Five Courageous Christians - Breakpoint

Summary4 min read

Breakpoint Podcast — Five Courageous Christians
Host: John Stonestreet (Colson Center)
Date: November 10, 2025

Overview

In this episode of Breakpoint, John Stonestreet reflects on how God works through ordinary people, raising courageous Christians in challenging cultural moments. Using the biblical story of Elijah as a springboard, Stonestreet introduces the new documentary “Truth Rising,” which profiles five modern-day Christians—Chloe Cole, Seth Dillon, Katie Faust, Jack Phillips, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali—whose stories exemplify remarkable faith and bravery in the face of adversity. The episode underscores that, just as in Elijah's day, God is still at work through His people.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elijah’s Despair and God’s Faithfulness

After Elijah’s victory against the prophets of Baal, he faces deep discouragement and fears he is alone ([01:11])

“And yet, almost immediately, Elijah questioned whether God could protect him from Jezebel and he falsely believed he was the only true prophet left in Israel.”
God responds compassionately—caring for Elijah’s needs and reminding him that “7000 people in Israel… had not bowed a knee to Baal.”

“God was reminding Elijah that he was still very much at work in the world, and that he primarily works through his people.” ([02:21])

2. Modern Parallels: God Uses Ordinary People

Stonestreet stresses that God still uses unexpected individuals as “courageous voices of truth” in culture.

“God has his people everywhere. In fact, often he uses unlikely candidates to be courageous voices of truth.” ([02:37])

3. The Five Courageous Christians Featured in “Truth Rising”

a. Chloe Cole

As a teenager, Chloe underwent a double mastectomy in pursuit of gender transition before detransitioning.
She now advocates for the biblical truth of humanity made in God’s image, male and female.

“She is a powerful voice pushing back against serious darkness.” ([03:11])

b. Seth Dillon (The Babylon Bee)

The Babylon Bee, a satirical Christian website, was “canceled for saying something that was true.”
Dillon refused to compromise, drawing inspiration from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s philosophy to “live not by lies.”

“Seth refused to take the shortcut around the truth. But God was at work. And how that story turned out shocked everyone.” ([03:37])

c. Katie Faust

Initially a pastor’s wife blogging anonymously about children’s rights, Katie’s identity was exposed, subjecting her and her church to threat.
This adversity transformed Katie into a global champion for children.

“How God used that incident to make Katie a leading champion for the rights and well-being of children worldwide is absolutely incredible.” ([04:04])

d. Jack Phillips

Baker Jack Phillips refused to create a cake with a message contrary to his faith, leading to 13 years of legal battles.
His case resulted in a landmark First Amendment victory and drew many to the Christian faith.

“...one of the most consequential First Amendment wins of our lifetime. And also a whole lot of people coming to Christ again. Here God was at work.” ([04:37])

e. Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Formerly Muslim, then atheist, now Christian, Ayaan’s journey is remarkable.
Ayaan believes her mission as a truth-teller is part of God’s plan in this cultural moment.

“Ayaan has now found the freedom that she was always looking for. And she believes deeply that God has placed her as a truth teller in this crucial cultural moment.” ([05:00])

4. God’s Unceasing Work Through His People

Stonestreet connects these contemporary stories with the biblical narrative:

“What’s obvious in each and every one is how God is at work through his people just as much today as he was with Elijah after Mount Carmel. We are not alone.” ([05:30])

5. Call to Action

Listeners are encouraged to stream the “Truth Rising” documentary for free and to recognize their own place in God’s ongoing story.

“We have been called to this time, in this place, by God.” ([05:45])
Directs to truthrising.com/colson for streaming. ([05:54])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

God’s kindness to Elijah

“God sent an angel to Elijah to help him first sleep and then cook him food.” ([01:57])
On standing for truth

“Seth refused to take the shortcut around the truth. But God was at work.” ([03:47])
On courage amidst persecution

“That stand led to 13 years of attacks by the state of Colorado and one of the most consequential First Amendment wins of our lifetime. And also a whole lot of people coming to Christ again. Here God was at work.” ([04:45])
Encouragement to the audience

“We are not alone. Rather, we have been called to this time, in this place, by God.” ([05:35])

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:02 – Introduction & cultural context for young Christians
01:11 – Elijah’s story: despair and divine encouragement
02:37 – God’s use of unlikely people
03:11–05:00 – Summaries of the five Christians featured in “Truth Rising” (Chloe Cole, Seth Dillon, Katie Faust, Jack Phillips, Ayaan Hirsi Ali)
05:30 – Summary reflection: God’s work today
05:45 – Call to action & documentary details

Final Takeaway

Using both ancient Scripture and modern testimonies, John Stonestreet highlights how God continually raises up His people to stand for truth and courage in every generation. The episode, shaped by both reflection and storytelling, encourages listeners to find inspiration and resolve, knowing they are not alone in today’s cultural challenges.

