God calls us to “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9), but that can feel difficult in an increasingly pluralistic society. Christians bring a unique vision to the public square — not based on political parties but on God — that needs to be shared with clarity and compassion. 

The 2025 Christian Student Leadership Conference, “Courageous Convictions,” is for Christian college students who want to be stretched as they bring God’s light and the good news to our nation and our world. Not for the faint-hearted, living out our convictions requires “work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

At the 2025 Christian Student Leadership Conference, you will learn more about issues dominating our culture’s conversations and how to effectively advocate for much-needed reforms. This includes not only what issues we advocate for, but how we advocate for them.   

This week-long conference will equip you to join a new generation of faithful advocates who are guided by their principles, motivated by love for others and sustained by the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Register today and invite your friends, so you can stop seeing a church with a weakened witness and instead see the light of the gospel transform our country and world.   

Faithful advocacy is not for the faint-hearted. It requires “work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope”

(1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Conference Details

Travel

Participants are responsible to cover and arrange travel to/from Washington, D.C. At on-site registration, student leaders will receive a $10 Metro card to help offset their travel while in the nation’s capital.

Food

Breakfast and dinner meals are included in the registration rate. Participants are responsible to cover lunch meals.

Pricing & Payment

Payment is not required through the online registration process. Rather, payment is mailed directly to the NAE office at:

National Association of Evangelicals
ATTN: CSLC
P.O. Box 23269
Washington, DC 20026

Universities that send more than one student are required to collect fees from their students and mail one check to the NAE office. Students from schools that send more than one student should contact their school’s point of contact for the conference.

Registration costs are based on how many people will be sharing your hotel room and whether you are a student at an NAE member school. Contact the NAE office if you aren’t sure whether your school is a member.

4 people per room
NAE member – $690
Non-member – $710

3 people per room
NAE member – $795
Non-member – $815

2 people per room
NAE member – $915
Non-member – $935

Single room
NAE member – $1300
Non-member – $1325

Cancellation Policy

All cancellation requests must be made in writing. An 85% refund will be granted when the cancellation request is received 15 business days prior to the event. A 50% refund will be granted if the request is received between 14 and 7 business days prior to the event. No refunds will be granted if the request is received with fewer than 7 business days prior to the event.

Any cancellation request received fewer than 15 business days prior to the event (or after the event date has passed) due to an extenuating circumstance may be reviewed. Extenuating circumstances can be (but are not limited to) a death in the family, documented positive COVID-19 test, etc. If the event is canceled by the NAE, registrants will be extended a full refund (100%).

FAQs

Q: What is the schedule for the week?

A: Due to the nature of Washington, D.C., and the ever-changing schedules of those who speak at the conference, we are not able to send out a conference schedule before the conference. Students will receive the schedule at registration. Conference registration is from 5–6 p.m. on January 27, 2025 at the Hyatt, with dinner starting at 6 p.m. The conference will conclude by 12 p.m. on January 31, 2025. Here’s the 2024 program to give you an idea of what you can expect.

Q: Who will be speaking at CSLC?

A: Good question. We invite a wide variety of voices — from across the political spectrum — to the table. We also invite high-level government leaders whose schedules change so quickly we are not always able to get confirmation until the week before the conference. For this reason, we can’t tell you who will be speaking at this point, but we can show you the 2024 program to give you an idea of what you can expect.

Q: How do I pay?

A: If you are a student from a school that is sending several students, contact your school’s point person on the conference to mail payment. If are not coming with a school group, you can mail a check directly to the NAE office (P.O. Box 23269, Washington, DC 20026)

Q: Who will be in my hotel room?

A: The NAE staff does its best to put students in rooms with other students from their school.

Q: What kind of ID will I need?

A: Everyone will need a government-issued picture form of identification to enter some of the buildings. If you will need something else, we will be sure to alert you before traveling to Washington.

Q: What is the dress code?

A: Dress code for each event will be business attire, but please keep in mind there is substantial walking during the days and the weather can be a factor. Wear comfortable shoes.

Q: What have other students said about the CSLC?

A: Find out who has attended the conference from your school in a past year, and ask! Often we hear comments from students, like Wesley Wilson of Southern Wesleyan University, who said, “The Christian Student Leadership Conference was a week I will never forget. Overall it was an enlightening experience that far exceeded any study I had received in American politics.”

Q:  What type of Covid restrictions will be in place?

A:  Right now there are no restrictions in place regarding distancing, vaccination or pre-testing.  We will follow the rules of the federal government and the District of Columbia. Those rules are subject to change. Please check back for any updates. If any restrictions significantly change, we will update all registrants via email. The event does require students and faculty to be in close quarters for an extended period of time. If you have health concerns regarding Covid, you should consider those before registering for the event.

Past Speakers

We invite a wide variety of voices — from across the political spectrum — to the table. We also invite high-level government leaders whose schedules change so quickly we are not always able to get confirmation until the week before the conference. For this reason, we can’t guarantee who will be speaking at this year’s conference. Here is a list of some speakers from recent CSLCs: 

Nicole Baker Fulgham
Chaplain Barry Black
Sen. Sherrod Brown
Sen. Bill Cassidy
Eugene Cho
Rep. Liz Cheney
Rep. James Clyburn
David French
Justin Giboney
Shirley Hoogstra
Sen. Tim Kaine
Rep. Adam Kinzinger
Walter Kim
Sen. James Lankford
Russell Moore
Sen. Marco Rubio
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar
Sen. Tim Scott
Ed Stetzer
Rep. Chris Stewart
Barbara Williams-Skinner
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

Registration

The registration deadline is December 13, 2024. If you have any questions about the conference or registration, please reach out to Jennifer Haglof, NAE senior director of projects & events.

Register Now

Sponsors

We are grateful for the partnership of like-minded groups whose support makes the conference possible. Contact Samantha Conway if your organization is interested in sponsoring the conference.

Become an Event Sponsor

Would your organization like to connect with Christian student leaders?

Become an Event Sponsor

testimonial

“I went to the conference to better understand how politicians navigate complicated policy issues in an increasingly polarizing country. I returned with a greater idea of how to promote unity at the intersection of faith and politics. The conference deepened my calling to be a public servant and the desire to elevate the voices of young believers to lead the next generation.”

Jessica Trowell

Student