Why A Christian Revival Is Taking Over Sports | Jon Root | Ep. 67

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode Title: Why A Christian Revival Is Taking Over Sports | Jon Root | Ep. 67
Date: October 15, 2025

---

Overview

This episode dives into the growing influence of Christianity within the world of sports, exploring how faith is shaping athletes, teams, and broader sports culture in America today. Guest Jon Root—a sports analyst, media personality, and former D2 athlete—joins host David Rutherford to discuss personal experiences and witness the rising prominence of Christian identity from little league to the pros. The conversation weaves in stories of finding purpose through Christ, actionable advice for athletes, and the social impact of faith-fueled leadership on and off the field.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Purpose of Sports in American Culture

[02:52 - 05:42]

• Sports are powerful tools for teaching life skills, maturity, and productive citizenship.
• There’s a parallel between the community formed by church and that formed through athletics.
• Jon Root emphasizes, “Sports has the ability to bring us together better than anything else. It is a driver for establishing life skills and building up men, maybe better than any other institution other than the church.” (John Root, 04:18)

2. Early Influences & Role Models

[05:42 - 09:17]

• Both guests reflect on athletes who inspired them as kids, illustrating the importance of sports heroes.
• Jon Root credits Ben Grieve for his early love of baseball, even though Grieve wasn’t a household name—demonstrating the personal connection kids form with players.
• David Rutherford recalls learning leadership and resilience from Rocky Bleier, a Vietnam veteran who returned to the NFL.

3. Team Building, Ego, and the Substance of Unity

[10:44 - 13:37]

• Root contrasts the “superteam” model (e.g., Miami Heat) with teams unified by faith or values (e.g., Boise State Broncos), explaining that unity and buy-in outweigh raw talent.
• “You can put the best athletes on one team... there’s egos involved, there’s not the ability to complement each other’s play,” Root notes, emphasizing selflessness. (John Root, 11:29)

4. Faith as the Foundation—Breakthrough Moments

[18:37 - 23:18]

• Stories of coaches and teams embracing Christianity, such as locker room baptisms and post-game prayers.

• The Philadelphia Eagles and college teams like Michigan and Nebraska provide contemporary examples of visible, collective faith.

• Faith provides athletes with a valuable framework—offering meaning, structure, and a sense of brotherhood.

  “It's like these kids are starting to realize, oh, wow, this is the framework that I've never had before.” (David Rutherford, 20:18)

5. Jon Root’s Personal Faith Journey

[20:32 - 24:03]

• Root did not always see Christ as his top priority—his faith deepened in college, largely due to mentors and a supportive Christian athletic program.
• He highlights life skills, scriptural study, and masculinity grounded in biblical principles, sharing:

  “You need mentors, good people around you, and accountability partners because as men, we're idiots. We are not going to figure it out on our own.” (John Root, 21:36)

6. Why Jon Root Chose to Be a Voice for Faith in Sports Media

[24:03 - 27:37]

• After being “canceled” for not adhering to certain pandemic protocols, Root felt called to a bolder, faith-driven mission.

• He shifted from mainstream media ambitions to highlighting Christian athletes and telling stories of faith in sports.

  “God has a way of saying... here's a trial. Dive into [faith in sports],” Root reflects on his career pivot. (John Root, 24:30)

7. Guidance for Christian Athletes on Sharing Faith

[27:49 - 31:34]

• Root offers pragmatic advice: live humbly, anchor yourself in a church, seek discipleship, and build genuine relationships.
• Sharing faith should be relational, not performative—“You need to be discipled through that church, you need to serve... and you need a mentor,” Root suggests. (John Root, 29:01)

8. Stories of Quiet Impact and True Success

[34:16 - 38:33]

• Impact often comes from one-on-one support, not just public displays. Root highlights how a single conversation can be transformative.
• Memorable quote, referencing a pro hockey player:

  “In my whole career, I never win the cup... but Jalen Chatfield came to know the Lord. That's a successful career.” (John Root, quoting Jacob Slavin, 37:00)

9. For Athletes Questioning Faith or Coming from Hardship

[38:33 - 42:23]

• Root addresses the misconception that Christian life is easy, inviting skeptics to examine scripture, the suffering of the disciples, and the promise of struggle.

• He underscores that both fulfillment and peace are found in Christ alone, not in accolades or worldly pursuits.

  “Without Christ, essentially, you're nothing... There would be nothing like doing everything for the glory of Christ.” (John Root, 41:03)

10. Reflecting on Charlie Kirk and Current Revival

[42:23 - 46:41]

• Discusses the late Charlie Kirk’s embodiment of mentorship, bold faith, and civil discourse even in the face of hatred.

• Kirk’s legacy fuels others to have courageous one-on-one conversations and to be “unashamed of the gospel.”

