Religion Remains Very Important to Obama

MOMENTS, HIS FORMER SPIRITUAL ADVISOR. IN THE MIDST OF A BRUISING 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, A YOUNG STAFFER WAS QUIETLY PRAYING FOR HIS CANDIDATE AND DECIDED TO LET HIM KNOW. >> I WAS THINKING I WONDER WHO'S LOOKING AFTER HIS SOUL, HIS SPIRIT. SO SHOT HIM AN E-MAIL, WASN'T SURE WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE I WAS GOING TO GET, IF I WAS GOING TO GET FIRED OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I SENT THIS NOTE. IN A FEW MINUTES HE WROTE BACK AND SAID THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. >> Reporter: THAT MESSAGE WAS A SHORT MEDITATION ON THE 23rd PSALM. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT. THAT STARTED A DAILY TRADITION FOR JOSHUA AND BARACK OBAMA. ABOUT 2,000 DEVOTIONS LATER, THE E-MAILS ARE PART OF HOW THE PRESIDENT QUIETLY PRACTICES HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH. DUBOIS JOINED THE ADMINISTRATION HELPING TO SHAPE POLICY AND ACTING AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN FAITH LEADERS AND PRESIDENT OBAMA. >> PRESIDENT OBAMA IS NOT SOMEBODY WHO WEARS HIS SPIRITUALITY ON HIS SLEEVE. HOW IMPORTANT IS RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY AND JESUS CHRIST TO PRESIDENT OBAMA? >> YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I FOR ONE WOULD RATHER HAVE A LEADER WHO LIVES OUT A SERMON THAN PREACHES ONE. >> HE HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR NOT PICKING A CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> WE RECOGNIZED VERY EARLY ON THAT WHEN YOU BRING THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF THE PRESIDENCY, ALL THE SECRET SERVICE AND ALL THE LINES AND BARRICADES AND SO FORTH THE A LOCAL CONGREGATION, THERE'S A LOT OF BURDENS THERE. SO INSTEAD OF PICKING ONE CONGREGATION, HE'S DECIDED TO VISIT SEVERAL. >> WITH POLITICS, POLICY AND WAR, THE BUSINESS OF BEING THE PRESIDENT CAN BE ALL TOGETHER UNHOLY. >> HOW DO YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO IS SO ATTUNED TO THE PRESIDENT'S SPIRITUAL NEEDS RECONCILE THE JOB WHICH IS BORN OUT OF TOUGH, UNHEAVENLY DECISIONS, AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? >> AS LONG AS, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL THAT WITHIN YOUR OWN SOUL THAT THE MOVES THAT YOU'RE MAKING ARE RIGHT WITH GOD AND RIGHT WITH YOURSELF, THEN THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN ASK FOR. SO MY JOB WAS TO HELP PUSH HIM TOWARDS THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WHERE THEY COULD HAVE THEIR OWN CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WAS RIGHT AND HE MAKES THE BEST DECISIONS THAT HE CAN. >> HIS JOB APPROVAL RATINGS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST POINTS IN SOME POLLS. THE PRESIDENT IS IN A TOUGH TIME NOW. DURING PAST PERIODS OF DOUBT AND DIFFICULTY, DUBOIS SENT A GO-TO DEVOTIONAL ABOUT BOUNCING BACK. HE QUOTES 2nd CORINTHIANS, WE ARE HARD PRESSED ON EVER SIDE BUT NOT CRUSHED, PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR, AND HE COMBINED IT WITH A STORY ABOUT LEGENDARY BOXER JOE LEWIS, REFUSING TO TAKE A QUICK REST ON THE MAT AFTER BEING KNOCKED DOWN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT HIS OPPONENT TO GET ANY REST EITHER. >> JOSHUA HAS BEEN AT MY SIDE IN WORK AND IN PRAYER FOR YEARS NOW, DESPITE MY PLEAS TOMORROW WILL BE HIS LAST DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> EARLIER THIS YEAR, DUBOIS LEFT HIS ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION. >> RIGHT AFTER THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST HE GAVE ME A