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By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged

When Jimmy Carter was inaugurated as America’s 39th president in January 1977, Amy Carter, his only daughter, was a 9-year-old elementary school student.

So, coincidentally, was I.

As a third grader, I wrote my first letter to the White House, congratulating Carter on winning the election but pledging my allegiance to Gerald Ford. I had supported Ford in mock voting at my school.

What did I like about Ford? All these years later, I don’t recall.

I received a response from the White House, which I was sure Carter signed himself, thanking me for my interest in the nation’s affairs. You can bet I supported Carter when he faced Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election.

Not until decades later, after I became a religion journalist and reported on Carter’s friction with the Southern Baptist Convention, did I become familiar with the former president’s strong faith and its role in his life.

At Thursday’s two-hour state funeral for Carter — who died Dec. 29 at age 100 — speaker after speaker referenced the humble Georgia peanut farmer’s commitment to God.

Here are seven faith-related takeaways from the service at the Washington National Cathedral:

Read the full column.

This column appears in the online magazine Religion Unplugged.

Photo courtesy of the Jimmy Carter Library