Audio By Carbonatix

As a teenager, Nate Deen ran track -- not just because he loved running, but because it gave him access to a shower. Such was his life as a homeless teen. Living out of his car, Nate learned to be resourceful. 

"I did things to survive," Nate says today.

Eventually, a teacher named Stan reached out to Nate. He mentored him and supported him. On one occasion, he even bailed Nate out of jail. 

Nate's story is retold in the upcoming Angel Studios movie Brave the Dark (PG-13), which follows Nate as he confronts his tragic past and gets his life on track. It's in theaters beginning Jan. 24. 

The film is a "redemptive story," though it takes a journey to get there, Nate told Crosswalk Headlines. He grew up in the foster system.

"I had a very traumatic childhood," he said. "I became an angry young man, and I really didn't trust anyone, including the various foster parents that I stayed with. Some of them were great. I ran away one morning, and no one ever came looking for me, and no one seemed to care. And so I lived in my car for the next two years." 

Nate attended school while keeping a secret from his teachers: He was homeless.

"Through the help of a teacher, I got through all of those things, and now I'm strong enough," he said. "I've healed from all of that, and it's pretty heavy stuff, and the fact is I'm healed from it. And now I can tell my story and hope that others will be able to tell their stories."

Despite Nate's attempts to push him away, Stan continued to reach out and never gave up.

"He met me where I was," Nate said. "He saw me in class and saw my clothes were a little dirty sometimes, and I looked really skinny. Others kind of just didn't care. …He saw me in that moment and literally changed my life."

Eventually, Nate took Stan's last name, Deen, as a way to honor him. He also launched the Stan Deen Foundation, which assists underserved students through education and the arts.

"Everybody needs at least just one person that's going to care for them -- that they can trust. And that was Stan for me," Nate told Crosswalk Headlines. "I also want people to be like Stan, [to be] a Stan Deen in their community. Go out and help someone else, maybe not to the extent that Stan did for me, but those small acts of kindness go so far. You never know how giving someone something at a time that they're needed [can change them]. They need it. It's just so important."

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A post shared by Angel Studios (@angelstudios_inc)

Brave the Dark is rated PG-13 for domestic violence/bloody images, suicide, some strong language, teen drinking, drug material, and smoking. 

Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios

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.

Audio By Carbonatix

As a teenager, Nate Deen ran track -- not just because he loved running, but because it gave him access to a shower. Such was his life as a homeless teen. Living out of his car, Nate learned to be resourceful. 

"I did things to survive," Nate says today.

Eventually, a teacher named Stan reached out to Nate. He mentored him and supported him. On one occasion, he even bailed Nate out of jail. 

Nate's story is retold in the upcoming Angel Studios movie Brave the Dark (PG-13), which follows Nate as he confronts his tragic past and gets his life on track. It's in theaters beginning Jan. 24. 

The film is a "redemptive story," though it takes a journey to get there, Nate told Crosswalk Headlines. He grew up in the foster system.

"I had a very traumatic childhood," he said. "I became an angry young man, and I really didn't trust anyone, including the various foster parents that I stayed with. Some of them were great. I ran away one morning, and no one ever came looking for me, and no one seemed to care. And so I lived in my car for the next two years." 

Nate attended school while keeping a secret from his teachers: He was homeless.

"Through the help of a teacher, I got through all of those things, and now I'm strong enough," he said. "I've healed from all of that, and it's pretty heavy stuff, and the fact is I'm healed from it. And now I can tell my story and hope that others will be able to tell their stories."

Despite Nate's attempts to push him away, Stan continued to reach out and never gave up.

"He met me where I was," Nate said. "He saw me in class and saw my clothes were a little dirty sometimes, and I looked really skinny. Others kind of just didn't care. …He saw me in that moment and literally changed my life."

Eventually, Nate took Stan's last name, Deen, as a way to honor him. He also launched the Stan Deen Foundation, which assists underserved students through education and the arts.

"Everybody needs at least just one person that's going to care for them -- that they can trust. And that was Stan for me," Nate told Crosswalk Headlines. "I also want people to be like Stan, [to be] a Stan Deen in their community. Go out and help someone else, maybe not to the extent that Stan did for me, but those small acts of kindness go so far. You never know how giving someone something at a time that they're needed [can change them]. They need it. It's just so important."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Angel Studios (@angelstudios_inc)

Brave the Dark is rated PG-13 for domestic violence/bloody images, suicide, some strong language, teen drinking, drug material, and smoking. 

Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios

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.