Christian Media Leaders Gather on Capitol Hill to Strengthen the National Voice of Faith

The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) gathered September 10–12 in Washington, D.C., for the annual Capitol Hill Media Summit, convening members of NRB’s President’s Council with leading lawmakers, administration officials, and cultural voices. Across three days of fellowship and briefings from voices including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, White House Faith Office Director Jennifer Korn, and Sen. Ted Cruz, NRB demonstrated its unique and essential role as the voice of Christian communicators in the nation’s capital. 

The Summit began Wednesday evening with a reception and dinner overlooking the Capitol skyline. Allen Power, president of broadcast media at Salem Media Group, opened the gathering with prayer, offering a time to reflect and grieve following the tragic passing of broadcaster Charlie Kirk earlier that day. Power oversaw Kirk’s nationally syndicated Salem Radio program.  

Amid deep sorrow, all present were able to process the loss together and to anchor themselves in prayer, Scripture, and fellowship—bearing witness to the power of Christian media not only to inform the nation but also to carry one another through grief. 

That evening, Michael Farris, general counsel of NRB, delivered keynote remarks on the erosion of faith in public life and the legal challenges facing Christian communicators. Drawing from William Jennings Bryan’s predictions during the Scopes trial 100 years ago, Farris argued that those warnings have come true in today’s culture. He noted the erosion of Christian faith among young people, the loss of moral standards, and the use of Darwinism to justify eugenics. 

“What happens when you remove the knowledge of God in his creation?” Farris asked. “Well, you do not achieve neutrality. You end up hating both people and ideas that were previously loved.” 

He concluded by pointing to recent legal victories as a “glimmer of light” for religious freedom and free speech. 

On Thursday morning, the group convened at the Royal Sonesta on Capitol Hill to hear from Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas), who shared his personal testimony of faith, recalling how his life was transformed after receiving Christ at age 20. Now serving on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Weber highlighted the importance of preserving AM radio, particularly for rural communities and emergency alerts. 

“We brought Christianity back,” Weber said. “We brought the Lord with us. Our country has never seen it like this. What y’all do is extremely important.” 

In a fireside chat with NRB Vice President of Public Policy, Nic Anderson and FCC Chairman, Brendan Carr, discussed how America has a deep and growing need for more uplifting, faith-based content, viewing it not just as a cultural necessity but also as a “massive business opportunity” that resonates with the American people. 

Carr has personally acted on behalf of Christian communicators, raising concerns directly with Big Tech organizations.  

“The most fundamental north star of my media policy is how do we constrain the power of those legacy national program[mers]… and empower independent broadcasters so that they feel like they have the freedom to be able to actually respond to the needs of their local communities,” Carr said. 

Carr also detailed several key regulatory priorities aimed at supporting broadcasters and bridging the digital divide. He is a staunch supporter of the AM for Every Vehicle Act, calling it “incredibly important and vital for local communities,” and his team is actively exploring additional regulatory relief to revitalize the AM band. His “Build America Agenda” aims to deliver high-speed internet to rural areas by releasing more spectrum, reforming rules to encourage new fiber builds, and boosting the US space economy. 

He encouraged the Christian media professionals to view his agency as a key ally. 

“We have your back,” Carr said. “We want you to succeed.” 

At Thursday’s lunch, Joel C. Rosenberg, founder of All Israel News and the Joshua Fund, provided a sobering analysis of Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas and its regional implications. He described Israelis as “exhausted by this war.” Rosenberg also highlighted the fragile political coalition in Israel and the humanitarian crisis facing Christians in Syria. 

“One of the reasons young evangelicals are bailing on Israel is because too many pro-Israel Christian leaders do not have a sense of compassion … on those who are suffering,” Rosenberg said to the group. “Bless you guys for setting a higher, more well-rounded, biblical standard for this.” 

Later in the day, participants moved to the White House Eisenhower Executive Office Building for a series of briefings with senior officials. James Loyd, Vice President and Deputy Director of Policy, described the administration’s commitment to faith communities, recounting a recent visit by the Vice President to comfort families at a Minneapolis church. He called Christian communicators “critical infrastructure” in keeping America strong. 

