Kerby Anderson

So many Christians around the world are facing religious persecution. That’s why I was encouraged by President Trump’s speech at a UN meeting on religious freedom. Vice President Mike Pence introduced the president. That gives you some indication of how seriously the current administration takes this issue.

A week ago, I interviewed Gary Bauer about the speech on my radio program. You can find out more at his American Values website. Here are just a few of the significant comments by the president.

“The United States is founded on the principle that our rights do not come from government, they come from God.” The president added, “Our founders understood that no right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous and virtuous society than the right to follow one’s religious convictions.”

He declared “with one clear voice the United States of America calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution.” He also added that protecting religious freedom was one of his highest priorities since it is “estimated that eleven Christians are killed every day for following the teachings of Christ.”

He explained that the US was forming a coalition of U.S. businesses for the protection of religious freedom. And he ended by asking every nation to join “in this urgent moral duty.” He added, “We ask the governments of the world to honor the eternal right of every person to follow their conscience, live by their faith and give glory to God.  The United States has a vital role in this critical mission.”

Perhaps you can see why I thought this was an important speech that was nearly ignored by the mainstream media. In fact, one CNN headline dismissed the speech by pointing out that his speech kept him from attending the UN Climate Summit that day.

We must pray for the persecuted church, and we should support any leader that focuses our attention on the plight of Christians around the world.