Family Research Council’s (FRC) Pray Vote Stand 2026 Summit brought Christians from across the country to Leesburg, Virginia, for a gathering focused on faith, religious liberty and civic responsibility.
Held September 24–26 at Cornerstone Chapel near Washington, D.C., the summit brought together pastors, government officials and cultural leaders to discuss the intersection of faith, government and public life. Patriot Mobile was among the event’s sponsors.
Throughout the sessions and workshops, speakers encouraged Christians to respond to America’s challenges with prayer, informed participation and biblical conviction.
Throughout the sessions and workshops, a central theme emerged: America is facing a critical moment. Abortion, socialism, and the growing influence of radical Islam were among the threats discussed. Speakers emphasized that Christians should not respond by retreating from the public square. Instead, believers must pray, become informed, vote, and courageously stand for truth.
Family Research Council Connects Faith and Public Policy
Founded in 1983, FRC is a nonprofit research and educational organization that seeks to advance a family-centered public policy rooted in a biblical worldview.
That mission was evident throughout the summit, where speakers like Ben Carson, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Ambassador Mike Huckabee, FRC President Tony Perkins, and others connected America’s political and cultural battles to deeper questions of morality, truth, and religious conviction.
Ben Carson Challenges Christians to Defend Human Life
Dr. Ben Carson, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and founder of the American Cornerstone Institute, challenged Christians to defend human life even when doing so is unpopular.
Carson drew a powerful comparison between the abortion debate and the abolitionist movement. He questioned the reasoning of those who personally oppose abortion but believe they should remain silent about the choices of others.
He challenged that reasoning with a question: “What if the people who were opposed to slavery, the abolitionists, said, ‘I don’t believe in slavery, but I don’t have any right to say anything to you about it’? Where would we be?”
His point was simple: our convictions should compel us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Mike Johnson: “Truth Is on Our Side”
House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the importance of Christians participating in the political process, particularly as the nation approaches another consequential election.
Rather than simply praying for electoral victory, Johnson encouraged Christians to pray specifically for the candidates as they fight on their behalf.
“I would pray for the stamina and wisdom for our candidates,” Johnson said. “They need to have the wisdom to be able to navigate through this and cut through all the false narratives.”
Despite this present uncertainty, Johnson remained undeterred. He reminded the audience that, as Christians, we stand in freedom “because truth is on our side.”
Christians do not need to be intimidated by cultural and political opposition, he argued. Their responsibility is to remain faithful, no matter the outcomes, no matter the cost.
Michele Bachmann: “You Can’t Win If You Don’t Fight”
Former Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann addressed the rise of radical Islam and confronted the fear that often prevents Christians from speaking openly against it.
“We can’t be intimidated by being called racists,” Bachmann said. “Most people don’t want to say anything about Islam because they’re scared to death about being called racists. We need to get over that… You can’t win if you don’t fight.”
Her comments reflected the summit’s broader call for courage. Christians, she argued, cannot allow fear of criticism or social consequences to prevent them from addressing serious threats to religious liberty, national security, and the Christian foundations of American society.
How to Put “Pray, Vote, Stand” Into Practice
The summit’s message ultimately came down to three simple actions.
Pray. Pray for America’s leaders, candidates, churches, and communities. Ask God for wisdom, courage, repentance, and REVIVAL. Check out Intercessors for America, the largest national network of prayer warriors.
Vote. Learn where national, state, and local candidates stand on the issues that matter with the iVoterGuide.
Stand. Defend truth even when it’s unpopular. As C.S. Lewis once said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”
With early voting now underway for the midterm elections, America stands at a critical crossroads. Christian voters could turn the tide in our nation’s future. It’s imperative that every Christian pray for our nation, make their voice heard at the ballot box, and refuse to remain silent when our God-given rights and freedoms are at stake.
Visit PatriotMobile.com/voter-info to find your state’s early voting dates, registration deadlines, and links to official election resources.
