Pastor Andrew Brunson knows firsthand what it means when America fails to defend religious liberty abroad. After spending two years in a Turkish prison on trumped-up terrorism charges, the North Carolina pastor understands the life-or-death importance of having strong American voices advocating for persecuted believers worldwide.
That’s why Brunson’s urgent call for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch to schedule an immediate hearing for Trump’s religious freedom ambassador nominee Mark Walker carries such moral weight. With over 380 million Christians facing persecution globally and authoritarian regimes from Beijing to Tehran escalating their attacks on faith communities, America cannot afford to leave this critical diplomatic post vacant any longer.
“The position of Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom represents America’s commitment to our most fundamental constitutional principle,” Brunson emphasized in his appeal to Chairman Risch. “Every day this position remains unfilled, we send a signal to hostile regimes that religious persecution can continue without consequence.”
The numbers tell a sobering story. Christian persecution has reached historic levels under the Biden administration’s weak-kneed diplomatic approach. In China, over one million Uyghur Muslims remain in concentration camps while underground churches face systematic destruction. Iran continues executing religious minorities while expanding its terrorist network across the Middle East. North Korea maintains its position as the world’s worst persecutor of Christians, with an estimated 70,000 believers imprisoned in brutal labor camps.
Mark Walker brings exactly the kind of principled leadership America needs to confront these atrocities. His combination of pastoral experience and congressional service positions him to advance American interests while defending persecuted believers with both moral authority and strategic acumen. Unlike the globalist bureaucrats who have historically filled such roles, Walker understands that America’s strength comes from unwavering commitment to our founding principles, not endless accommodation to hostile regimes.
The constitutional framework couldn’t be clearer. Religious freedom stands as our First Amendment right precisely because the Founders understood that liberty of conscience forms the bedrock of all other freedoms. When America fails to defend religious liberty abroad, we undermine the very principles that made our nation a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples worldwide.
This nomination delay also reveals the strategic bankruptcy of the establishment’s approach to human rights diplomacy. While career State Department officials have spent decades engaging in endless dialogue with authoritarian regimes, persecution has only intensified. Walker’s confirmation would signal a return to Reagan-style moral clarity—speaking truth to power while backing American principles with concrete diplomatic action.
The economic implications extend far beyond humanitarian concerns. Religious persecution often coincides with broader human rights abuses that destabilize entire regions, creating refugee crises and economic disruption that ultimately costs American taxpayers billions. Strong religious freedom advocacy helps prevent these cascading failures while strengthening America’s relationships with democratic allies who share our values.
Chairman Risch faces a moment of truth. With a scheduled Foreign Relations Committee hearing this Thursday, he has the immediate opportunity to demonstrate that Republican leadership means more than just campaign rhetoric about defending religious liberty. No procedural obstacles remain—only the question of political will.
Brunson’s intervention eliminates any remaining excuses for delay. His credibility as a freed political prisoner who experienced firsthand the consequences of weak American advocacy gives his appeal unique moral authority. When a man who survived Turkish imprisonment calls for action, patriots should listen.
The path forward is clear. Swift confirmation of Mark Walker would restore America’s voice in the global fight against religious persecution while strengthening our moral authority in confronting authoritarian overreach. As we approach Christmas—a season celebrating the birth of Christianity’s founder—there could be no more appropriate time to reaffirm America’s commitment to defending believers worldwide.
Religious freedom isn’t just a policy preference—it’s a constitutional imperative that defines who we are as Americans. The Senate has the power to act. The only question is whether they have the courage to match their actions to their principles.
