CLEVELAND -- Mixing politics with preaching -- NewsChannel5 investigator Ron Regan is On Your Side revealing how Ohio pastors are getting off the sidelines and into politics, and why they may be breaking the law.

Regan: You may not have been invited, but the 500 conservative Ohio voters at a luncheon could help elect the next leader of the state you live in.

The Rev. Russell Johnson, Ohio Restoration Project: "There has been a Jihad, a secular Jihad against expression of faith, while some in the church are sitting on the sidelines."

Regan: And getting off the sidelines and into politics is what Pastor Russell Johnson is preaching.

Johnson: "For such a time as this, I was placed upon this earth. "

Regan: It's called the "Ohio Restoration Project" -- based at a church in central Ohio.

Johnson: "We don't want to impose our ideas, we want to propose ideas."

Regan: "Johnson's ideas include banning gay marriage, opposing abortion and tax supported private schools. But how he's doing it, may be breaking the law."

Thirty-one Ohio pastors are asking the IRS to investigate Johnson's group on grounds that luncheons are mixing politics with preaching.

The Rev. Eric Williams, North Congregational Church of Christ: "They crossed the line and they're not acting as a church in my mind. They're acting more like a political organization to elect a single candidate."

Regan: And that candidate appears to be Republican Ken Blackwell.

Sure enough, we found Blackwell at a Restoration Project meeting last month near Canton, where he even received an award.

Johnson: "I want you to join me in thanking a leader of leaders, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. Come forward if you would."

Regan: Officially, the award recognizes Blackwell's 2004 support of Ohio's gay marriage ban.

But "Restoration Ohio" is also recruiting 2,000 "Patriot Pastors," maintaining a 400,000-member mailing list and 1,700 churches across Ohio -- all supporting conservative issues and candidates.

"Are you shilling for Ken Blackwell?"

Johnson: "Let me say this, no, not at all. Now we don't endorse candidates, we do endorse issues and we affirm those who are standing with us."

Regan: On this day, Ken Blackwell was standing front and center.

Blackwell: "You tell those 31 pastors you aren't about to be whipped."

Regan: "Is this group shilling for you?"

Blackwell: "I think this group is actually advocating political participation, and if in fact they have endorsed me, I've missed it."

Regan: The same 31 pastors are also asking the IRS to investigate "another" group.

World Harvest Church is based in suburban Columbus, drawing 5,000 people every Sunday.

It's pastor, the Rev. Rod Parsley, is seen coast-to-coast on TV -- so successful, he can afford a $1 million home.

And he, too, is organizing massive voter registration campaigns but denies the appearance that he's backing only Blackwell.

Rev. Rod Parsley, World Harvest Church: "Why that is, I don't know. Other than the liberal left understands that Ken Blackwell is a courageous and principled leader."

Regan: And so far, he's the only candidate for governor showing up at meetings the IRS could rule are breaking the law.