ERLC - The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

Today’s episode features Grace Jin Drexel, recipient of the ERLC’s John Leland Religious Liberty Award. In October 2025, Grace’s father, Pastor Jin, was arrested in his home as part of a nationwide crackdown in China on independent Christian churches. He and 17 other leaders from Zion Church were arrested and imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party.

On today’s episode, ERLC President Dr. Evan Lenow talks with Dr. Scott Foshie about the encouraging work and unique challenges facing churches across Illinois. With more than 900 churches, Illinois Baptists are working together to advance the gospel to the 12.7 million people who call Illinois home, while also reaching people from more than 200 nations who live in the state.

On Sept. 9, the ERLC sent letters to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the summit with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China scheduled for the end of September. The letter to President Trump urges him to prioritize discussing China’s egregious religious liberty violations, namely the persecution of the underground church and the Uyghur population.

The Brentwood Statement is a collaborative statement from Southern Baptist leaders, led by Lifeway, designed to help guide Christian ministers as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI in ministry and everyday life. Dr. Jason Thacker, director of the ERLC’s Research Institute and a senior fellow, served as the primary author of that statement.

As Matthew 5:13-16 tells us, we are to be salt and light in a dark world. In this new series, we want to encourage you with examples of Southern Baptists who are bringing the truth of God’s Word to bear, not only in the halls of Congress, but in their local communities. By sharing these stories, we hope to spur you on to ask, “What can I do?” as you engage the culture with the hope of the gospel?

As a state convention of more than 2,000 churches, Mississippi Baptists are seeking to equip local churches to make disciples in Mississippi and around the world. From college campuses to prison systems to communities experiencing poverty, they are taking opportunities to share the hope of the gospel in every corner of Mississippi.

Today, ERLC President Dr. Evan Lenow sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche, congratulating him on his recent confirmation and urging consideration of Southern Baptist priorities as he leads the Department of Justice (DOJ). In the letter, Dr. Lenow covered three areas: Religious freedom: Dr. Lenow commended the DOJ for its recently updated religious liberty guidance, which applies to all federal agencies and executive branch departments.

Several years ago, Dr. Mark Liederbach, senior professor of ethics, theology, and culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Dr. Evan Lenow, president of the ERLC, collaborated on a book titled “Ethics as Worship: The Pursuit of Moral Discipleship,” which released in 2021.

Michigan has become an abortion destination in recent years, changing the landscape of pro-life ministry across the state. As abortion access has expanded, the Bay Area Baptist Association in Michigan, led by associational mission strategist David Roberts, and other Michigan Baptists have recognized one way to counter abortion is to strengthen pregnancy resource centers that save preborn lives.

This week, ERLC President Dr. Evan Lenow signed a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche urging him to enforce the Comstock Act. This letter, organized by Advancing American Freedom, calls on the Department of Justice to correctly interpret the statute and effectively bar the mailing of chemical abortion drugs.