Truth Rising: A Call for Christian Courage in a Culture at a Crossroad

The Truth Rising documentary explores the crisis facing Western civilization and calls Christians to act with courage at this pivotal crossroad. The film premiers online on Sept. 5 from Focus on the Family and The Colson Center.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. (August 22, 2025) – Focus on the Family and The Colson Center announce the premiere of a groundbreaking documentary called Truth Rising. The documentary explores the crisis facing Western civilization and showcases stories of ordinary Christians to galvanize others to choose courage at this pivotal crossroad in time.

The global streaming premiere is on September 5 at TruthRising.com. The film is presented by Focus on the Family and The Colson Center and produced by Coldwater Media.

“Museums and history books are full of artifacts of once-dominant civilizations that were, long ago, reduced to ruins,” said Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family. “Detached from the essential truths that rooted and nourished it, the West cannot survive.

The one-and-a-half-hour documentary examines the current state of Western civilization – crisis. Thought leaders in the film conclude that Western civilization has thrived because of its roots in Christianity and the chaos we are beginning to see is the result of a civilization that has abandoned truth. It’s called a civilizational moment.

“A civilizational moment is a period of crisis,” said author and social critic Os Guiness. “When…our civilization completely loses touch with the inspiration that made it what it is…our original dynamism is gone. “It is at this point like all the other civilizations that have come and gone before us that we face three clear options, renew the original inspiration, replace it, or decline.”

In this civilizational moment, Truth Rising inspires Christians to choose to be agents of renewal right where they are by sharing stories from ordinary people who acted with courage. The stories shared in the film include:

• Aayan Hirsi Ali, Founder of HAA Foundation: Despite death threats after the murder of filmmaking partner Theo van Gogh, Ayann courageously continues her work to end cultural practices, like those embraced by Islam, that violate the human rights of women.
• Winston Marshall, former banjoist for Mumford and Sons: Winston courageously left the band to protect his bandmates from relentless backlash against a tweet he shared supporting Unmasked, a pro-democracy, anti-Antifa New York Times best-seller.
• Chloe Cole – After regretting her gender transition as a minor, Chloe Cole detransitioned and in the face of backlash from the transgender community, now boldly warns families of the dangers of gender-affirming care for minors and works to end the gender ideology movement.
• Seth Dillon, CEO of Babylon Bee: When Babylon Bee’s Twitter account (now X) was suspended over a satirical post on gender ideology, CEO Seth Dillon courageously declined to delete it, defending democratic public discourse despite threat of permanent suspension.
• Jack Philips, Owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop: Jack demonstrated courage by declining to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, standing up for religious liberty — a stance that took him all the way to the Supreme Court.
• Katy Faust, Founder of Them Before Us: Katy boldly continued advocating for the rights of children in the family even after a gay blogger doxed members of her church to silence her.

It is through the bold stands of these and more than a dozen others that Truth Rising offers more than just a look at the crisis we face – but makes clear the call we all must answer to overcome it.

“It’s time for Christians to realize they are called by God to this time and this place,” said John Stonestreet president of The Colson Center. “Christians must remember who they are—people of the resurrection, and therefore people of hope. Become a catalyst for renewal right where you are.”

Truth Rising is an invitation for Christians to see this as a critical moment for Western civilization, believe each one of us has been called to this moment by God for a reason, and choose to act with clarity, confidence, and courage right where we are.

“The world is chaotic these days, with so many people living out their own versions of the truth,” said Os Guiness. “But all is not lost. Christ is still in control, and He wants you to be a part of His plan to redeem the world.”

To learn more about Truth Rising and watch the premiere on September 5, visit www.truthrising.com.

About Focus on the Family:

Focus on the Family is a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive in Christ. Each year, we provide biblical resources and guidance to millions of families, strengthening marriages, equipping parents, advocating for children and engaging the culture with www.TruthRising.com truth. As culture shifts, truth remains—unchanging and foundational. Through resources like Truth Rising, we empower families to stand firm in their faith and navigate today’s world with clarity and conviction. Visit Focus at FocusOnTheFamily.com or on Facebook and X.

About the Colson Center:

The Colson Center exists to equip Christians with the clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Our podcasts and digital resources, including Breakpoint, the Identity Project, and the What Would You Say? video series equip hundreds of thousands of Christians each year with the clarity they need to celebrate good, resist evil, create what’s missing, and restore what’s broken right where God has placed them. Our formation programs, Colson Fellows and Colson Educators, have equipped thousands of men and women to pursue their vocational callings and daily lives with a courageous faith. To learn more about the Colson Center, visit the website, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on X.

Media Contacts:

Focus on the Family: Gary Schneeberger

The Colson Center: Krista Buckel

press@truthrising.com