Tag Archives: Christian Celebrity

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Speaks Boldly About Abstinence

Super Bowl winning quarterback Russell Wilson told a crowd at a San Diego church over the weekend that he and his superstar girlfriend Ciara are waiting until marriage for physical intimacy because that’s “God’s plan.”

The topic of sex came up when Pastor Miles McPherson of The Rock Church asked Wilson about his life and beliefs and how he lives out his faith in daily life.

“I met this girl named Ciara who was the most beautiful woman in the world, the most kind person, the most engaging person, everything that I could ever want,” he explained. “She was on tour and I was looking at her in the mirror, and she was sitting there. And God spoke to me and said ‘I need you to lead her.’ And I was like, ‘Really? Right now?’ And he goes, ‘No, I want you and need you to lead her.’ And I asked her, ‘What would you do if we took all that extra stuff off the table? And just did it Jesus’ way?’”

Pastor McPherson then had him clarify Wilson was talking about sex.

“Yeah, we’re talking about sex… Can we love each other without that? If you can really love someone without that then you can really love somebody… I ain’t gonna lie to y’all now. I need y’all to pray for us. Because I know y’all have seen her on the screen now. If there’s a 10, she’s a 15. Pray for me, keep my mind clear, keep my heart clear.”

The stance of Wilson for God’s way of dating and dealing with sex has made him a target in some media outlets.  Entertainment channel E! posted an article on its website mocking Wilson.

“He is better than you, he is better than me, and he is better than possibly even Jesus himself,” writer Seija Rankin posted at eonline.com.

“Real Housewives Of Orange County” Star Gets Baptized

Tamra Judge, one of the stars of the TV show “Real Housewives of Orange County”, has accepted Christ and been baptized.

She is proclaiming forgiveness for her ex-husband after a messy divorce and child custody battle.  She said during her baptism ceremony that she hopes they will be able to grow into a peaceful relationship for the benefit of their children.

She came to Christ after a friend invited her to church.

“I was never baptized as a kid, and I was never brought up in church and I haven’t raised my kids in the church, it was something that was very foreign to me,” she shared. “When I was going through everything I was going through, I was at work one day and this woman came up to me at my studio — she goes ‘would you like to go to church with me?’ and I said ‘yes.'”

“So I took my kids to church and [my husband] Eddie went with me and my life just kind of changed, it was very powerful. And I think that with religion and accepting the Lord into your life and your heart, it’s a personal journey.”

People who had watched the show over the years have been critical of Judge, saying that her conversion isn’t real and just for the show.

“I got baptized on the show and [Bravo] has been using that for all their commercials so I talked with my pastor about it and he said ‘listen, being on a reality show and showing this, you’re probably going to get a lot of negative feedback,'” Judge recalled. “And I said ‘I know; I don’t know if I want to do it, because there could be a lot of negative about it and people can say she’s just doing that because she had a bad year last year.’”

“I think in the past six months I’ve felt like a new person, but it’s just one of those things where I wanted to make it right with the Lord and I knew the journey I was on. I’m not saying like, I’m perfect and I’m not saying I’m at church every single Sunday. I try to go every Sunday, I’m joining a Bible study … as you know, your mindset changes [after being baptized].”

NBA FInals MVP Thanks God For Win

The MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals says that his team is “full of believers” and thanked God for his win of the award.

“(We’ve) got a team full of believers. We all say God has a way for you and a purpose for you,” Iguodala, 31, said after receiving the MVP honor. “I want to be just like Steph (Curry) when I grow up — just a God fearing man.”

Stephen Curry of the Warriors, the NBA regular season MVP, has routinely given God glory for his success.

“Sometimes people make it seem like you have to have certain prerequisites or a crazy life story in order to be successful in this world. But the truth is you really don’t,” Curry said after accepting his MVP trophy earlier this year. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you have or don’t have, what you lack or what you have too much of. But all you need to have is faith in God, an undying passion for what you do and what you choose to do in this life, and a relentless drive and the will to do whatever it takes to be successful in whatever you put your mind to.”

Curry wrote earlier this year in a piece for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes the depth of Christ’s influence on his team:

“Fast-forward to now—my fourth year with the Warriors—and my faith continues to be my driving force. God’s blessed me with an awesome support system in Oakland, starting with my head coach, Mark Jackson, who is a pastor of a congregation in Southern California. It’s rare to have such an outspoken believer leading an NBA team. We also have about 10 guys on our team who attend our pregame chapels and pray together before games,” he wrote.

