Ben Affleck: 'Boundless Love'
The son of an alcoholic, actor Ben Affleck has achieved great success in the film industry. Yet, he has struggled with his own alcoholism for many years. He attended the Episcopal church during childhood but then left the Christian faith, only to rediscover it years later with the help of his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.
Through Garner, Affleck learned about "the ability to reach outside of yourself and take strength from something outside of human understanding." That renewed faith in God has profoundly affected his life, he says.
"The concept that God, through Jesus, embraces and pardons all of us – from those we admire to those we might judge or resent – is powerful…. If God can show such boundless love… it serves as a profound model of how we should strive to be."
Darryl Strawberry: From Baseball Star to Addict to Christian Speaker
Former New York Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry is a baseball legend, but addiction, divorce, cancer and legal woes stained his personal life for years. In 1999, the eight-time All-Star pleaded no contest to cocaine possession and solicitation of a prostitute, and in 2002, he served 11 months in prison following numerous parole violations.
Yet, God changed Strawberry's life. The baseball superstar accepted Christ as his Savior and now crisscrosses the country with his wife, Dr. Tracy Strawberry, to share messages of hope and restoration through Jesus.
Strawberry is the best-selling author of Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life, while Dr. Strawberry penned The Courage to Heal.
Kat Von D: 'A Spiritual Battle'
Katherine von Drachenberg – aka Kat Von D -- found fame as a tattoo artist and star of the "LA Ink" reality TV show before renouncing witchcraft and the occult in 2023. "I've always found beauty in the macabre, but at this point, I just had to ask myself, 'What is my relationship with this content?'" she said.
Von D explained her conversion by saying, "It's never been more clear to me that there is a spiritual battle taking place, and I want to surround myself and my family with love and light."
She also became aware of her Christian friends' happiness and the misery her occultist friends felt. The realization led her to a major decision in her own life. She no longer wanted "to invite any of these (occult) things into our family's lives, even if it comes disguised in beautiful covers, collecting dust on my shelves."
Daddy Yankee: 'Everything Is Possible'
Born Ramon Luis Ayala Rodriguez, Daddy Yankee is a Puerto Rican singer, rapper and songwriter who's known as the "King of Reggaeton." He is a pioneering figure in the genre and one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time. Reggaeton, which originated in Panama during the 1980s, blends Jamaican reggae and dancehall with hip-hop.
The past few months have been turbulent for the singer-rapper. He and his wife, Mireddys Gonzalez, experienced a "very public divorce," and he also filed a lawsuit against her and several others. He accused them of siphoning millions of dollars in revenue from music royalties. The former couple later reached a partial agreement.
The ugly dispute erupted after the singer retired from music in late 2023 to focus on his newfound Christian faith. Despite the conflict, Daddy Yankee said, "Today more than ever, I trust that God has a perfect purpose in every situation we face. This agreement is a sign that, with faith and perseverance, everything is possible."
Robert Downey Jr: Surrendering to a 'Higher Power'
Robert Downey Jr. has come a long way since being involved in numerous scandals in the 1990s and early 2000s. During that time, he served 15 months of a three-year prison sentence for frequent parole violations related to drug and weapons charges.
The actor has remained sober since 2003, according to several media sources. He has said little about his religious beliefs, but admitted he isn't affiliated with any single, "restrictive" religion. He has, however, dabbled in Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism and believes that "surrendering to a higher power" gives him a reason to stay sober.
Sobriety has allowed Downey to make a surprising comeback in films. He has starred in movies such as 2005's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," 2008's "The Avengers," 2009's "Sherlock Holmes", and 2023's "Oppenheimer," for which he received an Oscar nomination.
Downey says his faith is grounded in forgiveness, humility and taking responsibility for one's actions. He credits his faith and the support of his wife, Susan, and friends, such as Mel Gibson, for the turnaround.
Nala Ray: Sharing Her Faith
Nala Ray is a former top model on the sexually explicit website OnlyFans. She made millions of dollars by posting graphic content of herself on the site, which is a popular platform for sex workers and adult content creators. Now she speaks against it.
Ray's life choices are deeply rooted in the chaos she experienced as a child and during her young adulthood. When she was very young, a tornado destroyed her home. Later, her parents divorced, and her father abandoned the family. Eventually, her father returned and remarried her mother. He then decided to become a Baptist preacher, which led to an erratic ministry. His life took another dark turn when he became involved with drugs and was convicted on charges of stalking and threatening her mother with a gun and a knife. This conviction carries a 20-year prison sentence. Ray is requesting prayers for her family.
While some people question the sincerity of her conversion, Ray insists she is a born-again Christian. She is now married to a devout Christian and shares her faith on social media rather than explicit images of herself on OnlyFans.