  “He lived into First Peter 3, 14–17. He had a defense for the hope that he had. He did it with gentleness and respect.” (John Root, 43:23)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On leadership in sports:
  “Coaches kind of forget that they don't get the sense of what can bring the teams together.” — David Rutherford [09:18]
• On mentoring and impact:
  “If you help lead one teammate to church and the Holy Spirit does the Holy Spirit thing... that is a successful career.” — John Root [37:00]
• On faith in action:
  “You just need to be a leader on your team. Don't put your light underneath a lamp stand and be bold and be unashamed of the gospel.” — John Root [31:33]
• On sharing your faith without a platform:
  “You can make way more of a difference just having an individual conversation with one teammate.” — John Root [36:43]
• On addressing skeptics:
  “If you follow Christ, it's going to be an easy life. Let's go through scripture together... One of the only things that we're guaranteed as Christians is that we're going to struggle.” — John Root [39:23]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:52] – Introduction to the topic and Jon Root’s background
• [05:42] – Childhood sports idols and their impact
• [10:44] – Team dynamics: superstars vs. shared purpose
• [18:37] – Faith-centered coaching and modern Christian presence in sports
• [20:32] – Jon Root’s journey of faith and maturation
• [24:03] – Choosing faith-driven sports media
• [27:49] – How to offer faith on a team without alienating others
• [34:16] – Stories of faith impact at the college and team level
• [39:20] – Understanding hardship and skepticism in the context of faith
• [42:23] – Reflections on Charlie Kirk’s influence
• [46:41] – Final thoughts, Jon Root’s future plans, and where to follow him

---

Conclusion

This episode serves as both an exploration and a guide for athletes, coaches, and fans seeking to weave faith meaningfully into the fabric of sports. Root and Rutherford highlight that revival isn’t about mass movements as much as it is about the everyday courage to live authentically, serve others, and offer faith and community one relationship at a time. The discussion is honest, practical, and ultimately encourages listeners to be bold—in sports, faith, and life.

---

Where to Follow Jon Root:
Instagram, TikTok & X: @JohnnyRoot_
Long-form & street-interview content coming soon to YouTube.

---

Transcript

[Homes.com Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Mailchimp Announcer]

This Mailchimp horrific jingle is brought to you by Mailchimp Mailchimp your marketing with AI and more advanced automations to connect to your store. Mailchimp your marketing and booster clicks multichannel campaigns now with SMS night slit Mailchimp your marketing today with the number one AI powered email marketing and automation platform Intuit. Mailchimp now number one based on publicly available data on competitors customers. Plans vary SMS available as add on.

[Saks Off 5th Announcer]

Visit mailchimp.com Saks Off 5th is your secret to fashion's most wanted deals at up to 70% off on the hunt for designer steals that'll turn heads and leave a trail of envy. Uncover Gucci, Valentino, Versace, Stuart Weitzman and more. With new arrivals dropping weekly at prices too good to stay confidential, Luxe Layers, statement boots and tailored essentials From Saks Off 5th will put your wardrobe on the most wanted list. Head to saksoff5th.com or Saks Off 5th store near you for a style lineup you won't want to miss.

[Homes.com Announcer]

What kind of programs does this school have? How are the test scores? How many kids to a classroom? Homes.com knows these are all things you ask when you're home shopping as a parent. That's why Each listing on Holmes.com includes extensive reports on local schools, including photos, parent reviews, test scores, student teacher ratio, school rankings and more. The information is from multiple trusted sources and curated by Holmes.com's dedicated in house research team. It's all so you can make the right decision for your family. Homes.com, we've done your homework.

[Lenovo Announcer]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit so you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the Tech Search power [e-mail].

[Propane Energy Announcer]

The US electric grid is approaching a breaking point as demand soars from data centers and home energy use. Our aging infrastructure can't keep up, and the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready, powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather. Learn [e-mail].

[David Rutherford]

Since the time I was four years old, I've been an athlete all the way up through high school, postgraduate year, playing football, lacrosse, playing lacrosse at Penn State, working with professional sports teams as a motivational performance coach. You know, I have just come to realize that athletics is the greatest way that we can influence our young people to becoming healthy, mature, productive adults in society. Now here's the kicker to this. In the last several years, I have seen something I haven't seen in a long time now. It was there, but it was kind of hidden. And that is the explosion in Christianity amongst athletes across every single level, from little league travel all the way up to pro athletes to college athletes. It's overwhelming. And so I wanted to discuss this with somebody that I believe has genuine insight and has been paying attention to this for a long time now, Mr. John Route. And John has been worked with the San Jose Sharks and other athletic organizations from minor leagues all the way up through the pros and has a real understanding because of his own faith and his own athletic background and playing D2 sports in his life. But, man, I thought this is the guy that can give anybody who's listening why it's so pertinent to have Christ involved in our sports programs. Mr. Root, thank you for coming on the show.

[John Root]

I'm looking forward to chatting about this and I appreciate you having me.

[David Rutherford]

All right, perfect. So tell me, let's just talk. When did you first start playing sports?

[John Root]

Man, I'd love to say pretty much right out the womb. I was. I was playing sports. I had an older brother. I was about three years older. So I'm sure he was pushing me, like once I was able to crawl, like, let's ball. But, man, I played pretty much every sport you can imagine. Football, basketball, baseball, tennis, ran track, did some cross country stuff. Like, it's. I love sports. I obviously follow sports on my platform and cover it, you know, pretty much for a living ever since being canceled from working in pro sports and working in sports media. But I played D2 football like you said. And I think sports has the ability to bring us together better than anything else. It is a driver for establishing life skills and building up men, maybe better than any other institution other than the church. So I love sports. It's a joy to cover it, even though there's been, you know, fallen by the wayside with some, you know, left wing politics. But I think sports are absolutely incredible and an amazing outlet and I can't get enough of them.