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[00:03]
A
As Christian parents, we want our kids to grow in confidence in the truth. But there are so many big questions that they will face in this cultural moment. Even age old apologetic questions like if God is so good, why is there evil in the world? That's why I love Summit Ministry Summer Programs these immersive worldview training programs give high school and college students the hope, the clarity and the confidence they need to follow Jesus Christ boldly in this world. It prepares them for college. It prepares them for life. And it's not just about getting answers to tough questions. Summit students also learn how to live consistently with their faith in a world that's consistently fighting against it. They'll be equipped to stand strong, to speak with courage, and to live with unshakeable faith. What a great Christmas present to give your son or daughter or maybe your grandchild. Please visit summit.orgbreakpoint that's summit.org breakpoint and you can lock in the and then save an additional $250 for a session in Georgia or in Colorado when you use the code BreakPoint26. Trust me, this is an investment you'll make in your student that will last a lifetime. I have worked at Summit, I teach at Summit, and my kids have attended Summit. Grab your spot now by going to summit.org breakpoint that's summit.org breakpoint welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth. For the Colson Center, I'm johnstonestreet After his amazing victory on Mount Carmel against the prophets of baal, Elijah fell into a deep depression. Not only had he seen God work in a miraculous way, he had proven before Israel who was the one true God. And yet, almost immediately, Elijah questioned whether God could protect him from Jezebel and and he falsely believed he was the only true prophet left in Israel. As he put it, I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the people of Israel, have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. And I, even I only am left and they seek my life to take it away. Now, there's a whole lot we can learn from this story about the vulnerabilities of humans and the kindness of God. For example, I love that the author of 1 Kings includes the details that God sent an angel to Elijah to help him first sleep and then cook him food. Also, by informing Elijah of the 7000 people in Israel who had not bowed a knee to baal, God was reminding Elijah that he was still very much at work in the world, and that he primarily works through his people. God has his people everywhere. In fact, often he uses unlikely candidates to be courageous. Voices of truth. The new film Truth Rising tells the stories of five courageous voices. And in this civilizational moment, as a young teenager, Chloe Cole was so completely lost and deceived about who she was, she underwent a double mastectomy, attempting to become male. God worked in her life to reveal what was true about who she is. And now, having detransitioned, Chloe advocates for the truth that humans are made in God's image. Male and female. She is a powerful voice pushing back against serious darkness. The story of Seth Dillon and the Babylon Bee might be the political headline of the last decade. First, the popular and funny satirical website was canceled from one of their most powerful channels of influence for saying something that was true. Committed, as Alexander Solzhenitsyn put it, to live not by lies, Seth refused to take the shortcut around the truth. But God was at work. And how that story turned out shocked everyone. My friend Katie Faust was a pastor's wife in the Northwest with an anonymous blog. She spoke truth about an ideology that subjects children to the whims of adult desires. And then Katie was outed by someone who threatened her and her entire church community. How God used that incident to make Katie a leading champion for the rights and well being of children worldwide is absolutely incredible. And speaking of courage, that's not typically a required qualification of bakers, but it was for Jack Phillips. One afternoon, Jack took a stand when asked to design a cake with a message that was not true. That stand led to 13 years of attacks by the state of Colorado and one of the most consequential First Amendment wins of our lifetime. And also a whole lot of people coming to Christ again. Here God was at work. Perhaps best known among the five stories told in Truth Rising is that of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, whose faith journey has taken her from Islam to atheism to Christ. An activist, political leader and author, Ian has now found the freedom that she was always looking for. And she believes deeply that God has placed her as a truth teller in this crucial cultural moment. And that's exactly what she's doing. These five stories of courage are fully told in the Truth Rising documentary. What's obvious in each and every one is how God is at work through his people just as much today as he was with Elijah after Mount Carmel. We are not alone. Rather, we have been called to this time, in this place, by God. You can stream Truth Rising today for free by going to truth rising.com colson that's truth rising.com colson for the Colson Center, I'm John Stonestreet. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave us a review wherever you download your podcast. And for a version of this commentary that you can download or share with others, go to breakpoint.org.