In a recent interview with Church Publishing, author Russell J. Levenson Jr. reflected on key insights that emerged from his work on Witness to Belief. The book brings together conversations with 12 public figures, including Denzel Washington, Jane Goodall, Francis Collins, Nikki Haley, Amy Grant, Gary Sinise, and Sam Waterston. Despite their having widely different vocations and life experiences, he identified a consistent thread: faith shaped how they lived. It guided their decisions, steadied them in hardship, and grounded their sense of purpose.

Moments of difficulty brought that insight into sharp relief. “Almost all of them had faced significant crises—often more than one,” he noted. Amy Grant spoke candidly about major health challenges, reflecting that “God’s business office is often at the end of my rope.” Gary Sinise described the stabilizing role of faith and church community during the long illness and death of his son. Francis Collins shared how his family responded to trauma, and how his daughter later transformed that experience into a life of healing others. Nikki Haley recalled relying on prayer while supporting a grieving community after the 2015 church shooting in Charleston.

Levenson was equally struck by the discipline behind their conviction. Sam Waterston’s long-standing practice of daily meditation offered one example of how faith is formed over time. And before one conversation began during the interviews, Denzel Washington paused and asked, “Don’t you think we should pray first?” Levenson saw a clear pattern: faith lived out in everyday actions and decisions.

These conversations reshaped Levenson’s own understanding of belief. Faith, he found, is not static. It deepens over time through family, community, disciplined practice, and a commitment to serve.