[David Rutherford]

Yeah. Now, do you remember, like the first team when you were a kid paying attention, that all of a sudden, like, the. The. The athletes or the players that you were following, you just. You're like, oh, my God, that is. That is it. That's the place. For me, it was Rocky Blier man on the Pittsburgh Steelers. And I'll never forget, like, I learned that he was a Vietnam vet. He'd been blowing up. He had come back, you know, the team. And then Art Rooney said, please come back. You're the heartbeat of the team.

[Avocado Green Mattress Announcer]

And.

[David Rutherford]

And then that fateful, you know, time where he and Franco Harris got the stair. It changed the whole course of the Steelers. And, you know, and so. And I had this incredible opportunity to meet him a couple times. We. We did a couple speaking events together, and.

[Propane Energy Announcer]

And.

[David Rutherford]

And just, you know, the power of those influences are so overwhelming. Who was it for you when you were a kid where you recognized that this is bigger than. Than anything else? Right?

[John Root]

I'm gonna throw out a name that probably a lot of your listeners and viewers have no idea. Ben Grieve. Ben Grieve, okay, was the AL Rookie of the Year when I was a very little kid. I was born in the San Francisco Bay area, born in the East Bay, in Walnut Creek, and I have always loved the Okinays, obviously, to a fault. It's not an easy team to root for. Now they're the Sacramento A's, and then they're going to be the Vegas A's. And, you know, all. All your favorite players throughout life, you know, they just get traded. But Ben Grieve was just. I mean, that's the best part about being a kid. You know, I don't essentially know, like, what's his plate approach and, you know, really, who is he? I was just like, I like this guy. He plays well. And my babysitter had a huge crush on him. And he was just the. Like, he was a rock star in my world. I got to meet him, and I got to meet larussa and a few other people associated with the Oakland A's organization when I was a kid. I'm about to go to my first A's game in Sacramento as I'm visiting my parents up here tomorrow. Like, I'm. I loved Ben Grieve, and I collected his cards as a kid, and, I mean, he dropped off after being AL Rookie of the Year, but I loved that guy. He made me fall in love with baseball. And that was the first of just many players that made a huge impact on me.

[David Rutherford]

And it's interesting, it's funny, you brought up Tony. You know, when I was. I worked with the Red Sox for three years and was a coach for him, you know, in 18, specifically, when they won. And they brought Tony in to help Alex Cora that year as, like, a mentor, whatever, his first year managing. And I got to know Tony and actually was at Walnut Creek for his. He does a big charity for animals and was able to get on stage a few. Few years ago with him. And, And. But I remember just sitting with him, you know, he would. I'd be like, hey, you know, coach, can I ask you questions? He's like, all right, here's the deal, right? You can ask me questions if we are at. If I'm at dinner and you can ask me questions as long as I'm eating or drinking. And I was like, check, watch. I think our first one went four hours long. I just kept feeding them drinks. I did. And the whole thing was just like, I wanted to know, right? What about those players? Jose Canseco, right? Mark McGuire Wire, Dennis Eckersley, Ricky Henderson. I go, you know, what is it about, you know, how do you bring those personalities together and get them to focus on thing? And.

[John Root]

And.

[David Rutherford]

And, you know, he. The one thing he was. That he always said is. He said, you know, it's. It was. It took me a little while, but when I first started coaching, it was when I realized that the whole thing was to let, you know, the natural order of the individual integrate with their teammates, not to try and push them towards something or force them in some kind of mindset, whatever, to let them be themselves, to let them develop those friendships or the. Whatever that camaraderie was, and then to support them as individuals, to come to become the collective nature of the organization. And I remember going, my God, man, that's genius. Like, it's like you're not forcing anybody into one thing. And so I, you know, for. For me, like, as an athlete, I always felt that that piece as. As I got older, and especially now, as I've. I've been doing, what I've been doing is, like, coaches kind of forget that they don't. They don't get the sense of. Of what can bring the teams together. Have you noticed that as you've been involved in being, really, as an analyst within the sports worlds, that teams will be filled with great players and great individuals, but somehow there's a barrier between their ability to come together? And why do you think that is?

[John Root]

