NRB 2026: Troy Miller says to 5,700 Christian Leaders With 'Orthodoxy Gap' Warning

NRB 2026 Convention Opens in Nashville as Troy Miller Urges Christians to Close the Gap Between Belief and Obedience

The NRB 2026 International Christian Media Convention opened on February 17 in Nashville, Tennessee, drawing more than 5,700 Christian communicators from over 250 media organizations to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

NRB President and CEO Troy Miller delivered the keynote opening address, calling on Christian media leaders to confront what he described as the "orthodoxy gap," a growing disconnect between what Christians profess to believe and how they actually live.

We have doctrine being affirmed while daily obedience is being minimalized. In other words, we have a lot of fans in the stands and very few players on the field.

Troy Miller, NRB President and CEO

Miller warned that when belief becomes separated from obedience, Christianity risks becoming "a brand, not a lived faith." He challenged communicators not merely to create content, but to call the church to "obedient, public, visible faith," echoing the words of the Book of James: "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only."

Drawing on Ligonier Ministries' State of Theology research, Miller highlighted troubling trends including widespread biblical illiteracy and a growing tendency among self identified Christians to separate their religious convictions from public life. He warned that "vacuums form" when believers withdraw from civic engagement.

The four day convention, running February 17 through 20, brought together representatives working in radio, television, film, church media, and digital platforms. The Opening Session also featured musical performances from Michael W. Smith and Nicole C. Mullen, along with Lipscomb University's Gospel Choir directed by Aaron Howard.

Pastor H.B. Charles Jr. of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, also delivered a call for courage to the gathered communicators. The session opened with virtual remarks from President Donald J. Trump.

Despite the challenges, Miller pointed to encouraging signs including increased Bible sales, rising church attendance, and growing interest in Christian media, emphasizing that these trends create a heightened responsibility for faith based communicators to lead with integrity and boldness.

Christian Media Leaders Gather at NRB 2026 to Bridge the Orthodoxy Gap in American Faith

Founded in 1944, the National Religious Broadcasters is a nonpartisan international association that advocates for the free speech rights of Christian communicators. The organization has long served as a unifying force for those who use media to share the Gospel and defend religious liberty.

The convention drew attention to the vital role Christian media plays in shaping public discourse, particularly at a time when cultural and political pressures threaten to marginalize faith based voices from the public square.

The Crusader's Opinion

Troy Miller nailed it. Too many Christians today want the label without the lifestyle. They will post Bible verses on social media while living no differently from the world around them. The orthodoxy gap is real, and it is devastating the witness of the Church.

When believers retreat from public life, when they separate their faith from their civic duty, they hand the culture over to those who actively oppose everything Christianity stands for. That is not faithfulness. That is surrender.

The encouraging news about rising Bible sales and church attendance means nothing if it does not translate into Christians who actually live what they believe. We need warriors, not spectators. The world is watching, and right now too many of us are sitting in the stands while the field burns.

Take Action

• Learn more about the NRB and how to support Christian media at nrb.org
• Read the full State of Theology report from Ligonier Ministries at thestateoftheology.com and share the findings with your church community
• Support Christian media organizations in your area by subscribing, sharing, and financially supporting their work
• Talk to your pastor about bridging the gap between belief and action in your local congregation
• Support persecuted Christians worldwide through The Shepherd's Shield and Open Doors