Sadie Robertson is sharing that God still performs miracles today, even in the middle of the worst situations.

In a post on social media, Robertson detailed the harrowing experience her family had when her daughter Kit began choking on a snack, which led Robertson to perform CPR and her mom to call 911.

In the post, Robertson wrote:

Vulnerable post here. I’m starting with that because this feels hard to talk about in my real life, much less on social media, but I do feel it is worth sharing because I truly believe awareness of it will save lives…

I’m currently walking through the waves of anxiety from the trauma of the situation, and the immense gratitude for the miracle of Kit’s full recovery and God’s undeniable hand on this situation. I’ve been off social media and having my family and amazing team help me on here for some time while I work on having a sound mind. With all that said, I want to share to help raise awareness…

Kit was sitting in her high chair this week, eating a snack while I was finishing up dinner prep, when she began to choke. Within seconds, you could tell the severity of the situation. My mom pulled her from the high chair and placed my girl into my arms just as she stopped breathing.

Everyone went into action and into prayer. Mom called 911, I started CPR, and everyone began to pray out loud and move the other kids downstairs.

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A post shared by Sadie Robertson Huff (@legitsadierob)

She also shared that she desires to be prepared at all times and had watched videos in the past on how to handle this kind of situation in hopes she would never have to.

I am one of those people who likes to be prepared for all situations, so I’ve watched several videos while hoping and praying I would never have to use this knowledge. I can only explain it now like my body just knew what to do. I felt God’s Spirit guiding me, partnering with me in what I had learned and seen. I remember saying out loud, “what do I do?” and then immediately started doing it and declaring life.

After following protocol for a baby choking and doing CPR, Kit miraculously coughed and began to breathe, just as the paramedics arrived… it was truly terrifying, but God.

I rode in the back of the ambulance with my girl, still afraid, but praising God.

Christian drove behind, following us, and told me there was a rainbow over the ambulance the whole way there. We stayed the night for observation, but she charmed the nurses just a few hours later and is now perfectly healthy, happy, and brightening everyone’s day!

To order Abby Trivett’s new book, The Power of Suddenly, visit .

Ultimately, Robertson decided to share this story in hopes that it could bring hope to others in an emergency.

Sharing this as a testimony, and also as an encouragement for everyone to learn what to do in the case of an emergency. It happened SO fast, and I’m so thankful I was able to go straight into action!

We know that God has our children in His hands – we are not in control of our children’s breath or even of our own. We can’t live in a state of fear… we have to trust God in all of it. And also, preparation and knowledge in the spiritual and physical sense can be a gift that you can give yourself and your family! Please join us in thanking God for this miracle!

In a moment that could have ended in heartbreak, heaven intervened.

What began as an ordinary evening quickly spiraled into every parent’s worst nightmare—but it didn’t end there. Because even in the suffocating grip of fear, even as panic filled the room and time seemed to stand still, the presence of God moved.

Not quietly. Not distantly. But powerfully, personally and unmistakably.

This is the reminder the body of Christ needs right now: God is not absent in crisis—He is active in it.

And isn’t that how God so often works?

Right in the middle of darkness. Right in the middle of fear. Right in the moment when everything feels out of control.

He shows up.

This testimony stands as more than a story—it is a declaration. A declaration that miracles have not ceased. That God still breathes life into impossible situations. That He still covers, protects and responds to the cries of His people.

In a world filled with uncertainty, trauma and sudden crises, believers are called not to live in fear, but in faith. To be prepared, yes—but also to remain anchored in the unshakable truth that God is sovereign over every breath we take.

Because the same God who moved in that moment is the same God who is moving today.

And He is still doing the miraculous.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

A social media post from President Donald Trump is igniting intense backlash and raising deeper questions about faith, power and symbolism in America’s political landscape.

Recently, President Trump shared an image that appeared to depict himself as Jesus Christ—an act that quickly drew criticism and concern from observers who viewed it as crossing a serious line. The post has since been deleted.

