Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump confronted the conservative audience at the Values Voters Summit in Washington on Friday, and spoke about religious freedom, education, military and foreign policies.
Thousands were gathered at the summit when he was introduced on the stage by Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight.
Trump began by recounting the "decent, devoted, [and] selfless" service by Christians in the country, especially in times of disaster when the faith-based charity groups rush to help victims of natural calamities and persecution.
He noted that Christians' "values of love, charity and faith built this nation."
"Yet," he said, "our media culture often mocks and demeans people of faith."
He said that if he becomes president, his administration will cherish and protect the Christian heritage.
Trump then spoke about the African American church, and "their unbreakable faith and spirit [which] overcame some of the most difficult periods in our history."
"This is the power of faith. It's the power to heal. It's the power to unite," he continued.
He said that the country "very, very divided" today, but it will be faith in God and his teachings which will lead America back to unity.
Trump favored repealing the Johnson amendment, which is one of the first things he promised to do if elected. He argued that the amendment blocked pastors and ministers from telling the world about what they thought, lest they lose their tax-exempt status.
Trump's mention of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and his proposed nomination of judges was especially received with great applause.
"I have pledged to appoint judges who uphold the Constitution, to protect your religious liberty, and apply the law as written. We reject judges who rewrite the Constitution to impose their own person views on 300 million-plus Americans."
Trump spoke at great length about school choice, and how that was an issue close to his heart.
"Millions of poor and disadvantaged students are trapped in failing schools. This education crisis afflicts all communities, but none more so than the African-American community - none."
"School choice is at the center of this civil rights agenda, and my goal is to provide every single inner-city child in America that is trapped in a failing government school the freedom to attend the school of their choice. Competition - the schools the schools will get better and better and better," he continued.
To alleviate this deficit, Trump proposed $20 billion block grant from federal government for school choice programs, and he also said that he will campaign for the states to assign $110 billion from their education funds for these programs.
Regarding his foreign and military policies, Trump said that collaboration with Russia, as well as military, cyber, financial, and ideological warfare were needed to defeat the ISIS.
"My administration, on the other hand, will work with any country that is willing to partner with us to defeat ISIS and halt radical Islamic terrorism. And by the way, that includes Russia. If they want to join us on knocking out ISIS, that is just fine as far as I'm concerned. It's a very imperfect world, and you can't always choose your friends. That's life," he said.
Other speakers at the summit included actor Kirk Cameron, and Christian authors and Flip it Forward show hosts David and Jason Benham, who spoke passionately about their faith.
Cameron encouraged Christians to become active in the political arena and urged them to "please, get out and vote."
