Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson Spotlights Persecuted Christians with Custom Cleats
One of the NFL’s rising stars is using his platform to support persecuted Christians around the world.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson of the New England Patriots wore specially designed cleats in the team’s Monday game supporting Global Christian Relief, a non-profit organization that delivers emergency aid, housing, legal support, Bibles, and training to persecuted Christians across the planet. Global Christian Relief was formerly known as Open Doors USA.
The unique cleats were part of the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign, which allows players to highlight charities and causes meaningful to them through customized footwear worn during games.
Henderson’s cleats included a map of the world, a depiction of blood drops, a Bible reference (Matthew 5:10), and the Global Christian Relief logo.
I’m partnering with @GC_Relief for #MyCauseMyCleats to honor Persecuted Christians around the world. Many persecuted Christians have lost their lives, family members, their homes, some have lost everything. However, persecuted Christians continue to show perseverance and… pic.twitter.com/hWYhvgp5J6
— TreVeyon Henderson (@TreVeyonH4) November 29, 2025
“When you read the Bible and you look at what Jesus teaches us and what He warns us – just about the persecution that we will face for following Him – you don't see too much of that [and] I know that there's a lot of it going on, but there's not much awareness about it,” Henderson said in a video recorded for Global Christian Relief.
“It really just opened my eyes, because – the things that Christ was warning us about, you know, I started to realize that that is still happening today.”
The blood drops, he said, represent not only Christ’s blood but also the blood of the persecuted church.
“The blood that has been shed on the cross, the blood that has been shed for people who have lost their lives for pursuing and following Christ – this symbolizes just the faithfulness of the persecuted church, that despite the blood that's being shed, one thing that they're not losing is just their faith,” Henderson said.
Matthew 5:10 reads: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The faithfulness of persecuted Christians, Henderson said, encourages him to be courageous and bold, noting that in the United States, “we face very little persecution, compared to what they're facing.”
“They're still faithful to Christ. They're still trusting Jesus,” he said.
The Patriots defeated the New York Giants 33-15, with Henderson rushing for 67 yards and catching three passes for 19 yards.
Related Article
Brock Purdy Shines a Light on Samaritan’s Purse Through NFL Cleats Campaign
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images / Kathryn Riley / Contributor
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published December 04, 2025.