Well, I'll do two different examples. So you see a team like the Miami Heat and We're not saying that those are, you know, Christian guys or, you know, some of the best examples of what men should be, but they're a good example of the best basketball players at that time, creating a super team. And in a lot of ways, people would say they fell short, they didn't live up to the hype. LeBron James said, you know, we're not going to win two, we're going to win three or four. You know, and then I look at, on the other hand, you got a team like the Boise State Broncos last year, they didn't have the best athletes in the country. They had one of the best athletes in the country, Aston Genty, but actually a former teammate of mine, Spencer Danielson, the head coach of Boise State football, brought them together really under the banner of Christ. There were players that were saved throughout that season and they had an amazing run. Obviously they ran into a juggernaut, Penn State, but I think there's times where you can bring a team together under something that's just bigger than a bunch of great athletes because you can put the best athletes on one team. And I know I'm preaching to the choir, they're not necessarily going to win. There's egos involved. There's not the ability to actually complement each other's play. There's a sense of selflessness that you need and there's more than anything, a sense of buy in. We've both been around sports and we've seen some like, I wasn't a great athlete. I was blessed enough to play D2 football, but. And, you know, be a captain on the basketball team and football team in high school and everything. But I saw so many guys that were 25 times more athletic than me, and I just ended up being better because I bought in. I just worked harder. And maybe that was a part of me that just knew that, you know, I'm just some lanky, goofy, tall, white, blonde haired guy that needs to actually maybe put in a little bit more work. And I wasn't blessed with the most athletic ability. But, you know, we see that over and over again. And, you know, I think something that was really instilled in me is when I played at Azusa Pacific and people are familiar with Christian Okoye, the Nigerian nightmare. That's basically our claim to fame at Azula Pacific. They were building warrior men for Christ. We were really good while I was playing at Azusa Pacific, but it was about who you are as a man and we're building you up as men because 99.9 of you guys aren't even gonna sniff the NFL. You're gonna go pro in something other than sports. So how do we build up men that understand how to be good leaders in the home, in society, and in the workplace?

[David Rutherford]

You know, one of the coolest things is about this is like I just interviewed this incredible coach who really is amazing at building up men the way he does it. But before I get into that, I gotta give some, some, some time to our favorite sponsor, Patriot Mobile. You know, they pay the bills and they are also an incredible organization that's doing a ton for the American people, right? So I realize that there are many choices when it comes to who you choose for your cell phone service. And there are new ones, you know, coming up all over the place all the time. But here's the deal, all right? There's only one that boldly stands in the gap for every American that believes that freedom and faith is worth fighting for, and that's Patriot Mobile. You know, and I know that because that's what I do every day. It's what I did when I carried a gun for a living. Now they're not only leading the way in the red economy, but Patriot Mobile is also out gaining the competition. When it comes to technology, Patriot Mobile is one of the only carriers with access to all three major US Networks. That means exceptional nationwide coverage, along with the ability to have multiple numbers on different networks on a single smartphone. I love that right there, boy. Now, folks, this is the game changer right there. They also offer unlimited data plans, mobile hotspots, international roaming, and Internet backup and so, so much more. They are on a cutting edge. All right. Switching is easier than ever. Activate in minutes from the comfort of your own home. You can keep your number, you can keep your phone, or you upgrade across the whole board. It's time for you to make that switch today. Simply go to patriot mobile.com forward/rutherford or call 972-patriot. But here's the deal. You use promo code RUTHERFORD, and that's R U T H E R F O R D for and you will get a free full month of free service, man. That's the deal. By just tapping in those digits of all the ruddy rut rut. All right, now that's patriotmobile.com rutherford or call 972-patriot. God bless America.

[John Root]

Hoo ya.

[Cindy Crawford]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women Meaningful beauty And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty, which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty Confidence is beautiful. Learn [e-mail].

[Homes.com Announcer]

When you want to grow your list size Pop up like a tie Pop up like inside Pop up.

[Cindy Crawford]

Like it's hot and when you gotta boost your revenue Pop up like it's.

[Homes.com Announcer]

Hot Pop up like it's hot Pop up like it's hot Pick your favorite template you can tailor to your brand. They're mailchimp a riffic. You're gonna be a fan mailchimp your.

[Saks Off 5th Announcer]

Marketing with our new customizable pop ups.

[Mailchimp Announcer]

You don't just live in your home, you live in your neighborhood as well. So when you're shopping for a home, you want to know as much about the area around it as possible. Luckily, homes.com has got you covered. Each listing features a comprehensive neighborhood guide from local experts. Everything you'd ever want to know about a neighborhood, including the number of homes for sale, transportation, local amenities, cultural attractions, unique qualities, and even things like median lot size and a noise score. Homes.com, we've done your homework.

[Lenovo Announcer]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. So you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power [e-mail].

[Avocado Green Mattress Announcer]

The.

[Propane Energy Announcer]

US electric grid is approaching a breaking point as demand soars from data centers and home energy use. Our aging infrastructure can't keep up, and the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready. Powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable and energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather. Learn [e-mail] okay, all right, here's the deal, John.

[David Rutherford]

I met this coach, Coach Schweider. He is having a profound impact on his the people that have played for him because that was his whole thing. He's like, I'm building warriors for Christ and I'm going to use the tool of football. And it's funny, you know, in the firm I work with for my day job, you know, I. There's like 15 guys that played for him. And for three years before, they'd be like, rut, you gotta meet Coach Schweider. You gotta listen to what he says. And I'm like, okay. And, you know, he's got this great YouTube video where he gives these five things that, you know, will make you a better player. And it's all about your. Your relationship to Christ and to God. And, you know, and they're very distinct things. And, you know, I think what's interesting, you know, the one that I really kind of felt like the turn happened. Remember when the Eagles won a few years ago, and they were doing baptisms in. In their locker room, like, the head coach was really into it. And that felt like that was the moment things kind of broke through where now Christianity was going to be, where it's now commonplace. I mean, last weekend, we saw a great game, Michigan versus Nebraska. After the game, almost both the entire teams are in the middle of the field praying with each other, right? And the spiritual leader of Nebraska's team, wonderful guy, spent some time. I know Matt real well, spent some time with them a couple years ago. And the guy, this wonderful coach there, just amazing guy, and really preaches the word, better name. But, like, now it's like these kids are starting to realize, oh, wow, this is the framework that I've never had before. When did you first utilize the framework of your faith in your. Your development as an athlete?

