Jerry Johnson
By Stoyan Zaimov
NASHVILLE — Dr. Jerry A. Johnson has called on the National Religious Broadcasters community to aspire to three main goals during his official installation as NRB President and CEO on Saturday (Feb. 22), mainly to advance Biblical truth, to promote media excellence, and to defend free speech.
“Our three freedoms are freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press. And you are uniquely positioned to defend all three freedoms,” Johnson said, noting the importance that the entire gospel is taught.
“We need to get back to Christianity as a faith rooted in history, in fact, in reality,” he continued, adding that many in today’s society do not know the full story behind Jesus Christ, and that He died for people’s sins.
The installation ceremony featured musical performances by best-selling Contemporary Christian music artist Michael W. Smith; a keynote speech by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr., and a promotion for the upcoming “Son of God” movie by producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who spoke with the audience about their aspirations behind the film. The event also featured several different testimonies of faith of Christian church leaders and entertainers.
NRB’s International Christian Media Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is bringing together thousands of Christian media and ministry professionals; with organizers promising that the four-day event will offer participants new media insights, connections, resources and opportunities.