Just weeks before his son aims to win Iowa’s presidential caucuses with the help of evangelicals, pastor Rafael Cruz, the father of Texas Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore], is out with a book of his own aimed at Christian voters.

The book, “A Time for Action: Empowering the Faithful to Reclaim America,” hit bookshelves Tuesday.

“The only way we can dig out of our political hole is by involving ourselves in civic society and restoring the Judeo-Christian principles that have undergirded America, the driving force behind American exceptionalism,” Rafael Cruz writes.

In the 272-page book, he tells the story of being born in Cuba and fleeing to the United States as a young man. He also writes of raising Ted Cruz, who had an interest in government at a young age.

“Those early years shaped my son’s life as well as mine,” he writes. “We grew keenly aware of how fragile freedom is, even in this great country of ours. As Ted immersed himself in America’s founding documents and the lives of their framers, so did his mother and I.”

At another point, Rafael Cruz writes: “Not many families spend their evening dinners discussing the finer points of this foundational document. But ours did—and my son Ted’s love for it drove him into the legal profession and ultimately to a life of public service.”

A news release from the book publisher notes that Rafael Cruz “made frequent appearances on the campaign trail for his son” in his 2012 Senate race and “is expected to be one of Senator Cruz’s primary surrogates in his presidential bid.”

Ted Cruz himself wrote the epilogue of the book.

“If you agree with my father’s message, that our country is in crisis, that we must change direction now, then join us,” Cruz writes, referencing his presidential campaign. “The only force powerful enough to defeat the Washington cartel is we the people.”

Making a pitch to Christian voters, Ted Cruz writes: “In 2012, 54 million evangelical Christians stayed home…If our nation’s leaders are elected by unbelievers, is it any wonder that they do not reflect our values?”

“I tell you this: we will stay home no longer…if just an additional 10 million evangelicals showed up, the election would be over,” Ted Cruz writes.

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