[John Root]

Well, the thing you start to realize as a Christian is, is Christ a priority? And, you know, so many times throughout my life, I can look back and be like, you know what? I didn't have a reverence for the Lord like I should have when I was young. Obviously, there's a sanctification process that we go. Go through. And, you know, I didn't really understand aspects of theology, theology and the authority of scripture and why church is so important. And I knew that my faith was a foundation, but was I leaning on it as much as I should? I don't think it really clicked until college. And, you know, I. It's really a testament to head coach Victor Santa Cruz, the special teams coach, Gabe Hygard over at Azusa Pacific, and a lot of my teammates, like I mentioned before, like Spencer Danielson, like, great, great leaders. And we did things like it's called life classes. So you're learning about what it means to be a man. You're Learning scripturally, it's like you're called to be leaders. You know, we live in a hyper effeminate and feminized society where, you know, you need to diminish yourself as a man and just kind of let the, the females take the shine. It's like we're supposed to be protectors, providers and leaders. We're not supposed to be authoritarians. But here's how you go about that as you date. Here's how you go about it as you're married. Here's when you go about it, you know, when you're trying to buy a home and a car and as a teammate. Those are the kind of things that just really started to click. And you know, part of my testimony, I could have been saved before, but I do say that I was saved my freshman year of college and, you know, I got baptized and that was one of the best days of my life really, other than getting married. And I started to just really understand that this needs to be the foundation and you need mentors, you need good people around you and accountability partners because as men, we're idiots. We, we are not going to figure it out on our own. We would love to be like, I sole survivor in this situation. I'm the Lone Ranger. I can, I can go through this. And you know, really the only person that would be able to go through these 40 days in the desert alone and come out better is Jesus Christ. So we need, we need others around us. And it's, I mean, so many skills, life skills and values that were incorporated in the Azusa Pacific football program. I still incorporate in the way that, you know, I go about my work now, covering Christian athletes, covering sports, pushing back against the nonsense that we see within sports media and so on.

[David Rutherford]

What, what made you decide, hey, listen, this is something that it needs a voice attached to it, right? Obviously you could, you know, go in, get into the world of athletics. Your, you know, your commentary is great. I've watched it. You're good looking dud, you've got a great background. You know what you're talking about. Like, you could have just, you know, gone towards, you got that great ESPN job or, you know, FOX Sports News job or whatever. What made you want to just start saying, no, no, man, this, as a Christian, we need to bring a voice to, you know, this space, right? What, what was the kind of catalyst for you to want to begin to start to react to that stuff?

[John Root]

Well, I just realized there's so many important things that we need to cover and people that we need to highlight and that Jesus needs to be proclaimed for me, a little bit more of my backstories. Like you said. I worked in minor league baseball for a season, then I moved up to the Bay Area after that and worked for the Sharks for five seasons. Worked for the Golden State Warriors, G League team. Did some work with NBC Sports up there. Man, I'm. I'm working my way up, and I want to, you know, I want to be the next Stuart Scott, be the white Stuart Scott, have my own little lingo and catchphrase and work for a major sports media outlet. And, you know, a part of that is God slammed that door. I got canceled. I went. I. During the pandemic, I moved out to Phoenix for a time, went to the gym without a mask, and then that was it. You know, I was working for a company called Fanatics at the time. And, you know, God has, you know, a way of saying, oh, you're really trying to. Not like saying I was a Jonah, like, figure, where he was calling me somewhere. And I'm just really going the other way. I think it's more of a, you know, here's a trial. And you've talked about, you know, highlighting Christian athletes and what's going on with faith in sports. Like, dive into it and, you know, at times you need to die to yourself and be like, well, you know, is that necessarily going to be the thing that, you know, I could build a career on? And it's like, forget it. Like, these people are helping make disciples. They're inspiring people to be more bold about their faith. And obviously, now we're in a time, you know, obviously what happened to Charlie was horrific, but what was evil has been turned for good. And now people are bold about their faith. And I think I started to see, wow, a lot of these athletes need to be highlighted more. You might never have heard of this athlete, but look at what they just said. Even after they lost a game. Like, you. You talk about, oh, gosh, I'm going blank on his name. Played for the Texas Longhorns, obviously, they lost in the college football quarterfinal last. Ricky Williams.

[David Rutherford]

Oh, no, last year.

[John Root]

Yeah, last year. And yeah, he's giving praise and glory to Jesus Christ. And then you're seeing teams like, you know, and talking about almost a revival that was going on in college football. Ohio State. Ohio State had so many bold Christians, From G. Scott Jr. To Travion Henderson to Will Howard. And for me, I've just seen so many posts go viral, just simply resharing what an athlete has Said proclaiming their faith. Those are my favorite things that go viral on social media because for so long, people are like, sports are woke. Athletes are just egotistical. I don't care about sports anymore. And it's like, well, you know, I can understand your frustration. I've been frustrated myself as someone that's wanted to work in sports ever since he was a kid. But here's some athletes usage support. Here's some things that you should share. And it's such an amazing outlet to share the gospel. And they're just little, little nuggets. And I try to do whatever I can to find those clips. People send them to me. At times, I'm watching sports all day long. So at times it's not crazy that I don't miss some of these, but it's been so cool to see it resonate with so many people and encourage other athletes and coaches to be bold in their faith.

