5 Professional Athletes Who Are Outspoken About Their Faith
By Movieguide® Contributor
Professional athletes have great influence in the media. Movieguide® celebrates the pro athletes who talk about their faith in the press and on social media. From Masters Champion Scottie Shefler to Former NFL star Tim Tebow, these famous athletes give all the glory to God.
Scottie Shefler
Pro-golfer Scottie Shefler is the 2024 Masters Champion and is vocal about leaning on his faith, giving credit to God for his success on and off the green. He’s a Christian and devoted husband to his wife, Meredith. Shefler speaks about his relationship with Jesus during interviews and is a shining example of a professional athlete using his platform to advance the kingdom of God.
During a post-tournament interview, Sheffler spoke about finding his identity in Christ.
“I believe that today’s plans were already laid out many years ago, and I could do nothing to mess up those plans.”
“I’ve been given a gift of this talent, and I use it for God’s glory,” he continued. “That’s pretty much it. So when I’m out there, I try to compete to the best of my abilities. Like I said, I really want to win. I feel like that’s how I was designed. I’ve been that way since I was a young kid. That’s always been a part of me. And I don’t think that should be going away anytime soon. I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with that, either. But at the end of the day, like I said, my identity is secure already. And I get to go out here and compete, have fun, enjoy it. And then at the end of the day, win or lose, my identity is secure.”
Kyle Gibson
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Gibson is passionate about his love of baseball and the Lord. He shares his testimony about how God used a high school injury to set him on the right path and deepen his faith. After an elbow injury when he was 15 years old, Gibson attended a Christian retreat where dove into his walk with Jesus and returned with a transformed heart.
Gibson spoke about the life-changing moment in Sports Spectrum’s “I Once Was” series.
“I had realized that Jesus has this priority in my life and what he has done for me is something that baseball, something that man, anything else can’t do,” Gibson described. “It just gave me a completely new perspective on life, and it gave me something to base my life and identity on.”
“No longer was I a baseball player who went to church,” he explained. “I was a follower of Christ and a believer in Jesus that played baseball. It gave me something to always be rooted in and it has given me something to always guide me and give me a sense of direction.”
Tim Tebow
Former NFL star Tim Tebow has dedicated his life to helping others and praises the Lord for his accomplishments. He’s the author of the book “Mission Impossible,” which focuses on God’s purpose for our lives. He’s the founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, serving disabled children and protecting the most vulnerable from sex trafficking.
Tebow wrote on his Instagram, “IG Fam, what are you most passionate about in life? Are you more passionate about that than Jesus?”
In the vlog, Tebow said, “What are you most passionate about? It doesn’t mean those things are wrong. Being passionate about sports isn’t wrong. Being passionate about school isn’t wrong. Being passionate about your job, your occupation, I would say it’s a good thing.”
“But is it more than Jesus? Is it more than the call on your life? Is it more than hurting people? Or is it in its proper place?” he asked.
Russell Wilson
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is another Christian pro-athlete who glorifies God and points to his faith throughout his football career. He thanks the Lord in the press and boldly shares his walk with fans.
“They may cheer for you. They may boo you. They’ll love you one day, and they’ll hate you the next. That’s sports. At the end of the day, I’m going to keep competing. I’m going to keep battling. I know who I am. First of all, I think for me, I’m just grateful God’s given me the chance to play this game,” he said in a post-game interview,
“I gave everything I had every day [with the Seahawks]…and God brought me somewhere else,” Wilson stated. “I’m here, I’m in Denver and I’m excited about it. I’m excited where we’re going. I’m just grateful. I give the glory to God because He’s given me the gift of playing this game.”
“It’s all for His glory, and His glory alone,” he added. “It’s not for anybody else’s. I play for an audience of One, and that’s just for Him. And so, I’m just grateful I get to be with these guys in this locker room. I’ve been around some amazing teammates in the past, and I’ve got some amazing teammates currently.”
Bethany Hamilton
Pro-surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm during a shark attack and hasn’t let her tragedy affect her relationship with God negatively. Her inspirational story has exposed the world to her faith and shined a light on the healing power of Christ through her struggle.
Hamilton posted a powerful message to her fans on Instagram.
“Living my life so much in the public’s eye has been extremely challenging and yet very beautiful at the same time!” she wrote. “Receiving letters from people all over the world, saying I inspired them to keep going as they faced their hardship… led me to step outside of my comfort zone to encourage and bless others.”
“As much as I wanted to hide on my little island, I decided to enter into the spotlight, and I hoped that my story would continue to be a light to others,” she shared.“I am so glad I made the decision I did–even when it hasn’t been easy.”
“God gave me the strength when I was weak,” Hamilton continued. “I am so honored to be able to keep bringing hope to other people. It has been so amazing to see how God has used my life in ways I never imagined!”
“You can be a light to others in your life if you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone too!” she concluded.