The image causing such a stir was first shared by Nick Adams on February 4 on social media with the caption, “America has been sick for a long time. President Trump is healing this nation.”

As Forbes noted, the image added fuel to an already escalating conflict between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, intensifying scrutiny around the president’s rhetoric and actions.

The moment marked more than just another controversial post—it introduced a powerful and provocative layer of religious imagery into an already heated geopolitical and spiritual debate. Even California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to the image by depicting Trump as the Grim Reaper with a ghostly image of Jeffrey Epstein in the background.

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) April 13, 2026

Trump’s Direct Attack on Pope Leo

The controversy surrounding the image comes alongside a sharp and public rebuke of Pope Leo from Trump himself.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, the president did not hold back:

Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID… I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon… Leo should get his act together as Pope… It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church! President DONALD J. TRUMP

As reported by The Hill, Trump’s criticism centers on Pope Leo’s stance against war and his calls for diplomacy in global conflicts. The president framed the pope’s approach as weak, particularly on issues involving Iran and broader foreign policy.

To order Troy Anderson’s book, Designated Disrupter, visit .

Pope Leo Responds Without Fear

Despite the escalating rhetoric, Pope Leo has taken a markedly different tone.

According to Forbes, the pope stated he has “no fear” of the Trump administration and intends to continue speaking on global issues, particularly those involving war and peace.

As the Associated Press noted, the Pope further stated, “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.”

What Is Being Set Up?

The most sobering question may not be about what is happening now—but what it could lead to next.

By stepping into religious imagery and confronting a major global faith leader head-on, Trump is engaging a deeply spiritual audience in a way rarely seen in modern politics. It raises the question: What precedent is being set? By continuing to engage with Christian leaders and even hosting faith-based events, what could happen after he leaves office?

If a future administration arises that is not rooted in biblical Christianity but still speaks the language of religion, the groundwork may already be in place. A culture accustomed to blending political authority with spiritual symbolism could be more susceptible to leadership that appears righteous—but lacks true spiritual alignment.

This is more than a political dispute. It is a moment that sits at the crossroads of influence, belief and identity.

And in times like these, discernment is not optional—it is essential.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Christian music artist Brandon Lake was put on the spot during a Rolling Stone interview with Joseph Hudak who asked how he would be accepted as a “Christian Buddhist” inside the church.

“In terms of Christianity and the church, is there room for that? Is there room for me?” Hudak asked. “And maybe other people who may not identify even remotely Christian. Is there room in the faith and also in CCM and your music for what I just identified as?”

“I would so hope that you felt like the doors were open,” Lake responded. “I think Jesus would love to sit down with you, would love to have this conversation, and you can.”

Lake further expressed a deep hope that just as Jesus is willing to hear from us, he hopes that “the church would also be that open.”

To order Sean Feucht’s new book, No Turning Back, visit .

“Why would you not have a place here?” Lake asked. “Even if we disagree on something, like is that not what the church is supposed to be, is a community?”

Lake then detailed that the only people he recognized as being put in their place by Jesus were the religious Pharisees.

“Doesn’t God call me to love you and to listen?” Lake asked. “I think there’s something we can all learn from one another, even if I know this is the way for me, this the way for mankind to have a relationship with God…”

Lake’s remarks ultimately reflect an ongoing tension many churches navigate today—how to remain rooted in belief while extending a welcoming posture to those exploring or questioning where they belong.

To watch the full interview, click here.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing and odd finds lately is none other than an island in a forbidden location.

A report by the Daily Mail noted that scientists have discovered an island in the Weddell Sea in the Antarctic, in a spot known as a “danger zone.”

This island was discovered by the Alfred Wegener Institute’s icebreaker ship, the Polarstern. The island was discovered because the team needed to find refuge near Joinville Island amid worsening weather conditions.