[David Rutherford]

Well, I agree. I mean, I've even now, like, my oldest daughter's big soccer player wants to play in college. And, you know, she's part of a group at her high school, you know, the Christian Athletes Club. Right?

[John Root]

Yeah.

[David Rutherford]

And it's like, yeah, yeah. And it's like, all right, this is really cool that, you know, But I think the thing is, is, you know, is I think, you know, if young people are listening, you know, how do I. What do I do? How do I bring my faith to my team in a way that it's not pushing it on anybody in a way that's not, you know, overwhelming? That's, you know, for those that are reluctant or resistance or don't want it integrated, you know, what are some things you've seen or some ideas that you experience on your team in college? What works? How does an individual who's devout in their faith to Christ, how do they interject or not interject? How do they offer it? Right? How do they offer that, that. That blessing, that, that sense of deeper faith into what sport can do for people in our development and, you know, our passion and love for Christ?

[John Root]

Yeah. Number one, you need to humble yourself. You know, why do you want to talk about this? Are you trying to win an argument? Are you trying to just post Bible verses online and just try to get a few likes? Like, are you really living for Christ? And I think one of the best places to start, and probably the place you should start is you need to be under a biblical church. You need to be at church. And especially if you got college athletes out there, whether you're in High school. Like, you need to be at church, you need to become a member of that church so you can be held accountable to that church. And just like I needed discipleship when I was younger and still need it today, you need to be discipled through that church, you need to serve at that church, and you need a mentor. Maybe that's through discipleship, and maybe it's both to make sure that you can really build upon the foundation that you have in Christ. And that's a part of the sanctification process that I was talking about earlier. You want to become more and more like Christ. You want God to speak to you, maybe open up God's word, and that's how he'll speak to you. Because if you really want to share your faith and be bold, and it's so. It's so important to do that and not shy away just because you're like, well, I don't know if I necessarily have a defense for the hope that I have. First Peter 3:15. I don't know if I have good apologetics. So, aka just like, defense of the faith. That's okay. You know, no one's saying that you have to have it all figured out in order to share it, but you need to be in church, you need to be discipled, you need to be mentored, and you need to be serving at church. And I think that is such an amazing place as we gather as a body of believers to build each other up and go out from there on Sundays and Wednesdays and other events throughout the week to make disciples. And hopefully from there there's a greater understanding of the authority of scripture, what the gospel really is. And that's what I think somebody, as I finish up this long rant for you, David, is if someone asked you, number one, why do you believe what you believe? And giving an explanation of the gospel, you should probably have that in your back pocket. Not just so you look good, but I think of somebody like a friend, like Pastor Costi Hinn. He's got a church out in Phoenix, Arizona. He was just on the Charlie Kirk show with Ali Bestuckey. And he gave an amazing, amazing breakdown of the gospel. And that's things we need to think about, is we need to be prepared for those things. Because you just need to be a leader on your team. Don't put your light underneath a lamp stand and be bold and be unashamed of the gospel.

[Cindy Crawford]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford, and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together. He said to me, we are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty. Which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty Confidence is beautiful. Learn more@meaningful beauty.com.

[Mailchimp Announcer]

This Mailchimp horrific jingle is brought to you by Mailchimp Mailchimp your marketing with AI and more advanced automations to connect to your store. Mailchimp your marketing and boost your clicks. Multi channel campaigns now with SMS lights lit mailchimp your marketing today with the number one AI powered email marketing and automation platform Intuit. Mailchimp number one one based on publicly available data on competitors customers plans vary SMS available as add on visit mailchimp.com.

[Homes.com Announcer]

What kind of programs does this school have? How are the test scores? How many kids do a classroom? Homes.com knows these are all things you ask when you're home shopping as a parent. That's why Each listing on Holmes.com includes extensive reports on local schools, including photos, parent reviews, test scores, student teacher ratio, school rankings and more. The information is from multiple trusted sources and curated by Holmes.com's dedicated in house research team. It's also you can make the right decision for your family. Homes.com we've done your homework.

[Lenovo Announcer]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit so you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search. Power [e-mail] lenovo lenovo.

[Propane Energy Announcer]

The US electric grid is approaching a breaking point as demand soars from data centers and home energy use. Our aging infrastructure can't keep up and the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready. Powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather. Learn [e-mail] I love it.

