TWE Speaker Challenges Students to Cultivate a ‘Persistent Faith’
Published: February 27, 2026
Author: Dave Bell
The woman who serves as the CEO of one of the nation’s leading Christian magazines recently urged Greenville University students to double down rather than bail out when they encounter challenges.
“We’re willing to commit to something when things are good, and the progress is easy,” said Nicole Martin, the chief executive officer of Christianity Today magazine. “But the moment things get hard, we drop out; we take the easy path.”
Instead, Martin urged students to adopt a “persistent faith” at The Wednesday Experience on February 11.
“We’re in a global crisis of low persistence,” she said. “But living a life of faith in Jesus is not always one of comfort. Often, it requires us to do as Jesus challenged his disciples to do – to take up our cross and follow him.
“The value of spiritual discipline is that it’s necessary to help us through hard times,” she added. “We must remember that God often uses those hard paths to lead us to pleasant places.”
Martin published a book last fall called Nailing It, in which she asserts that “successful leadership demands suffering and surrender.” In the book, she advocates “crucifying” seven characteristics that hinder effective leadership: power, ego, speed, performance, perfection, loyalty, and scale.
For her TWE presentation, she focused on the impact of persistent prayer. She said it is crucial because:
- Persistent prayer pleases God. “It’s about coming to God with our needs. He loves to hear our voice.”
- Persistent prayer brings about justice. “We are called to pray about injustices. We must believe that God will right those wrongs.”
- Persistent prayer increases our faith. “God tells us to pray without ceasing. Through those prayers, God strengthens us and helps us overcome the difficulties of this world.”
God wants to help believers play the long game, she said, by doing the everyday things that build spiritual resilience.
“Prayer is spiritual warfare,” Martin added. “Though it, God is strengthening us for the fight ahead. We can overcome the Devil and his tactics if we have prepared ourselves through persistent prayer.
“In all circumstances, seek him. He promises to meet us, strengthen us, and provide for our needs.”
Following the TWE address, Martin held a question-and-answer exchange with GU faculty, staff, and student leaders. In that session, she spoke more about her leadership book, Nailing It. She said that the Christian message of “dying to self” runs counter to society, which is built on selfishness.
“How do we make a compelling case for the Gospel?” she asked. “How do we live lives that are notable and different? By being willing to serve others rather than thrusting ourselves into the spotlight to be served. But embracing that servant’s attitude isn’t easy. It can happen only when we know we are deeply loved and accepted by God. Then we’re free to serve others.”
