CPAC Summit Unites Faith Leaders and Lawmakers to Confront Global Christian Persecution

On October 30th, 2025, CPAC hosted the Christian Persecution Summit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, drawing together faith leaders, human rights advocates, and lawmakers united by one mission — to defend Christians facing escalating persecution across the globe. From Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to China, Iran, and North Korea, the summit shed light on the worsening crisis of violence, imprisonment, and discrimination against Christians. The event underscored CPAC’s unwavering commitment to protecting religious freedom as a foundational principle of American liberty and global human rights.

The Summit opened with prayer from Matt and Mercedes Schlapp and former Congressman and U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, Mark Walker, setting the tone for a day centered on moral courage and spiritual solidarity. Jenny Korn, Deputy Assistant to the President and Faith Director of the White House Faith Office, delivered the first address, emphasizing the moral imperative to defend persecuted Christians both internationally and within the United States. Korn highlighted the Trump Administration’s dedication to strengthening partnerships between government and faith-based organizations to bring aid and advocacy to communities under attack for their faith.

Among the other distinguished lawmakers, Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) played pivotal roles. Congressman Moore spoke powerfully about the need for the U.S. to list Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, urging stronger foreign policy measures to hold oppressive regimes that use political violence against Chrtsians accountable. Congressman Smith, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a long-time advocate for global human rights, and organizer of key congressional hearings on religious freedom, reinforced that protecting Christians worldwide is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity in promoting peace and democracy. These influential lawmakers' remarks reflected growing legislative momentum in Washington to elevate religious liberty as a central pillar of U.S. foreign policy, working in step with the Trump Administration.

The Summit also featured prominent voices from other faiths and national security communities. Rabbi Yitz Tendler added a powerful interfaith dimension, stressing the shared responsibility among all faith traditions to safeguard freedom of belief and conscience. Throughout the day, discussions focused on practical solutions — from mobilizing churches and NGOs to reinforcing legislative protections and media advocacy. Panels with experts like Sean Nelson, CeCe Heil, Kelsey Zorzi, and Maureen Ferguson offered tangible strategies for improving foreign aid accountability, protecting houses of worship, and leveraging international law to defend the persecuted. The summit concluded with a unifying call to action: to confront evil, defend truth, and ensure that America remains the leading voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Jack Posobiec and Dr. Sebastian Gorka brought a powerful close to the CPAC Christian Persecution Summit, both highlighting the difference a White House that stands for human rights can make in the fight against Christian persecution. Posobiec, a veteran journalist and Senior Editor at Human Events, exposed how the Biden administration had weaponized the Department of Justice and the FBI against Traditional Catholic groups, labeling them as potential “domestic terrorists” simply for practicing their faith. He warned that such political targeting marks a dangerous erosion of the First Amendment and mirrors the same type of government intimidation seen in countries that persecute Christians abroad. Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President, followed with an impassioned address reflecting on his ongoing role in advocating for religious freedom and national strength. Gorka highlighted how President Trump boldly confronted international human rights abuses, particularly those against Christians in Nigeria, China, and the Middle East, by placing pressure on regimes that tolerated or enabled persecution. Together, their remarks reinforced a central message of the Summit: that defending Christians worldwide begins with defending religious liberty at home.

The CPAC Christian Persecution Summit marked a defining moment in the global fight for faith and freedom. With passionate voices calling attention to the atrocities unfolding in Nigeria, China, Iran, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the event underscored the moral urgency of standing up for Christians who face daily threats of violence, imprisonment, and discrimination. Following the summit, President Donald Trump announced the re-listing of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a major policy victory long advocated by faith leaders and lawmakers present at the Kennedy Center. This decisive action demonstrated that the United States, under the leadership of an administration committed to moral clarity, is willing to hold accountable those who perpetrate or tolerate violence against believers.

America’s strength lies in its willingness to defend the oppressed and to lead the world by example. The Christian Persecution Summit served as both a solemn reminder and a rallying cry — that faith and freedom are inseparable, and that the defense of Christians abroad begins with the resolve of a nation that cherishes liberty at home. The Christian Persecution Summit was the beginning of a renewed movement to stand boldly for truth, protect the persecuted, and ensure that the light of faith continues to shine in even the darkest corners of the world.