Curry and Iguodala helped the Warriors win their first NBA title since 1975 on Tuesday night with a 105-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Star of Fox Hit TV Show “Empire” Says “Without God, I’m Nothing”

Taraji P. Henson, breakout star of the Fox show “Empire”, told the crowd at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards she is “nothing without God.”

“Thank you God, because without God, I’m nothing,” said Henson. “And the fans. I love awards, they’re great, but this just means I’m touching lives, and that’s why I got into acting.”

Henson had just received the award for Best Actress for her portrayal of “Cookie Lyon” on “Empire”.  The Academy Award and Primetime Emmy award nominee has been very bold about her Christian faith and how God drives her.

“I moved to California with $700 in my pocket with my son and a dream and faith,” explained Henson to the Christian Post. “And every time a door would close I would pray to God, like ‘I know you’ve got a plan for me because I’m still here.’ There’s a plan for me and I believe in that.”

“Whenever I thought I was supposed to get something and it didn’t fall through, I would just fall back to God and be like, ‘OK, well what else, because whatever you’ve got must be better than this,'” she added.

Henson was the first African-American actress to win the award.

Influential Christian Filmmaker Joins Jesus In Heaven

Russell Wolfe, the co-founder of Pure Flix flims and the man behind the extremely impactful Christian film “God’s Not Dead” has died.

Wolfe, who was diagnosed with ALS in December 2013, was 50.

“As one of the founding partners of Pure Flix, Russell always represented the vision to make a positive impact in our culture for Christ,” Pure Flix co-founder David A.R. White said in a statement. “He did this consistently through his work, life, and relationships.”

Wolfe was working until the time of his death, helping produce the sequel to God’s Not Dead due in Spring 2016.

Wolfe was very visible in his battle against the disease.  Earlier this year he released a video on Facebook talking about his struggle and asking for the prayers of those around the world for healing.  The video showed him in a chair holding signs that gave the words he wanted to say to the world.

“One thing I have not lost is my faith. It’s stronger than ever before,” he said. “I believe in miracles. I believe for complete healing. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that God’s not dead.”

He leaves wife Alysoun and two children.

Over 900 Students Commit To Christ At RUSH Event

Over 900 youths are now spending eternity with Christ after the RUSH event in Meansville, Georgia.

RUSH, which stands for Reaching Unchurched Students for Him, hosted the conference featuring speaker Sadie Robertson from Duck Dynasty & Dancing With The Stars along with music from Christian rapper Lecrae.

Up to 7,000 people attended the event with 925 accepting Christ according to staffers.

“The nature of [the] event, whether it be concerts, celebrities, games, or other things that we do, are all aimed at getting those kids in the community, or in the world if you will, not in the church necessarily, but to get the church friends to bring the students that may never walk into a church,” RUSH Ministries’ co-founder Marc Pritchett explained to The Christian Post.

2015 is the 11th year that Thomaston, Georgia based RUSH Ministries has hosted events.

“They realize not only is being a Christian fun, not only is it cool, but also, eternal hope is sandwiched within all that stuff,” said Pritchett. “I think that’s probably the reason why we see so many kids come to Christ rather than at a Christian festival — we reach them first, if that makes sense. Then we present the Gospel. They let their guard down a little bit, and when the Gospel is preached, it does what it does. No one can take credit for that except certainly Jesus. We speak that out and it goes out and is received.”

Denzel Washington Tells Graduates To “Put God First”

Oscar-winner Denzel Washington told graduates at Dillard University in New Orleans they need to “put God first” just like he has done in his own life because he knows that everything in his life has come through the grace of God.

Washington’s eleven minute speech often focused on faith.

He said that his wake up call to the way God has blessed him came through his mother.  He said that he had been talking to his mother about how big he had become in the entertainment world when he mother stopped him dead in his tracks.

“She said, ‘Boy, stop it right there,’” he recalled. “If you only knew how many people have been praying for you.”

He said that he was flunking college with a 1.7 grade point average when a woman in his mother’s beauty salon stood up and said that he would travel the world.   He said God was in control then as he is right now.

“Put God first,” he declared emphatically, evoking applause. “Everything you think you see in me, everything that I’ve accomplished, everything that you think I have—and I have a few things—everything I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift.”

He also remarked on the importance of not focusing on material things.

“You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse,” he stated. “I don’t care how much money you make. You can’t take it with you.”

