Dallas, TX — At the 2025 NRB International Christian Media Convention, a mainstage panel moderated by Aaron Renn, Senior Fellow at American Reformer, brought together key Christian thought leaders to discuss Christianity’s role in shaping American public life, current public policy, and the moral renewal of the nation. The panel featured influential voices, including Nate Fischer, Founder & CEO of New Founding; William Wolfe, Executive Director of Center for Baptist Leadership; Gabe Rench, co-host of CrossPolitic; and Ryan Helfenbein, VP of Communications & Public Engagement at Liberty University.
The panelists discussed a wide range of topics yet zeroing in on the intersection of Christianity, politics, and cultural change. A major theme was the decline of moral standards in both the church and society, with the panelists calling for a renewed and robust engagement from the universal church in the public square. The panel’s discussion stressed the moral responsibility the church holds in guiding the nation’s ethical direction, acknowledging the church’s historical influence on societal structures and its decline in recent decades.
Pointing to the disruptive role of technology and the rapid pace of change in institutions, Nate Fischer highlighted the collapse of traditional models, mainly in business and education, driven by technology's rise. “An MBA has become more about making someone look like a successful businessman than actually preparing them to run a business,” Fischer remarked, stressing that authenticity and substance are under greater scrutiny than ever before.
Ryan Helfenbein emphasized the ever-evolving nature of culture, cautioning against a fatalistic view of societal decline. While acknowledging the challenges, he offered a message of hope, stating, “Culture is not directionally static. There is an opportunity for the church in this moment, because the harvest field is ripe.” Helfenbein urged Christian leaders to seize this unique moment for engagement in the culture.
William Wolfe followed, stressing that America’s future depends on courageous leadership—particularly in defending truth. Wolfe contrasted the emotional, consensus-driven leadership models of the past with the bold, action-oriented approach seen in leaders like Donald Trump, advocating for Christians in leadership to act decisively. He also called for a new class of Christian martyrs—not in the literal sense, but in the social sphere. “Are you willing to get yourself canceled for defending God’s Word?” Wolfe challenged the audience.
Echoing this call for boldness, Gabe Rench of CrossPolitic spoke to the courage required to uphold Christian values in today’s public discourse. He emphasized the importance of resisting emotional manipulation and defending traditional values, even if it means saying “no” to popular ideologies. Rench also argued that the moral decay seen in modern culture can be traced directly to failures within the church itself, urging Christians to recommit to their foundational role in society.
The panel concluded with a call for both gratitude and ambition in Christian leadership–“Gratitude. We need to cultivate gratitude. We need to thank God for his providential hand in history. We’re living in it, we’re seeing it, and don’t miss it but be grateful,” Helfenbein closed.
In his closing remarks, Aaron Renn reminded the audience of the significance of the current moment, encouraging Christians to lead with boldness and vision while remaining thankful for the opportunities available in America today.
As Christian conservatives look to the future, the panel’s message was clear: the church must reclaim its moral authority, stand firm in the defense of truth, and take courageous action to realign society with biblical principles.