It was here that the team found a “brown landmass,” as the Daily Mail stated, which was this unexplored island.

Researchers thought the island was a “dirty” iceberg, but upon further inspection, they found that it was, in fact, an island.

To order Dinesh D’Souza’s new book, The End of Time, visit .

However, what they found next is incredibly fascinating.

The team used a drone to explore the island and discovered that it was 130 meters long and 50 meters wide, extending 16 meters beyond the water.

According to the Daily Mail, these measurements make this island “around the same length as the Great Pyramid of Giza.”

As discoveries like this continue to surface, they remind us that the earth still holds mysteries buried beneath layers of time, waiting to be uncovered. The striking comparison to the Great Pyramid of Giza is more than just a measurement—it echoes humanity’s long history of encountering structures and formations that point us back to ancient civilizations and the questions they leave behind.

Scripture tells us that “the secret things belong to the Lord our God” (Deut. 29:29), yet throughout history, God has allowed glimpses of the past to emerge in His perfect timing. From hidden cities to ancient artifacts, these revelations often stir a deeper awareness that creation itself carries testimony of order, design and purpose.

While scientists continue to analyze what this island truly is, believers can take a step back and recognize a greater narrative unfolding—one where history, creation and Scripture are never in conflict, but often converge in ways that awaken wonder, humility and a renewed sense of awe for the God who set it all in motion.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Bible teacher John Bevere believes the Antichrist walks among us — and that the church’s greatest days are still ahead.

He may be a teenager. He may still be a small child. But according to bestselling author, John Bevere, the man the Bible calls the Antichrist is almost certainly alive on the earth right now.

“I actually believe he’s alive today,” Bevere told his son and co-host Arden on a recent episode of The John Bevere Podcast. “He might be an 18-year-old young man. He might be a 7-year-old man.”

“He is the perfect antithesis of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God without measure, this guy is going to be filled with the spirit of Satan without measure.” — John Bevere

Bevere further grounds his timeline in Jesus’ own words. When Christ declared that the generation that sees Israel restored would not pass away before all things are fulfilled, He set a prophetic clock in motion, one that, by Bevere’s reckoning, began ticking in 1967 when Jerusalem was no longer trampled by Gentiles. “I believe between now and 2075,” he said, “we’re going to see the return of Jesus.”

Central to their discussion is a figure Paul calls “the restrainer” in 2 Thessalonians 2, the force holding back the full unleashing of lawlessness. While many theologians have argued this is the Holy Spirit, Bevere pushes back strongly.

“I don’t believe it’s the Holy Spirit,” he said. “The Bible says nobody can confess that Jesus is the Christ without the Holy Spirit. There are going to be a massive amount of people saved in the Tribulation. So if you remove the Holy Spirit, how do people get saved?”

His answer: the restrainer is the church itself. “Think about if we pull every bit of the church out of all sectors of society,” he warned. “You won’t have a Red Cross. You won’t have nursing homes. Utter selfishness will rule and reign.”

“You pull the church out and your world goes to utter darkness — rapidly.” — John Bevere

Arden pushed back on what he called an “escapism mentality” that can paralyze believers.

“If you’re just living in this mentality of the world getting darker and darker,” Arden said, “then the gospel is not being advanced. There’s opportunity in persecution — that persecution is going to lead to more salvation.”

His father agreed without hesitation.

“We, right now, present time, are never to have an escape mentality,” John responded. “We, right now, present time, are to have an advancing-the-kingdom-of-God mentality.”

He compared the church to runners in a 5K — the closer to the finish line, the faster the sprint.

“The kingdom of heaven suffers violence,” he added. “The violent take it by force. We have to have a violent love.”

Yet for all the sobering prophetic weight of the conversation, Bevere closed with something that sounded less like a warning and more like wonder. He said he believes a great end-times revival — what Scripture calls the latter rain — is coming before the catching away of the church, and that the generation to carry it is already here.