[David Rutherford]

A young man that I've been mentoring for about seven years now. He's. You know, he started as a freshman at Penn State Lacrosse and he just, you know, was, I'm not playing. This sucks. I hate it. You know, I wish, what can I do? And we just stuck to, you know, focus on what really, you know, gave him the strength to keep fighting for that role. Ends up, you know, becoming a starter, ends up becoming captain of the team. And then, you know, starts a. A Bible study within the team that grows from like 3 to 12 to 18. They're doing prayers after games. And, you know, and I was just like, you know, and I never once was like, hey, man, you should do this on the team. He was like, hey, do you think this would have a positive impact? And I go, well, I'll tell you what, man, as a, you know, coming from my background and special operations, where, you know, it was almost like, can we be faithful? Can we integrate this in. Is. Or is it. Is it too much of a dichotomy? Right? You know, I'm out there learning how to kill people and can I also be a Christian? And, you know, you're wrapped up into this whole thing. And I think that was the. Fundamentally, the worst decision I could have ever made was not allowed because it was right next to me all the time. Like, one or two guys that would be like, you know, hey, Rut, man, do you believe? Are you a believer? Nah, man, I can't. I'm not going to bear that weight with all this, too. And. And I thought of it as in the completely wrong context. And I think, you know, having those individuals that are believers be able to step into the breach, right, and really say, hey, man, you know, you want to talk about your faith and how that can then impact your performance in sport? That's an important thing. What would you recommend to those kids that. That are faithful, that want to bring their faith into their teams? How should they start and what should they do?

[John Root]

I think, number one, too, there's an aspect of respect. You know, there's. There's a sense of, you know, how do you maybe not just, like, grandstand with this? I mean, there's a way to approach these things that I'm not saying. Just because the coach tells you that you can't talk about your faith, that you should just like, oh, I just respect my coach. I'm not going to talk about faith. I think just especially even during. Let's relate it. During this time, people are so bold about their faith because they've seen how bold Charlie Kirk was, and a lot of people, they'll think, man, but I don't have a platform like Charlie. I Don't have a platform like David or John, and I don't really have a social media following. You can make way more of a difference just having an individual conversation with one teammate. There is one teammate that you have that is curious about faith or is going down a wrong path. Like, I think I'm going to try to pull this up real quick. There's a player on the Carolina Hurricanes. Yeah, it was Jacob Slavin. He's helped guide one of his teammates, Jalen Chatfield. Christ. And he. And he said this, in my whole career, I never win the cup or anything, but Jalen Chatfield came to know the Lord. That's a successful career. That's what every single young athlete listening right now should think about. You want accolades? You want to win? We're doing everything to the glory of Christ. If you help lead one teammate to church and the Holy Spirit does the Holy Spirit thing and changes that heart of stone to a heart of flesh, that is a successful career and that is being the best teammate and best Christian you possibly can. Don't feel like you need to have some amazing rah rah speeches. There's individuals on your team, at your school, in your classrooms that you can make a difference with, and it's simply sharing the gospel and taking the time to listen to questions and be in the hands and feet of Christ and.

[David Rutherford]

Man, that's beautiful, John. That's absolutely the best advice that I've heard someone give to a person that's in that space who wants to be that mentor, who wants to share the gospel. What about the person on the other side, you know, what about the person that's, you know, the. The kid is probably grew up in tough area, tough time. Difficult to believe that, you know, Christ is out there waiting for them, their salvation, you know, through that sacrifice, you know, they just like, that stuff never got me through. Only being tough got me through. That's what it is. What, what, what do you say to those people or. Or the people that are like, man, wonder why that dude loves Christ so much? Like, what, what, what is it about it? What do you say to those guys that are kind of wondering and they're not sure?

[John Root]

I would start with the idea that if you follow Christ, it's going to be an easy life. Let's go through scripture together. Let's talk about the disciples that were all brutally murdered for sharing the gospel, for building Christ's church, and just time and time again, their struggle. And it's one of the only things that we're guaranteed as Christians is that we're going to struggle on this side of eternity and life is really hard. And if you see another Christian staying faithful during tough times, whether it's as simple as the story like you just shared, you feel like you're getting the raw end of the deal and you're not getting playing time. You're better than the person that's in front of you. Politics are being played by your coaches and athletic department. There's other really horrific things that have happened. We, we've been around plenty of guys that don't have fathers, and they're looking for spiritual guidance. They're looking for solid friendship. And I think what we need to do is just constantly remind them that the value, peace, fulfillment and joy that you're looking for can only be found in Christ. You can be with the hottest chicks on campus and just be the most sought after playboy on campus. You're left empty if you're willing to admit it. You getting all these accolades, getting playing time. Everybody knows you on campus. You're a star on national television. You know, you could be a Heisman nominee. And without Christ, essentially, you're nothing. You're doing it maybe for your family and some, you know, maybe some, you know, of your own conjured ideas of what good morals are. There would be nothing like doing everything for the glory of Christ. And that's where I hope when there's somebody listening and they're like, you know what I'm. And again, it's. It's just, I have to mention it with like the explosion of. I. I don't use the term revival much, but it feels like almost on the cusp of that. And people are hearing about, you know, their government officials are talking about Christ, their teammates, their neighbors, their family. Like, there's discussions happening. And I'd say just be willing to have an open heart and ask questions and really dive deep into why that person in your life is a Christ follower. And then again, that comes down to what, like Erica Kirk said at Charlie Kirk's memorial, you know, there's a amazing opportunity and job that we need to live into as Christians is discipling those that are interested in Christ. They're curious about what it means to go to church. They're curious what it means to be a Christian. They're trying to make sense of all this.

