There’s no bigger sports stage in the United States than the NFL, and this season — thanks to a New England Patriots running back — the NFL shined a spotlight on the plight of persecuted Christians.

Once a year, players can choose any charitable cause to raise awareness and money for through a unique cleat design, which the players wear for their “My Cause, My Cleats” game. The Special Olympics, cancer foundations, and youth sports initiatives are all popular picks for players. But TreVeyon Henderson, who in recent years became a Christian, chose t0 highlight the Global Christian Relief and the work they do to help the 380 million persecuted Christians around the world.

“When you read the Bible and you look at what Jesus teaches us and warns us about the persecution we will face for following him … there’s not much awareness about it,” Henderson said. “It really just opened my eyes because the things Christ was warning about are still happening today.”

Global Christian Relief CEO Brian Orme knows Henderson from his days playing football at The Ohio State University. Orme has followed Henderson’s rookie year, and noticed earlier this season that the NFL star was sharing the Christian organization’s posts on X. It was the start of a strong relationship with Henderson and Global Christian Relief. The running back became a monthly donor — then told Orme he wanted to amplify the organization through “My Cause, My Cleats.”

Henderson worked with his wife to design the cleats he wore on Monday Night Football on December 1.

“The blood dripping on the cleats symbolizes the blood that has been shed on the cross, the blood that’s been shed from people who have lost their lives for pursuing and following Christ,” Henderson said.

Credit: Global Christian Relief

The other side of the cleats show people holding up the Cross.

“This symbolizes the faithfulness of the persecuted church. Despite the blood that’s being shed, the one thing they’re not losing is their faith.”

“God has been using these stories to open my eyes and give me this desire to help however I can.”

In a moment when TreVeyon could’ve focused on himself, he turned his attention to persecuted Christians. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/hIwqBu0YMv

— Global Christian Relief (@GC_Relief) December 3, 2025

Global Christian Relief has seen greater exposure since Henderson’s endorsement.

“It’s a great example of what it looks like when influence meets conviction,” Orme told The Daily Wire. “Him leveraging his platform has a tremendous impact and builds credibility.”

Orme said Henderson showcasing his faith is part of a bigger movement the country has seen in recent months.

“God is choosing this moment through President Trump, Nicki Minaj, Bill Maher, all these different voices, to draw attention to what’s happening. He’s choosing this time to raise that awareness, and we’re praying that God will continue to create that momentum for the church.”

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In some parts of the world, Christians are being expelled from their families, imprisoned, and in some cases executed. Global Christian Relief provides safe housing, aid, Bibles, and legal support for Christians in the areas where it is most dangerous for them to profess their faith.

“We meet with believers in these regions, work through local churches to give them the resources that they need to not only survive, but to thrive as a life of the gospel.”

Henderson, like so many Christians in America, didn’t realize the extent of global Christian persecution. But now that he’s worked with Global Christian Relief and spread their message through football, he wants others to join the fight.

“I just hope here in the U.S., it encourages us, that it strengthens our faith to be more courageous, to be more bold, but to also have compassion for other brothers and sisters in Christ and to help however God may call you to help,” he said.

Henderson and the Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Orme said because of Henderson’s bold faith, the running back has a lot of new fans rooting for his success.

“TreVeyon, he’s a football player, but more than anything, he is a believer in Christ, and he is passionate,” Orme said. “Even just a few minutes of conversation with him, he’s gonna talk about his faith, he’s gonna talk about what God’s doing. He’s been a blessing to us.”

A tremor is moving through Armenia. It is not shaking its borders or its mountains. It is moving through the spiritual heart of the world’s first Christian nation. The Armenian Apostolic Church, the ancient institution that carried a people through genocide, exile, and the long shadow of Soviet repression, now stands in the center of an escalating national confrontation. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government has accused leading church figures, including Catholicos Karekin II, of political meddling and moral misconduct. Church leaders and their supporters insist that the government is attempting to silence a sacred institution that has preserved Armenian identity through centuries of persecution. To understand the significance of this confrontation, it is important to consider how both the government and the Church explain the actions that have unfolded since early summer.