“This generation — I’m talking about the 18 to 25 year olds right now — they would die for their faith. I haven’t seen a group of young men and women like this in my lifetime.” — John Bevere

“I’ve never had this kind of urgency in 43 years of ministry,” he said. “I believe the hour is very, very late. We’re approaching the midnight hour. And I don’t want to see you without oil.”

As the end of time draws to a close the question we must all ask now is this: Are we ready for the return of our King?

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

President Donald Trump is not holding back his feelings regarding some of the most influential right-wing podcasters on the internet.

In a post on his Truth Social, Trump blasted commentators Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Alex Jones.

In the post, he wrote:

I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs.

The president continued by pointing out that they have all gone on to make their own podcasts after working at larger networks, and that they are not “MAGA.”

After this, Jones made a video on X, where he said that he prays for Trump to be released from “demonic influences.”

To order Troy Anderson’s new book, Designated Disrupter, visit .

Melania Trump just contradicted her husband and said that the Epstein case cover-up is real and needs to be investigated.

In the below report, I respond to President Trump’s unprecedented attack against myself and his other former top supporters..

— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) April 9, 2026

“At the end of the day, I just feel sorry for him and pray that God touch his heart and soul, free him from the demonic influences that he’s under,” Jones stated. “This is a ‘s gone from wiping out whole civilizations and acting like a super villain; I have to come out and say I don’t support him.”

In a time when voices are clashing and alliances are shifting, the call for discernment has never been more urgent. Scripture reminds us that our struggle is not merely against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces—and moments like this serve as a sobering reminder to pray, seek wisdom and stay grounded in truth as the noise grows louder.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Lana Savchuk’s raw story reveals the hidden spiritual battle behind mental strongholds and why willpower alone will never be enough.

Savchuk had given her life to Christ, married a pastor and started a new life in a new city. By every measure, things should have been good. But something had gone terribly wrong.

“I started to be a completely different person,” Lana Savchuk told her husband Vlad on his podcast. “It started with the feeling of loneliness, then severe nightmares… I felt something was sitting on me. I would come to church, I couldn’t pray anymore.”

The woman her husband had dated was warm, faith-filled and full of life. The woman he was now living with was consumed by jealousy, riddled with hatred toward others, and so tormented in her sleep that he would wake her up to rescue her from the dreams.

“As a husband,” Vlad admitted, “when I met you, that’s not who I encountered during our dating time. So we get married, and now something switched.”

A Perfect Storm for the Enemy

She had moved three and a half hours from her family, stepped into the unfamiliar role of a youth pastor’s wife, planted herself in a new church with no friends, and was trying to figure out marriage — all at once.

“The devil took advantage of the lowest point of my life,” she says. “He knew I couldn’t figure this out on my own.” The stress of that life transition, she believes, activated something that had been lying dormant — a generational pattern of rejection and loneliness she had never been forced to confront before.

To order your copy of Lana Savchuk’s new book, Change Your Mind, visit .

It’s a principle many overlook: you can go 15 or 20 years without repeating a destructive generational cycle, then one major life change can awaken it overnight.

What They Tried That Didn’t Work

In those early years, Lana’s first instinct was to blame herself. “I am such a horrible person. How could I become this person?” she recalls thinking. “I am probably… a bad person, and that’s it.”

Vlad, by his own admission, didn’t help. “I was embarrassed, you know, of your behavior,” he said.

He tried practical fixes, even attempting to get her sister to relocate, hoping familiar company would lift Lana’s depression. Nothing worked.

The typical advice, which is to pray more, think positively, just push through, fell flat. “When it’s more spiritual,” Vlad observes, “the typical advice that works on general issues just usually doesn’t work.”

Deliverance: The First Half of the Coin

When Lana eventually received prayer for deliverance, there was no dramatic manifestation — no screaming, no falling. Vlad came home expecting a transformed wife and saw what looked like the same problems.

