In a rapidly changing world, the lines between our faith and our public lives are often blurred. This year at the NRB Convention, explore the question of harmonizing our faith walk with our public-facing lives at the forum “Christian Participation in Public Life.” Moderated by renowned author and social commentator Aaron Renn, this forum promises insightful discussions on navigating the complexities of public engagement as a follower of Christ.
“If you are known as a Christian and especially a ‘public Christian,’ then you are going to be viewed as a representative of Jesus,” emphasizes Renn. “So we should always be sure to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we’ve been called, be above reproach, [and] have words full of grace seasoned with salt.”
This panel will aim to equip Christian professionals with practical frameworks for how to wisely steward their influence, withstand opposition, and protect Christian institutions from external pressures.
“We will especially be focused on discerning the cultural times in which we live and how the traditional ways of Christian engagement might need to be updated or rethought in light of today’s cultural context,” explains Renn.
Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights into navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by our current cultural climate.
“The panelists will likely discuss their experience in influencing culture through building Christian institutions, and also business and investing,” shares Renn.
Renn is a writer and consultant in Indianapolis who is a Senior Fellow at American Reformer. He is the author of the book Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture. Renn was previously a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and a Managing Director at Accenture. He writes about culture and society for many publications, with all of his work available at his website.
The panel will feature esteemed leaders who have demonstrated impactful engagement in various spheres of public life:
- Megan Basham is an American writer and journalist currently serving as a culture reporter for The Daily Wire. Prior to joining The Daily Wire, she was the film and television editor for WORLD. Basham is the author of two books, including Beside Every Successful Man and Shepherds for Sale, a New York Times Her work has also appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, National Review, and First Things.
- Nate Fischer is the founder and CEO of New Founding, a venture company for the American right. He also co-founded American Reformer, a non-profit dedicated to promoting a vigorous Protestant Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day. Fischer previously co-founded a real estate investment firm that grew to more than $1 billion of assets and has a variety of other entrepreneurial and investment experience. He graduated from Calvin College and Harvard Law School and is a Claremont Lincoln Fellow. He lives in Dallas with his wife and five children.
- William Wolfe is the executive director at the Center for Baptist Leadership. A veteran of the conservative political movement, he served in the first Trump administration as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and a Director of Legislative Affairs at the State Department. Prior to his government service, Wolfe worked for Heritage Action for America and on Capitol Hill. He holds degrees from Covenant College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Christian ethics and public theology. He is married to Lauren, and they have three sons.
Don’t miss this invaluable opportunity to gain wisdom and practical guidance on fulfilling your calling as a “public Christian” at the “Christian Participation in Public Life” forum on Wednesday, February 26 from 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
The NRB 2025 International Christian Media Convention will take place in Grapevine, Texas, February 24–27, 2025. For more details and to register, visit nrbconvention.org.