Time magazine’s annual “100 Next” list includes several outspoken Christians, such as the co-pastor of a prominent church, an NFL star and an astronaut.
The Time 100 Next list, according to the publication, was launched in 2019 and recognizes the “rising leaders in health, climate, business, sports, the arts and more.” Among the outspoken Christians on the list: NASA astronaut Victor J. Glover, Jr., Potter’s House (L.A.) co-pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, NFL quarterback Jalen Hurts and Major League Baseball star Ronald Acuña Jr.
Time magazine tasked the leaders of today – Peyton Manning, for example – to “pay tribute” to the future leaders by writing a short article.
Glover is part of the Artemis II crew that is scheduled to circle the moon and sail back to Earth next year. Time noted that Glover is a former fighter pilot who saw action in the Iraq War. He once took a Bible and communion cups to the International Space Station.
“Glover will be the first person of color to make a lunar journey, and the significance of that is not lost on him,” Time said.
Roberts and her husband, Touré Roberts, are co-pastors of Potter’s House in Los Angeles and assistant pastors of Potter’s House in Dallas, which is led by T.D. Jakes, her father.
“Her lived experience using the grace of prayer to find a way through personal pain and tragedy resonates deeply with so many,” Tyler Perry wrote of Roberts. “It’s what has allowed her to connect with millions of other women through her incredible ministry and Woman Evolve conference. As Proverbs 22:6 says, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.’ This is all in Sarah’s DNA.”
Hurts, 25, led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl last year after being drafted out of Oklahoma in 2020. He was a standout with the Sooners and, before that, Alabama. He often discusses his faith during interviews, and his Instagram bio reads, “In God I Trust.”
“He’s a model of how to approach a job,” Manning wrote of Hurts.
Acuna, an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, is a four-time All-Star. He is 25 and was born in Venezuela. Like Hurts, Acuna often mentions his faith.
“He is a young player, and I foresee him having more than one 40-40 season,” fellow Major Leaguer Miguel Cabrera wrote of Acuna. “I hope God keeps him healthy so he can reach 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. You know, I don’t want to be the lone Venezuelan on that list.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Carmen Mandato/Staff, ©Getty Images/Mitchell Leff/Stringer
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.
