Gathering at a critical juncture for religious liberty and free expression, members of the NRB President’s Council convened in the nation’s capital for the annual Capitol Hill Media Summit.
By bringing Christian communicators face-to-face with policymakers at the highest levels of government, the Summit encouraged attendees in their mission while highlighting the role NRB plays in defending First Amendment rights and clearing the path for faith-driven ministry across the globe.
The Summit opened on Wednesday evening at the historic Willard InterContinental, where NRB presented its 2026 First Freedoms Award to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.
In accepting the award, Speaker Johnson reflected on his 30-year career as a constitutional attorney and lawmaker and emphasized the crucial role of Christian broadcasting.
Speaker Mike Johnson addresses NRB President’s Council members.
“I just want to thank the Patriots in the room for doing what you do and consistently putting out the Eternal Truth on the airwaves when there’s so much misinformation,” Speaker Johnson said. “My prayer for all of you is that God would expand your platform wider than it’s ever been because more and more people need to hear.”
NRB leadership prays over Speaker Johnson at the NRB Capitol Hill Media Summit.
Thursday began with an opening address by Senator James Lankford (R- Okla.), who shared key insights into federal legislative priorities and the ongoing defense of religious liberty on Capitol Hill.
Sen. James Lankford (R- Okla.) at the NRB Capitol Hill Media Summit.
“Don’t assume Washington, D.C. is going to fix the cultural problems,” Senator Lankford said. “It is still the church. It is still the Gospel. … And so, what you’re doing and the messages that you’re putting down does have the greatest impact on culture. It’s not some speech on C-SPAN. … Each family, each community, has an impact on who’s around it. This is still We the People.”
Allen Power of Salem Media Group reminded attendees that true communication power comes from the Gospel alone. Power also received recognition from NRB for his 50 years of outstanding service to the Gospel.
Allen Power and his wife Susan Power.
“We shouldn’t be more impressed with the size of our platform than we are with the message that the platform is carrying,” Powers said.
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty addressed members on modernizing broadcast regulations while preserving localism, viewpoint diversity, and first-amendment protections.
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty at the NRB Capitol Hill Media Summit.
“The commission’s responsibility is to create a policy environment that enables the collective efforts of the broadcasting industry, including faith-based and mission-driven programming, to advance the public interest,” Commissioner Trusty said. “We want to make sure we have an environment that allows you all to thrive.”
Congressman Keith Self (R-Texas) outlined the legal and cultural battles facing Western Christian civilization, emphasizing that protecting constitutional freedoms requires treating ideological threats through strict enforcement of the law.
Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) at the NRB Capitol Hill Media Summit.
“I’m in a room of the influencers that ought to be leading this effort,” Rep. Self said. “This is a spiritual battle for the soul of America, it’s as simple as that.”
President’s Council members enjoyed a private, guided tour of the United States Supreme Court and transferred to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center for a preview of the facilities that will host the NRB 2027 International Christian Media Convention.
NRB General Counsel Mike Farris in the U.S. Supreme Court.
During an NRB Public Policy briefing, NRB leadership detailed how the association actively defends Christian media on Capitol Hill and in courtrooms nationwide.
Nic Anderson, vice president of public policy outlined legislative efforts to push the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act through the Senate and combat regulatory overreach.
“NRB punches above our weight,” Anderson said. “We are aggressive on Capitol Hill, aggressive at the FCC, in making sure our members have a voice.”
Michael Farris, NRB general counsel, highlighted direct litigation against the Johnson Amendment and filing landmark amicus briefs in federal courts.
“Freedom of speech is for everybody,” Farris said. “The heart, soul, and mind of man belongs to God. It does not belong to Caesar. That’s where freedom of speech came from.”
Troy A. Miller, NRB President & CEO, emphasized NRB’s enduring, historic mission.
“Our job is to do the advocacy that clears the way for you to do the ministry God’s called you to do,” Miller said.
On the final day, renowned author and social critic Dr. Os Guinness commemorated the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s English Bible translation, tracing how biblical ideas generated Western freedom, self-government, and democratic discourse.
Author and social critic Dr. Os Guinness at the NRB Capitol Hill Media Summit.
“You could boil the essence of the Republic down to three sentences: Freedom is the issue; the best way to guarantee freedom is a republic; the best way to ground a republic is through virtue; and the best way to generate and guard virtue is through faith,” Guinness said. “Every single one of those three is being rejected today. … America is in deep trouble unless we have leaders who understand where America came from and call the nation back.”
Sean Nelson, senior counsel for Global Religious Freedom at ADF, delivered an urgent update on severe persecution in Nigeria, China, Pakistan, India, and Europe.
Sean Nelson, senior counsel for Global Religious Freedom at ADF.
“Religious broadcasters, religious media, and in particular Christian media is pretty much 95% of the coverage of persecution,” Nelson said. “Most people in America and throughout the entire world would have no idea that any of these things are happening if it wasn’t for all of you.”
The unique partnership from NRB President’s Council members enables NRB to defend the airwaves, protect constitutional rights, and ensure the Gospel continues to be proclaimed without hindrance.
“God intervenes in the affairs of men and uses Christian radio to do it,” Farris said, closing out the Summit. “We are really in the right business, ladies and gentlemen, because we are here to amplify what God wants for our country and for our world.”