Displaying items by tag: Praise

A powerful revival movement continues to sweep across US college campuses, led by UniteUS, a group that began at Auburn University. Students gather in stadiums and auditoriums, usually filled with cheering sports fans, to celebrate salvation in Christ. This revival meets students where they are, offering hope to those burdened with guilt, shame, and life struggles. Many young adults arrive with feelings of despair, but they encounter Jesus, who brings transformative joy and purpose. 'I came in ready to end my life and left with the most joy I’ve ever had’, one student said. The impact has spread from one campus to another, with thousands of students attending each event. These gatherings provide a space for healing and openness as they pray for one another and build community. Tonya Prewitt, founder of UniteUS, believes, 'This revival is just beginning. It’s a movement.' Christian student leaders support these events, facilitating prayer, personal testimonies, and baptisms, which reignite faith and change lives.

Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, has produced a new Christmas film, an adaptation of the beloved 1972 novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Jenkins describes the process of securing the rights to the novel as miraculous, crediting God and a fan of The Chosen for the breakthrough. The novel, which Jenkins calls ‘such a Jesus story’, tells the tale of six misfit children who unexpectedly take over their small town’s Christmas pageant, ultimately revealing the true meaning of the holiday. Jenkins and his wife have a personal tradition of reading the book every Christmas, and he spent years praying to obtain the rights to make the film. He was finally able to acquire them, partly due to the mother of one of the rights-holders being a fan of The Chosen. The film opens in US cinemas on 8 November, marking what Jenkins sees as a divinely timed calling fulfilled.

Chanen Johnson, wife of New Orleans Saints player Juwan Johnson, shared a heartwarming video of her husband reading Proverbs 31 over their newborn daughter in the hospital. The video, posted on 11 October, quickly gained nearly 100,000 likes. In the clip, Juwan reads aloud the passage praising a wife of noble character, saying, “Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Chanen's Instagram post highlights their deep Christian faith, which is reflected in both their lives. She captioned the video, "POV: You just gave him a baby girl and this is what he does.” In a previous post, Chanen mentioned how Juwan read Scripture to her before childbirth, easing her anxiety. Juwan's faith is also visible on his social media, where he emphasises ‘Jesus over everything else’ and encourages fellow believers to seek God’s face rather than His hand. His testimony highlights the importance of faith and surrender to God’s will.

The movie ‘Average Joe’ tells the remarkable story of coach Joe Kennedy, whose silent prayer at a high school football game led to a US supreme court case defending religious freedom. Raised in foster homes and expelled from several schools, Kennedy struggled with anger toward life and God. His journey of faith began after serving in the Marine Corps, eventually finding strength in Christ. After his games, he knelt for a thirty-second prayer at the 50-yard line, joined voluntarily by players. The school district ordered him to stop, and when he refused, they sacked him. The case reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favour, citing his First Amendment rights. Despite marital strain and death threats, Kennedy and his wife, Denise, reconciled, inspired by the film ‘Facing the Giants’. His story highlights God’s ability to use unlikely individuals for historic impact, illustrating his belief in a personal relationship with Jesus.

The heartbreaking story of Meghan Drye’s loss during Hurricane Helene took a miraculous turn. Meghan, her son Micah, and her parents were swept away by floodwaters in North Carolina. Meghan survived, but Micah, her parents, and their dog Bella were lost. In his final moments, Micah called out to Jesus, and his faith became a source of strength for his grieving mother. Shortly afterwards, Christian artist Elizabeth Londen, unaware of the tragedy, was moved by God to create a painting and poem entitled ‘Can you tell my mommy I’m safe now?’ The poem, written as if spoken by a child in Heaven, brought profound comfort to Meghan and her family, and they discovered that the painting referenced specific details from Micah’s life, including his dog and favourite blanket. Elizabeth reached out to the family, offering the artwork and peace in their sorrow. This story exemplifies God’s intimate presence and reassurance, even in the deepest grief.

Christian convert Mehdi Akbari has been released from Evin prison after serving nearly five years of a ten-year sentence for his involvement with a house church. Arrested in January 2019 alongside three other Christian converts, Mehdi endured solitary confinement, torture, and harsh prison conditions. The group was charged with acting against national security for forming an evangelical Christian group, with accusations of ties to foreign missionary organisations. Despite appealing multiple times, Mehdi was not allowed to attend the funeral of his son, Amir Ali, who passed away in December 2021. His sentence was ultimately reduced by the Tehran appeal court, leading to his release on 29 September. His case highlights the ongoing persecution of Christians in Iran, where religious freedom remains severely restricted.

Cameron Arnett, an actor who starred in shows like Miami Vice, experienced a profound spiritual transformation which led him to leave the mainstream entertainment industry. Initially drawn into Hollywood's allure, Arnett later became a Christian. His faith was tested when he was asked to do partial nudity for a role; despite attempts to compromise with a body double, the Holy Spirit convicted him to reject even the appearance of evil. He refused, and as a result, he lost his career, agency, and connections. However, he saw God’s plan in all of this, and realigned his career to reflect his faith. He became a pastor and then returned to film-making, this time with a focus on faith-based projects. To date he has appeared in over fifty movies and seven television shows, all with Christian themes. Arnett’s journey illustrates the importance of standing firm in one's convictions and using every platform, even in Hollywood, to shine the light of Christ.

After Omar, from Morocco, risked watching a video entitled 'The Koran is NOT the Word of God', he found himself questioning the authenticity of Islam. After weeks of research, he became convinced the Bible was the true Word of God and embraced Christianity. He shared the videos with his coworker Ali, and both men eventually accepted Jesus into their hearts. Though his newfound faith brought joy, it also led to hardship: his brother-in-law, an extremist, separated him from his wife, Fatima, labelling him an infidel. After a year, Fatima, disobeying her brother, returned to Omar. However, she remained unconvinced about Christianity. When she needed surgery, it was the local church that cared for her, not her friends. Over time, seeing the love of Christ in action led her to accept Jesus. Christianity in Morocco, despite societal pressures, continues to grow as more people seek truth in Christ amidst disillusionment with Islam and its institutions.

After two years in the NBA, former Atlanta Hawks forward AJ Griffin Jr announced his retirement to follow Jesus full-time. Griffin, 21, shared his decision in a heartfelt YouTube video after being released by his current club following the NBA Summer League, where he averaged 11.6 points per game. Griffin expressed excitement for this new season, saying, 'I’m not here to please man but only my Father in Heaven’. Quoting Hebrews 11:6, he hopes his decision inspires others to trust God fully. Griffin’s family, including his father (who also played in the NBA), has supported his faith journey. His walk with Christ deepened after the tragic passing of his two-year-old nephew Jayce a year ago. During a worship service, Griffin prayed with his family as they mourned. Now, feeling called to leave basketball, he looks forward to sharing the Gospel and pursuing God’s plan for his life.

Hans Schmidt, a street preacher and military veteran, was shot in the head while sharing the Gospel in Arizona. Unaware of the gunshot, he drove to his church, Victory Chapel, with blood streaming down his face. On the way to the hospital, he suffered a seizure and became unconscious. Doctors gave little hope, telling his wife Zulya that the outcome looked grim. They expected death, and detectives even spoke of an autopsy. However, prayer warriors across the nation began interceding for him. Hans was placed in a medically-induced coma and remained unresponsive for a month. Then, miraculously, he woke up and spoke. His wife was astonished and overjoyed. Against all odds, he fully recovered, returned to his family, and resumed playing the drums at church. He has also forgiven his assailant, who was never found. Now, he continues preaching the message of God’s love, focusing on the importance of forgiveness.