When Seth Gruber talks about courage, he doesn't begin with himself.
Instead, he points to the stories of believers who came before him.
During a recent conversation with Crystal Thornton, the author, speaker and filmmaker shared how history has shaped both his faith and his calling.
One story in particular helped shape both his ministry and his message.
Hear more of Thornton's conversation with Gruber in the podcast below.
The Story Behind The White Rose
As a young man, Gruber became fascinated by the story of the White Rose Resistance, a group of Christian students in Nazi Germany who risked their lives to speak out against evil.
Among them was Sophie Scholl, a 21-year-old woman whose courage and faith would eventually inspire the name of his ministry.
"She came from a Christian family," Gruber said. "She had dreams of becoming a school teacher."
After discovering a leaflet from the White Rose Resistance, Scholl joined the movement and helped distribute messages calling people to wake up to what was happening around them.
The group's work came at a tremendous cost, but their witness left a lasting impression on Gruber.
"It's an inspiring story," he said.
Today, schools and streets in Germany bear the names of Sophie Scholl and other members of the White Rose Resistance.
Why History Still Matters
For Gruber, stories like Sophie Scholl's are more than historical accounts.
They are reminders that faithfulness often begins with ordinary people who are willing to take a stand for what is right.
"We need those stories. We need that witness," he said.
Throughout his ministry, Gruber has encouraged Christians to learn from believers who came before them and to remember the ways God worked through previous generations.
"When we don't know the stories of faithfulness and Christian heroes who came before us who faced the same manifestations of evil, it's hard for us to stand faithfully for the Lord in our day," he said.
God Uses Ordinary People
Throughout the conversation, Gruber returned to a simple idea: God often works through people who never expected to make a significant impact.
"The Lord delights to use ordinary people with no platforms, no big podcasts, no big social media following to do extraordinary things," he said.
Gruber believes Christians sometimes underestimate the significance of everyday faithfulness.
"Ordinary moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas in the ordinary aspects of their own lives choosing to be faithful creates the coolest stories," he said.
That conviction continues to shape his ministry and his work.
A Message of Hope
Gruber's latest book and documentary project, The Last Stand: Christ or Chaos, explore stories of faith, courage and perseverance throughout history.
The project highlights believers who remained faithful during difficult times and encourages Christians to consider what faithfulness looks like in their own generation.
While the stories span centuries, Gruber says the message remains remarkably relevant today.
"God is the giver of life. Life is His idea," he said.
Looking Ahead
For Gruber, the stories that matter most are often the ones that never make headlines.
Throughout history, he says, God has worked through ordinary believers who were willing to trust Him and remain faithful where He had placed them.
It's a reminder that faithfulness isn't reserved for people with large platforms or public influence.
More often, it begins with ordinary people who choose obedience in their everyday lives.
And those are the stories Gruber believes are still worth telling.
Learn More
Seth Gruber's latest book, The Last Stand: Christ or Chaos, is accompanied by a documentary project that explores faith, history and the enduring impact of believers whose courage and conviction shaped future generations.
Watch the trailer and learn more about the book below.