However, Lana knew something had shifted at the deepest level. “I felt like the prisoner that held me captive was gone, but I was still in the prison,” she explains. “The Lord gave me a chance to fight back, which before my deliverance I didn’t have.”

Before that prayer, she had been frozen. “People would tell me, well, just fight for yourself. But I couldn’t lift a finger.” Deliverance, she discovered, doesn’t remove the battlefield. It unties your hands so you can actually fight.

Renewing the Mind: The Second Half

What followed was years of deliberate, sometimes painful mind renewal. Lana would sit in her car before college classes and force herself to read the Word of God out loud.

“I’m not going to lie, this was painful to hear,” she says. “Half of me was battling, saying, ‘This is so useless, it’s not going to help me.’ And another part of me would say, ‘continue to fight.'” She describes it as spoon-feeding herself the Word of God — forcefully, faithfully, one day at a time.

The nightmares didn’t stop instantly. The sleep paralysis didn’t vanish overnight. But they became less frequent, less intense, until they almost completely stopped. The hatred toward people slowly gave way to genuine love. The heavy jealousy lifted.

“When I started to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit,” Lana says, “the hatred would be leaving me, and the feeling of love for people would just pour into my heart.”

Two Sides of One Coin

The lesson Lana wants readers of her new book, Change Your Mind: How to Break Mental Strongholds, to walk away with is this: true freedom requires both deliverance and mind renewal.

“If we want to walk in true freedom, we must experience both,” she says. “Deliverance removes the oppressor and gives you a chance for a fight. Demolishing strongholds and renewing the mind is how you actually walk out of the prison.”

For those who feel trapped, Lana’s story is a reminder that the person you were created to be may be closer than you think, all you need is to reach out to God.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

In a powerful and prophetic video, Amanda Grace shared how the current crisis with Iran is a prophetic moment that fits into a current 911 window.

Speaking about the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, Grace pointed out that the timing of this current escalation speaks to a prophetic pattern.

“First of all, President Trump is the 47th president. So, the 47th president on 4/7, April 7, that was the deadline for Iran to come to [an] agreement, or their power plants were going to be attacked,” Grace said.

She also noted that these events were taking place in the middle of Passover, a time which has always been important for the deliverance of God’s people.

To order Amanda Grace’s new book, Brace For Impact, visit .

“The Ayatollah’s regime reigned 47 years,” she continued. “Trump gave the Iranian regime this ultimatum on 4/5, April 5th. So, you have 4/5 and then 4/7. Those dates equal 9/11. Four plus five equals nine, four plus seven is is a literal Passover 911.”

Grace then points audiences back to the book of Exodus to see the rest of this incredible, biblical pattern.

“In the book of Exodus, the Passover showdown happens over a body of water. It happens at the Red Sea, where Pharaoh’s army was ultimately decimated. From 4/5 to 4/7, we witnessed a showdown occur between the United States and Iran over a body of water, the Strait of Hormuz, all during Passover,” Grace said.

Grace believes that just as there was a final showdown at the Red Sea between the Jews and the Egyptians, there may be one more battle at the Strait of Hormuz.

“Continue to be watchmen right now. Be in the Word of God every single day,” she charged audiences with.

As tensions rise and timelines collide in ways that echo Scripture, this moment serves as more than just a geopolitical flashpoint—it is a wake-up call. Just as God delivered His people through the waters in the days of Exodus, believers today are being called to stand firm, discern the times and remain anchored in truth.

In an hour marked by shaking, uncertainty and spiritual confrontation, the charge is clear: stay vigilant. The same God who parted the Red Sea is still sovereign over nations, leaders and outcomes.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

The next generation isn’t lost. They are embracing Jesus with all that they have.

UniteUS had their most recent event at Samford University in Alabama, where thousands of students joined together in praise, worship, prayer, repentance and even baptism.

In a post on Facebook, UniteUS shared about the powerful event:

Samford, that was special!!

