birth abortions, according to WND.
Isker said another bill that became legislation allowed the government to take the children of parents who attempted to stop their minor children from seeking out and obtaining a sex change operation. He was deeply concerned for his autistic son because he says autistic children are “targeted” with this agenda in Minnesota. These were just the first two liberal laws that were passed when the democratic party took control of the Minnesota state government.
As for the churches in Minnesota, Isker said that the general direction of most churches is that they are not only watering down the Gospel, but many are embracing the WOKE agenda. In general, Christians who reject the WOKE agenda and verbalize their disagreement are considered “bigots” or, even worse, “Nazis.”
Starting Over in Tennessee
Isker and other developers want to build a town in Tennessee that will uphold Biblical Christian values. They also want to draw businesses that function with Christian values so that the town can grow and the children of the residents will be able to continue what’s been started if they choose. The name of the company that’s working with them is Ridge Runner. The land that’s been purchased was once a 448-acre farm in Jackson County, Tennessee, according to Religion News.
Isker refers to the efforts of the developers as “a real estate venture to build communities,” according to WND. Ridge Runner is in the process of dividing up parcels and selling them. Some of the buyers are people Isker knows, and some are just from other places around the country and they want to leave their “blue state” and live someplace where they can have land and a community. In addition to building a home, Isker plans to build a church, which he will pastor since he’s an ordained Evangelical pastor.
WATCH: Andrew Isker on the Truth about Revelation, and Leftist States Driving Out Christians
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Tucker Carlson
Originally published April 07, 2025.
