Fred Thompson made his first public appearance at a church on Sunday–addressing a congregation of over 2,000 at the mega-church Iglesia El Rey Jesus in Miami, Florida. In an attempt to emphasize his conservative credentials and appeal to Hispanic voters, Thompson spoke about such issues as the sanctity of life and his belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

“I grew up in the Church of Christ in my little town in middle Tennessee, and my mother saw to it that I was in church three times a week,” Thompson was quoted as saying. “It was not always my will. And I didn’t always behave as I should have. She would be very pleased to see me here today, but surprised that I’m on this side of the pulpit.”

Although Thompson has stated he’s not a regular churchgoer in the past, his appearance at the service was well-received by the congregants, many of whom applauded his speech and gave him a standing ovation as he left the church.

The senator’s decision to reach out to the Hispanic community comes at a critical time. For Republicans, some predict that a tough immigration policy will alienate a demographic they cannot afford to ignore: Hispanic voters. In the last two elections, their vote proved critical in a victory for Bush. Five of the swing states he carried in 2004 were heavy in Hispanic votes. If the Hispanic electorate now turns to the Democrats in this upcoming election (as many strategists have predicted), it may affect the Republicans’ chance at victory.

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