More than 6,000 Christian communicators filled the convention halls in Nashville on Tuesday night as the 2026 gathering of the National Religious Broadcasters opened with prayer, policy, and a clear focus on faith and public life. In the center of Music City, Israel365 arrived with a message that the Bible is not an abstract text but a living inheritance rooted in the Land of Israel.

The 2026 convention of the National Religious Broadcasters, known as NRB, is the largest Christian media event in the world. Hosted in Nashville, the annual gathering brings together radio hosts, television executives, podcasters, publishers, and ministry leaders committed to spreading the Gospel and defending religious freedom. This year’s convention opened with a formal reaffirmation of the Great Commission and the defense of free speech in the United States.

During the first session, the NRB Board of Directors unveiled nine formal resolutions for 2026. The resolutions celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, defend free speech, oppose harmful FCC policy changes, and call for the protection of AM and FM radio. They also address corporate threats to free expression, urge wise use of artificial intelligence and emerging technology, condemn religious persecution worldwide, and call on Christians to stand firmly against global antisemitism.

NRB leadership emphasized that the resolutions are intended as guidance for members navigating political, cultural, and technological challenges in Christian broadcasting. Alongside the resolutions, the association announced its executive officers for 2026. Sharon Geiger of KCBI-FM Dallas (90.9) was named chairman. Tony Hart of GOGF Ministries and Debra Fraser of TLN Media will serve as first and second vice chairs. David Santrella, CEO of Salem Media Group, was named to the Executive Committee as a member at large.

The newly announced Class of 2029 board members includes media leaders such as Michele Bachmann, Stuart Epperson, John Sorensen, and Bill Bumpas.

One of the most closely watched moments of the evening was a video address by President Donald Trump. Trump thanked NRB members for inspiring millions and pledged continued support for religious liberty. “Under this administration, we are once again defending their rights and restoring our historic identity as a nation under God,” Trump said. He cited the elimination of the Johnson Amendment and efforts to combat anti-Christian bias, framing his administration’s work as a defense of Judeo-Christian civilization.

Bonnie Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged, reported that her organization has grown from 32,000 to more than one million Christians committed to prayer, voting, and civic engagement. She announced the launch of Christians Engaged en Español, in partnership with Rev. Samuel Rodriguez and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, to target outreach within the Hispanic community.

Two additional initiatives were presented: “America Reads the Bible,” a planned seven-day public reading of the Bible in Washington, D.C., and a Veterans Ministry Initiative aimed at equipping local churches to support veterans struggling with mental health challenges and isolation.

The opening night closed with worship led by Michael W. Smith, whose performance transformed the auditorium into a unified gathering of prayer and praise, setting the tone for the week ahead.

Within that larger framework, Israel365 positioned itself as a bridge between American Christian media and the living reality of Israel. At its exhibit and through personal meetings, Israel365 representatives emphasized that the Bible’s promises are tied to a specific land and a specific people. Their message to Christian communicators was direct: reporting on Israel is not a political exercise but a biblical responsibility.

Israel365 is also extending the convention beyond the conference halls. Immediately following NRB, the organization will host a Shabbat experience designed to bring Jews and Christians together around the biblical Sabbath. Participants will enter Shabbat, the seventh-day day of rest commanded in the Bible, through candle lighting, traditional prayers, and festive meals. The goal is not a symbolic gesture but an immersive encounter with Jewish practice rooted in Scripture.

The Shabbat gathering will introduce Christian participants to core elements of Jewish observance, including kiddush, the sanctification of the day over wine, and challah, the braided Sabbath bread. Organizers describe the event as an opportunity for Christians to experience the rhythms of the biblical calendar firsthand and to deepen their connection to Israel through lived tradition.

In preparation for the immersive Shabbat experience, Israel365 hosted a Challah-baking workshop, giving NRB participants a hands-on introduction to the traditional braided bread that has graced Jewish tables on the holy Sabbath for time immemorial.

NRB 2026 continues throughout the week with sessions focused on artificial intelligence, the future of Christian radio and television, and the defense of free speech in an increasingly regulated media environment. Yet from the first night, one message was unmistakable. Christian communicators are being called not only to preach and broadcast, but to stand clearly against antisemitism and in support of Israel.

In Nashville, that call was not theoretical. It was written into formal resolutions, affirmed by national leaders, and embodied in a Shabbat table where Jews and Christians will sit side by side, grounded in the same Bible and looking toward a shared future.