“The role you all play is building the civic ethos here and helping people through their own struggles, their own journeys in life, and their own faith,” Loyd said. “We need you all now more than ever.” 

Brittany Baldwin, a member of the White House Task Force for America’s 250th anniversary, outlined initiatives leading up to the nation’s semi-quincentennial celebration, including the America Prays campaign launched by the President that same week. 

“What if we had 1 million Americans praying for our country every week between now and next July 4th?” she posited. “Now the real work begins, which is actually activating people, inspiring them, and informing them about this so that we can make the most of it.” 

In her first public remarks since the day’s earlier tragedy, Jennifer Korn, Director of the White House Office of Faith Engagement, spoke with visible emotion. Calling Kirk’s death a “very sad day,” she acknowledged the weight of the moment before describing her office’s mission. 

“We are not the pastor of the United States and we’re not the theological office of the United States,” Korn said. “We are the office that allows people of faith to have a voice in your government.” 

She highlighted the administration’s efforts to address discrimination, including a recent report uncovering nearly 200 cases of anti-Christian bias at the State Department, and affirmed the importance of embedding religious protections so deeply that they cannot be easily unraveled.  

Meghan Bauer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Scheduling, also reflected on the personal loss, sharing that she had counted Kirk as a friend. Bauer described her role in managing the President’s demanding schedule, from calls with world leaders to uplifting events like a recent visit to the Museum of the Bible and reflected on how recent events have deepened his public expression of faith. 

“What we can do is to get up every day and make a difference,” Bauer said. “You are all speaking the truth and getting the truth out there, getting the strong, powerful message to the world of Jesus Christ.” 

Brette Powell, Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, had her own reflections, underscoring that policy is never abstract. 

“Policy is people, and people are policy,” she said. “You now have the burden, the responsibility to take this back to your community.” 

That evening, NRB members gathered at the Capitol Hill Club for a time of worship before hearing from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz emphasized the God-given origin of rights and warned of the danger of viewing them as granted by government. 

“If government gives you the rights, government can take them away,” Cruz said. “Slavery was wrong the day the declaration was signed. It was wrong every day before. And every day since.” 

Pointing to his legislative record, Cruz celebrated the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which passed through the Senate Commerce Committee with over 60 co-sponsors, and a new school choice provision he authored that allows taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for contributions to scholarship organizations. 

“It’s my job to have your back,” Cruz said, “my job to fight for you, the fight for religious liberty, which has been a passion my entire life.” 

On Friday, NRB leaders gave policy updates and advocacy briefings. Michael Farris explained the association’s ongoing legal challenge to the Johnson Amendment, highlighting the role of pastors in speaking to every sphere of life as they guide their churches. 

“Everything you do in life, God has something to say about it,” Farris said. “And so, if you’re going to teach the whole counsel of the word of God, you teach everything.” 

Troy A. Miller, NRB president & CEO, followed by reminding members of the distinct role Christian communicators play in Washington. 

“The left doesn’t hate conservatism. They hate Christian conservatism,” Miller said. “It’s the bedrock of Christianity that makes the difference.” 

Nic Anderson provided the latest on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, warning of its significance beyond AM alone. 

“This is a radio issue,” Anderson said. “We have to keep AM in there to protect FM. If they win and take AM out, FM is next.” 

The Summit concluded with a special dedication of NRB’s new Washington office. Local guests and friends of the association joined members to tour the space and connect with partners in the work. Pastor James E. Ward led a moving prayer of dedication, asking God to bless the office as a place where truth would be proclaimed and Christian communicators strengthened for their calling. The gathering ended with a ribbon cutting ceremony alongside members of NRB’s board of directors, marking a new chapter for the association’s enduring presence in the nation’s capital. 

From candid conversations at the White House to prayer and worship on Capitol Hill, the 2025 Capitol Hill Media Summit was marked by both grief and resolve. At a moment when the Christian media world was shaken by the loss of Charlie Kirk, NRB members came together in the nation’s capital to pray, to reflect, and to be strengthened in their mission to defend freedom, amplify truth, and carry the hope of Christ into every sphere of public life.