“I pray that you put your slippers way under the bed tonight, so that when you get up in the morning, and you have to get on your knees to reach them,” Washington said. “And while you’re down there, say thank you. Thank you for grace, thank you for mercy, thank you for understanding, thank you for wisdom, thank you for parents, thank you for love, thank you for kindness, thank you for humility, thank you for peace, thank you for prosperity. Say thank you in advance for what’s already yours.”

Tebow Care Hospital Opens In Philippines

A hospital built by the foundation of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tim Tebow and his family along with the Christian organization CURE International has opened in the Philippines.

The ribbon cutting on the hospital took place in Davao City Friday.  The hospital is going to focus on treating children who have orthopedic conditions according to CURE.

The hospital has been planned since 2012 and had been treating some patients since last year but formally opened this past week.  The hospital features what is called “Timmy’s Playroom,” a place for the children to escape the seriousness of the hospital and “enjoy being a kid.”  The room was decorated by the Tim Tebow foundation.

“We’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time,” CURE President and CEO Dale Brantner said. “After many years of prayer and much hard work, I am thrilled to be able to say the Tebow CURE Hospital is officially open! In this place, we will share the love of Jesus and bring physical healing to children and families who desperately need it.”

“The Tim Tebow Foundation is so honored to be working with CURE International and so many incredible donors to make this hospital a reality,” said Erik Dellenback, executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation. “Tim, who was born in the Philippines, has always had great passion for this country and its amazing people.”

The Tebow CURE Hospital is the 12th hospital CURE International has helped open around the world.

NFL Star on Baltimore: Only Christ Can Mend Us

An NFL star is boldly addressing the situation in Baltimore, saying that the problem is that people are not turning to the one who can truly bring healing: Christ.

Benjamin Watson, 11 year NFL veteran and current tight end for the New Orleans Saints, said that the problems in Baltimore are not unique to that city and will likely happen again somewhere else.  However, the problems are not just in cities but the nation.

“We have major problems as a nation. Yesterday, Ferguson burned. Tonight #Baltimore burns. Tomorrow, it will be another city in our homeland,” Watson wrote. “Watching the coverage I’m hearing yet another version of a nauseatingly familiar narrative: violence by police reciprocated by violence by the community, reciprocated by violence by police reciprocated by.… It seems fruitless to continue to analyze, condemn, and respond to these dreadful episodes.”

“Our problems are wholistic [sic] and common to the human heart. Hatred, prejudice, exploitation, pride, self righteousness, secrecy, and rebellion, manifest itself in the explosions we’ve seen over the last year, the last century, and the last millennia,” Watson continued. “Tonight I see so much entrenched pain without remedy. Most are handling it without violence while a few are committing the unacceptable.”

The remedy he said was Jesus.

“Tonight I see ‘smoke,’ but we must address the fire. The response that we are watching is just ‘smoke’ from years of hopelessness,” Watson described. “After each situation the more I am convinced that the love of God for our fellow brothers and sisters who were created in His image is our only hope for reconciliation.”

He also said that churches need to get out and make a difference in their neighborhoods because “holding hands and singing” is not the answer.

“But the only way we can even see Him that way is if God illuminates our view and changes our thought process. I’m not talking about holding hands and singing. Love is an action that compels one to treat another with dignity and respect even if they don’t deserve it,” Watson opined. “It pushes for education and opportunities for those in poverty. It gives identity and self worth. It administers justice without abuse. It honors authority and promotes peace. It is not weak, but strong for what is right!”

Casting Crowns Singer Recovers From “Aggressive” Kidney Cancer

The lead singer of the Christian worship band Casting Crowns has been released from the hospital after emergency surgery to remove a kidney because of cancer.

Now, Mark Hall’s wife Melanie is revealing that the cancer in question has been called “extremely aggressive” by doctors and that it was a “miracle” it was found before it could spread to other parts of Mark’s body.

“Praise the Lord! We are heading home! Wahoo! Mark turned a corner yesterday and had a good night last night. We think we’ve figured out how to manage his pain at home. He had his first meal today since chips and salsa last Monday night. Time to head to the house,” wrote Melanie in a post shared on the band’s Facebook page on Monday.

“The pathology report confirms that the tumor was indeed kidney cancer but it was fully encased. The findings of the report confirm that the cancer had not spread to the kidney or anywhere else. Glory Hallelujah! It was found in the earliest stage possible. For those of you that are more familiar with these type reports, it was labeled stage T1a,” said Melanie.

Melanie went on to say that the cancer was at a “nuclear level 3 cell type” meaning that it was ready to spread in the body but because it was encased it couldn’t get out.

She says that it’s a pure move of God that put the pieces in place to save Mark’s life.