Since June, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government has said its actions against senior clerics are lawful investigations tied to alleged criminal conduct and concerns about political destabilization during a sensitive period for Armenia’s security and peace negotiations. Church leaders and critics counter that the arrests, including the recent detention of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan on revived drug-related charges, amount to political pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church and raise serious questions about religious freedom and state overreach.

The truth of these accusations remains contested. The facts are intertwined with political tension, historical memory, and the understandable anxieties of a nation that has endured repeated national trauma. Yet this controversy is about more than the conduct of any particular leader. It is about the role faith continues to play in shaping the conscience of a modern society. It is about whether institutions that helped form the Armenian nation can still speak with moral authority in an age that increasingly demands their silence.

In much of the West, faith is often treated as a personal preference or a cultural accessory, reduced to one choice among many in an age defined by individual identity. Yet faith has never been sustained by ease. It is shaped by conflict, sacrifice, and transformation. The Armenian Church has survived empires, invasions, massacres, political manipulation, and ideological pressure that sought to erase it. It has weathered the weakness of its leaders, the failures of its institutions, and the pressures of hostile governments. Through all of this, it has remained a source of identity and hope for its people.

Americans should see something familiar in this moment. We, too, have seen spiritual disappointment in every corner of our own religious landscape. We have witnessed the failures of pastors, priests, bishops, and spiritual leaders who lost their way. Yet the endurance of faith despite human failures reminds us that no institution stands or falls on the perfection of its leaders. A church draws its strength from the conviction of its people and from a shared belief that truth is larger than any one individual.

This insight matters not only for religion but also for politics. Mature societies understand that institutions must outlast personalities. A democracy cannot survive if it relies on the strength of a single figure. A church cannot survive if it places all of its hope in the purity of one clergyman. The resilience of a nation rests in the covenant of shared responsibility, shared belief, and shared accountability.

Tatev, Armenia. 9th-century Armenian Apostolic monastery located near the Tatev village in Armenia. Anton Petrus. Getty Images.

Armenia’s struggle also reveals something essential about freedom. Under Soviet rule, the Armenian Church was monitored, restricted, and infiltrated by state authorities, making open criticism dangerous or impossible. In a free Armenia, citizens can question both political leaders and church authorities. Such questioning might be loud and painful, but it is proof of democratic life. Freedom requires discernment. A society must learn how to confront wrongdoing without destroying the institutions that hold its moral memory.

None of this diminishes the seriousness of the concerns raised on both sides. If the Church has tolerated harmful practices, it must face that reality with honesty and courage. If the state is using the language of justice to exert political pressure, it must stop before it undermines the very democratic values it claims to protect. The state exists to govern. The Church exists to guide conscience. When each respects the purpose of the other, both flourish.

This moment also calls for humility among believers. It is easy to demand perfection from spiritual leaders and then abandon the Church when those leaders fail. Yet the endurance of Christianity has never depended on perfect leadership. It has grown through crises that forced communities to seek renewal, accountability, and deeper integrity. Faith is not destroyed by human weakness. It is strengthened when weakness is confronted with truth.

For that reason, the crisis in Armenia may ultimately bring spiritual renewal. A Church that survived genocide, communism, and the attempt to erase its identity will not collapse because of a political controversy. It may emerge more transparent, more accountable, and more prepared to meet the longing of a new generation that desires authenticity from every institution. And if the government learns that the Church remains an essential guardian of Armenian identity, then this moment of strain may lead to a healthier balance between state authority and spiritual influence.

Americans should pay attention to this moment. We live in a time of deep skepticism toward every institution. We have grown accustomed to believing that a single failure invalidates the entire structure. Armenia offers a humbling reminder. Imperfection is not the opposite of strength. It is the environment in which renewal can take root if people refuse to surrender to cynicism.

The world’s first Christian nation is wrestling with its soul. It is rediscovering a timeless truth. The endurance of faith is not measured by the virtue of its leaders, but by the resolve of its people to preserve what is true even when the ground beneath them is shaking. That is a message America needs to hear now more than ever.

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Bishop Dr. Paul Murray is a global religious freedom advocate and nonprofit executive with more than three decades of experience working at the intersection of faith, human rights, and public life. He serves as CEO of Save Armenia and is an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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