By Mallory Mattingly
Orlando Magic power forward Jonathan Isaac’s faith gives him courage to speak out on controversial topics.
“People would look at me and go, ‘Oh, this guy. He’s so courageous. He’s got no fear.’ I really just stand on what it is that I feel like I believe for myself,” Isaac told Fox News Digital. “But honestly, everything that is happening, if it’s standing in the bubble, if it’s not taking the vaccine, I’ve done all that terrified, because I know that it’s something that is controversial. I know it’s going against the grain. I know that, you know, it’s not necessarily the common position, the one that everybody holds.”
But no matter what he stands against, Isaac rests knowing that he’s “making the right decision for me.”
“I’ve just tried my best to, like, hold true to my beliefs and walk those out,” he explained. “You know, my mind can change over time. I’m not closed off to other opinions. I’m not closed off with anybody else’s things, but I’ve got to live with myself and do right by what I feel like is the right decision.”
“It’s just what happens that some of them have been on a world stage in front of everybody watching, which is good and bad, you know, for when it comes to just feedback. But, you know, it’s just part of it. I’ve done it all scared, but I put my trust in Christ, and just kind of put one foot in front of the other,” the basketball star added.
Isaac’s commitment to his beliefs led him to start his clothing line, UNITUS.
“Isaac knew what it was like to be pulled in every direction. In the noise and pressure, it was easy to lose sight of the truth,” UNITUS’ website reads.
“He began to dream of a simple way to stay grounded in his faith — something practical he could carry with him, on the court and in everyday life,” the website continued. “Jonathan shared the idea with his longtime pastor and mentor, Bishop Dr. Durone Hepburn. Together, they founded Unitus: a faith-forward footwear and apparel brand designed to help believers stay connected to Christ.”
UNITUS is all about wearing “what you love.. Without compromising what you believe,” Isaac said in a post on social media.
Related: Jonathan Isaac Launches Basketball Shoe Line with Bible Verses: ‘Live Bold’
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Isaac is willing to stand up for what he believes in, even when it’s on a global stage. But he couldn’t push through the fear without Jesus’ strength.
Read Next: Jonathan Isaac Reflects on Standing for National Anthem: ‘Going to Trust God’
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