When hopelessness drives destruction, faith restores purpose.
The Rise of Nihilistic Violent Extremism
In April 2025, the FBI began using the term Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) to describe a new and deeply troubling type of attacker, someone who harms or kills simply because they believe nothing really matters.
These individuals, overwhelmingly young men between 15 and 25 years old, commit acts of shocking brutality for the depraved thrill of destruction itself. Their rambling manifestos, often incoherent and self-pitying, reveal a deep resentment toward society and life itself. In their minds, everyone has wronged them, and the world deserves their anger.
To most rational people, this kind of twisted worldview is incomprehensible.
Beneath this rage lies a dangerous mix of mental health struggles, alienation, and hopelessness. Many NVEs show signs of suicidal thinking, convinced that life has no meaning or future. Even more disturbing, they are now using online spaces to groom lonely, vulnerable youth, to embrace the same despairing worldview.
For most of us, it’s hard to comprehend such darkness. Yet it’s a reality quietly festering in the corners of our digital culture, feeding on despair and disconnection.
A Different Path: The Herald of Christ
Standing in stark contrast to this culture of death and meaninglessness is a very different kind of young man, the Herald of Christ (HoC).
A HoC is typically between 16 and 19 years old, but what defines him is not his age; it’s his purpose. He has spent years learning what it means to love and serve others, to build rather than destroy, to bring light rather than darkness.
Through the intentional discipleship of Christian Service Brigade, he has discovered that God’s love gives life meaning. The HoC understands that because of God’s extravagant love for us, we are called to love and serve others. While he recognizes the chaos and confusion of the world, he views it through the lens of Scripture, confident that God remains sovereign even when life feels uncertain.
Because of God’s extravagant love for us, we are called to love and serve others.
He does not walk this path alone. He is surrounded by godly men who mentor and invest in him, showing by their example what it means to live with courage, humility, and faith. Through these relationships, the HoC develops a deep sense of belonging and purpose, qualities the NVE tragically lacks.
Mentorship That Builds a Future
The difference between the HoC and the NVE is more than ideology; it’s discipleship versus despair.
The Herald of Christ has been shaped by mentors who believe in him and call him to something higher. He has learned that life is not meaningless but sacred, and that God calls each of us to engage the world as agents of redemption.
“God wants each of us to go find some unredeemed corner of culture and claim it for the glory of Christ.”— Patrick Morley
This conviction is at the heart of the Herald of Christ Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a young man within Christian Service Brigade. It recognizes a life shaped by discipleship, leadership, and service to others.
While not every Brigade leader is equipped to handle clinical mental health challenges, they are trained to use proven, activity-driven resources that build trust, inspire growth, and remind young men that they are valued and capable of making a difference. These leaders show boys that God has a plan for their lives, that hope is real, and that serving others brings true fulfillment.
In a generation often plagued by hopelessness, the Herald of Christ stands as a radiant example that life, with God’s help, is not only worth living, but worth giving away in service to others.
About Christian Service Brigade
Christian Service Brigade exists to equip men to disciple and develop boys into Christlike servant-leaders who influence their world for God’s glory.