UNITE Samford was full of joy, hunger, surrender, and the kind of moments you never really get over. Worship filled the Pete, students lifted up the name of Jesus with everything they had, and then we got to watch baptisms happen on the football field!! What a night. What a God.

So grateful for every student who showed up, every friend who invited someone, every leader who prayed, served, and believed for more, and every life that was touched by the presence of God. Birmingham, you got to be part of something beautiful. Jesus is moving on college campuses, He is still changing lives, and we are so thankful we got to witness it at Samford!!

In a post on Instagram, UniteUS founder Tonya Prewett described the event as one where students were set free of chains and bondage.

To order Kathryn Krick’s new book, Ignite Revival, visit .

God moved at Samford University where thousands of college students gathered for a powerful night of worship. So many students were set free from years of unforgiveness, secret sin and addiction. The testimonies are pouring in. We baptized students until after midnight! To God be the glory!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tonya Prewett (@tonyaprew)

This is more than a moment—it’s a movement.

What happened at Samford University is yet another sign that God is awakening a generation many thought was too far gone. In a time marked by confusion, compromise and spiritual apathy, thousands of young people are running toward the presence of Jesus with bold surrender and hungry hearts.

Chains are breaking, lives are being transformed, and the fire of revival is spreading across college campuses. And if this is any indication of what God is doing right now, one thing is clear: the next generation isn’t walking away from faith—they’re leading a spiritual awakening that could shake the nation.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Christine Marie wasn’t sent in. She chose to go. A cult expert with real education and experience, she relocated from Las Vegas to a remote Utah community — two and a half hours away — where members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were living in the shadow of their imprisoned leader, Warren Jeffs.

In a powerful interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Marie explained why she moved to the area and what she discovered once she was there.

” I moved from Las Vegas, two and a half hours away, to this community. Because I had experience and education, I thought that I could help the people in that community. I went there to help,” Marie said.

What she found was not the stable, if unconventional, community she expected. It was something more dangerous: a power vacuum being filled by one man’s hunger for control.

The parasite prophet

Samuel Bateman had a reputation before he became a so-called prophet. Neighbors described him as a man who was never taken seriously: divorced, dismissed, overlooked. Yet within a fragile community desperately missing its spiritual leader, he found the opening he needed.

“Sam became a parasite off Warren Jeffs. Because people had so much loyalty and love for Warren Jeffs, with Warren Jeffs in prison, Sam started representing that Warren Jeffs was communicating with him, and made himself the new mouthpiece,” she shared.

To order your copy of the Spiritual Warfare Bible, visit .

His following was small — just three converted families — but the damage he did inside those families was catastrophic. Bateman forced the marriage of minors and used his invented prophetic authority to control every aspect of their lives.

The wall of silence

Marie explained that the situation was brought to law enforcement repeatedly. The response was always the same: without a victim willing to come forward, there would be no charges.

“The minute I learned a new piece of evidence, I would let them know, and then the fact that they didn’t act on it was so frustrating to me. But it’s not unique to this town. A lot of law enforcement agencies want a victim before they will charge,” Marie said.

The weight of betrayal

The title of the Netflix docu-series that Christian Marie was part of, Trust Me: The False Prophet, carries a double meaning. It names the lie Bateman told his followers. But it also names the impossible position Christine found herself in.

Director Rachel Dretzin saw this conflict as the emotional spine of the entire film.

“In many ways, Christine is our proxy — the audience learns the story just as she does, in real time. The torture she goes through, the internal conflict, is very central to the story,” Dretzin said.

The hero nobody expected

In the end, the evidence that put Bateman away didn’t come from law enforcement. It came from a mother, Julia, who had five daughters among Bateman’s wives. She broke the community’s code of silence and became, as Christine put it, “the real hero.”

Bateman was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The community, fractured and healing, continues to rebuild. Pray that Bateman’s victims are able to find true healing and restoration through Jesus Christ.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.