With the growing availability of Christian shows like “The Chosen” and “The Wingfeather Saga” along with movies like “The Jesus Revolution” and “Big George Foreman,” Christian actors are being given more and more opportunities to share their faith with the world. One such actor, Brett Varvel, is getting to do so as he promotes the release of his movie, “Running the Bases,” on home video. According to the film’s summary, it tells the story of how “A small-town baseball coach gets the offer of a lifetime from a larger 6A High School, he uproots his family and leaves the only home he’s ever known. But as a man of faith, he soon faces extreme opposition to his coaching methods from the school superintendent.”

Varvel’s love of film started early, with the first film he created at 18 winning an award and bringing someone to Christ. Varvel told Christian Headlines it was a defining moment. “It was in that moment [where] God was saying, ‘Imagine what I could do through you,’” he said. From that moment on, he realized just how short life is and the urgency behind reaching others with the Gospel. “I’m going to stand before a holy and righteous God, and He’s going to ask, ‘What did you do with these talents and abilities I gave you?’ And so for me, just personally, I see no greater urgency than to use what I’ve got … to just proclaim Jesus. That’s my conviction. It’s not everybody’s conviction. But that’s’ what gets me out of bed in the morning,” he added.

Varvel’s character in “Running Bases”, Luke Brooks, confronts a choice that many Christians find themselves facing- what to do when their faith and career are at odds? Varvel summed up the decision as “Am I gonna take a couple on the chin and stay obedient to Christ, or am I going to stay comfortable and give in to the way that the world works?” It’s an all-too familiar situation when Christians like Jack Phillips are sued for refusing to make a gay wedding cake or a football coach like Joseph Kennedy loses his job for praying on the field after hours. Varvel stated he is encouraged by the way acting has opened the doors to sharing his faith in the film industry. “It’s really just Christ working in me. And so that’s been really cool to see how God can work in this industry,” he said.

Varvel’s faith comes with having seen God work personally through hard times. In 2012, he was working on the film “The War Within” with his dad and soon found himself replacing his family with work. “I had replaced my ministry for [my wife] with my job. I was never home, and we were fighting a lot and blaming each other,” he told Pure Flix Insider. They soon found themselves facing financial hardship as money ran out for the movie. “I became very, very burdened for my family. I became angry with myself. I started questioning God at times. God was literally stripping my job away from me to shake me and make me realize that He’s the provider. I finally just said ‘Lord, I’m done trying. You’re gonna have to take over.’ And He did.” God saw his family through the financial struggles and a needed medical procedure on his son, Damon, after he was born. “I was experiencing my own war within. And now I will boldly be able to say for the rest of my life that God truly is enough,” said Varvel of the experience. He went on to be in several other films, including a role in the Zachary Levi-led Kurt Warner biopic, “American Underdog.”