Topeka ? Atty. Gen. Phill Kline took a short break from the campaign trail Sunday to preach at a local church.

Kline opened up to the congregation at Light of the World Christian Center in Topeka about his rocky relationship with his father.

Kline said that his father had walked out on him and his five siblings because of alcoholism.

“When I was 5 years of age, my father abandoned me,” he said.

Kline said he hopes his story will touch others.

“When we open up (about) our own brokeness, people find out parts they identify with in their lives where they’ve met tough times,” he said.

Kline preached for years at churches all over the state, and said he won’t let his bid for re-election curb his passion for the pulpit.

“I don’t change who I am just because I’m in office or running for office,” he said.

Church members said they enjoyed seeing a politician be open about his faith.

“I was really impressed. It’s good to see a politician interested and talking about God,” member Cecelia Morris said.

Atty. Gen. Phill Kline speaks to the congregation at Light of the World Christian Center in Topeka. Kline spoke about his family relations and Christian convictions on Sunday morning.

“This isn’t a political rally,” Pastor Greg Varney reminded churchgoers before introducing the attorney general to the congregation.

Varney, who started Light of the World 21 years ago, said he had been looking forward to Kline’s visit for more than two months.

Varney saw no problem with mixing religion and politics.

On the separation of church and state, “The intent was never to keep the church out of government but (to) keep the government from interfering with the church,” Varney said.

Kline also talked about his own relationship with God and how he was able to eventually forgive his father. Kline has since welcomed his father back into his life.

The attorney general took a moment after his sermon to talk about the upcoming election and his Democratic opponent, Paul Morrison. The Johnson County district attorney switched parties when he announced his candidacy for the Attorney General’s Office.

Kline said the two had clashed on several issues and that he was not surprised at Morrison’s move.

Morris, the church member, was impressed with Kline’s performance on the pulpit but wouldn’t say who will get her vote. However, she thinks Kline has a good shot at re-election.

“I think he has the advantage since he is the incumbent,” she said.

Kline has often spoken in churches across the state. In the summer of 2005, he spoke during an evening event to about 50 people at The Latter House Worship Center in Liberal.

After Kline clapped and sang with the audience members, he spoke in a format that resembled a sermon. He touched on various ideas, quoted Bible verses and talked about attending a Promise Keepers conference in Minnesota. He said that experience made him want to become more passionate about Christianity.

He also criticized the idea of moral relativism and said Christians needed to seek truth through God.