Both of these figures, on public platforms, testified clearly and boldly to the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. The media honored them greatly. Denhollander and Trent spoke the good news of the gospel to huge numbers of people. Christians too often bemoan that they are shouted out of the public square, but that has certainly not been true in these cases.

Why pray for the media? The answer is simple. Because God answers prayers offered up for the media.

Consider that in 2018 two of the heralded heroes of Sports Illustrated, Time, ESPN and other major media outlets were Rachael Denhollander and Tyler Trent. Both are Christians who have suffered immensely, and have persevered and/or continue to persevere. In various ways, they were heard in 2018 and still are being heard because of their faith.

Denhollander led a host of sexual abuse victims in testifying boldly against Dr. Larry Nassar. Her gospel-infused courtroom speech proclaimed Christ. She punctuated a series of speeches from survivors with her own. She highlighted the justice and mercy of God through a mega-phone of major news outlets that no one can order as she said to Larry Nassar’s face:

The Bible [of which] you speak carries a final judgment where all of God’s wrath and eternal terror is poured out on men like you. Should you ever reach the point of truly facing what you have done, the guilt will be crushing. And that is what makes the gospel of Christ so sweet. Because it extends grace and hope and mercy where none should be found. And it will be there for you.
I pray you experience the soul crushing weight of guilt so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me — though I extend that to you as well.

Tyler Trent courageously fought cancer as a Purdue University student and inspired millions. He graciously sought to glorify God in his cancer-filled body in countless interviews. He wrote in the Indianapolis Star about the work of God in the darkest parts of life as he grew in Jesus Christ:

Why would a good, gracious and holy God want to take away our dreams? These are not typically sinful things…It is because God wants us dreaming about him. All that time you have spent thinking and dreaming about the perfect summer vacation or perfect spouse? Yeah, God wants you to spend that time thinking about Him and digging into his word. Now, I am most certainly not saying that God is going to punish you for your wonderful dreams. But let’s not fleece ourselves; as with technology, how much time are we spending away from the one who provides us with every breath?

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