[David Rutherford]

Wonderful. That is such a phenomenal answer. Now, I know you spent a little time over at TP USA and New Charlie and him being a great athlete himself. I love the video of him chucking that football, 50 meters, like it was nothing, man. You know, he had a cannon for an arm. And as a quarterback, I know a great arm when I see it. Right. And you know what? I'm sure the last few weeks have been difficult. And, you know, can you just summarize a little reflection of, you know, what Charlie represents to you and then as it relates, also for being able to, you know, like you said, that revival that's taking place and building, maybe just a few minutes on that would be great.

[John Root]

Yeah, like, number one, what people are seeing about Charlie, and they might just be finding out about Charlie over the last couple weeks. They're like, yeah, maybe I kind of heard that name before. They're like, whoa, he had an incredible defense for the faith. And then you see, you know, going back to what should Christians be doing is finding a mentor and being discipled. He's got someone like Dr. Frank Turek by his side, great friend of mine that knew how to build up Charlie in apologetics and giving a defense of the faith. And Charlie was bold. And he wasn't just bold. He lived into first Peter 3, 14, 17. He had a defense for the hope that he had. He did it with gentleness and respect. He was meek, but he. That. That doesn't mean that he was weak. He displayed Christ in so many interactions and having civil discourse with people that hate him and threatens him. And obviously these people killed him for it. And that's why I hope people are. They get a revitalization of their faith that you don't need to be having conversations on college campuses in front of thousands of college students. Again, you can make such a difference with your co worker that you've decided, oh, I just don't know if I want to have that conversation. What if they think I'm weird and I don't want to be a Bible thumper? You know, what about that family member that you haven't had that conversation with? Those can make such a massive impact. And if more people decide, I'm going to be bold and try to have that conversation, sometimes they're not going to be open to it. And that's okay. That is fine. You're still going to do it with gentleness and respect. There's plenty of times where we need to stand firm in the faith and, you know, maybe raise our voice and say, with our whole chest. There's plenty of times we need to do that, especially as warrior men. You know, we're not always going to be, you know, wielding the sword while we're defending the faith. But someone like Charlie, I think gave a great example of what it means to have proper civil discourse around disagreements with people that don't follow Christ. And I hope more than anything that people, if you're curious about going to church, the Christian faith, the authority of scripture, why David and I believe what we believe, we're open for those conversations. We want to talk about that. And at the same time, like, please find a Bible believing Christian church in your community. I guarantee you they will welcome you with open arms. They got people there that can pray for you. They got people there that can answer questions. There are countless churches throughout the country. Give it a try and at the same time open up the Bible. You know, there's, there's so many great ways to go through it. You got the Bible app, they can give you reading plans and yeah, I just hope that people are encouraged during this time to again, not put your light underneath a lampstand, be unashamed of the gospel, be unapologetic as you share about your faith and the work that Jesus Christ has done, not the work that we've done that saves us. The only thing that saves us is the grace through faith in Christ alone.

[David Rutherford]

Well, ah, amen. John, that was beautiful, brother. Thank you so much. I appreciate your thoughts and you know, my prayers for you and all your friends that are, are still grieving all that right now. Man, where can people f follow you? How, how can they pay attention to what you're doing and then what do you got next coming along?

[John Root]

You can follow me on Instagram, Tik Tok and X. It's at Johnny Root underscore and then what's next? It's, it's interesting to, you know, try to figure out, you know, what I'm really going to be doing other than spending more time on YouTube. There's a lot of people that say, I like your short form content. I enjoy what you're putting out there on X. But you know, kind of learning the YouTube game a little bit more, having long form discussions, providing some clarity to things because Lord knows when we try to do something in 60 to 90 seconds, there's going to be things that we miss. People are going to misconstrue it. I'm maybe not going to be presenting something maybe with the tone and clarity that it probably should. So I want to provide some more of those and then hopefully do some more, you know, man of street content, you know, interact with some people. Because if people aren't aware, like I was outside the Supreme Court when Roe v. Wade was overturned. I was covering the Leah Thomas story at Georgia Tech. I enjoy interacting with people, especially on the other side of the aisle, and I really want to have, you know, more conversations with people like that. And Charlie's definitely inspired that quite a bit.

[David Rutherford]

Awesome, John. Well, I wish you all the best, man. I think you're awesome at what you do. I'd love to see you go around the country and just highlight these programs that have just allowed faith to take center stage and really just turning, like you said, young athletes into real followers of Christ, man. I just commend you on what you're doing and thanks for coming on and I just God bless you and everything you're doing, brother.

[John Root]

God bless you, brother. Thank you.

[Lenovo Announcer]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit so you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power [e-mail].

[Saks Off 5th Announcer]

Saks off 5th is your secret to fashion's most wanted deals at up to 70% off on the hunt for designer steals that'll turn heads and leave a trail of envy. Uncover Gucci, Valentino, Versace, Stuart Weitzman and more. With new arrivals dropping weekly at prices too good to stay confidential, Luxe layers, statement boots and tailored essentials From Saks Off 5th will put your wardrobe on the most wanted list. Head to saksoffith.com or a Saks Off 5th store near you for a style lineup you won't want to miss.

[Homes.com Announcer]

What kind of programs does a school have? How are the test scores? How many kids do a classroom? Homes.com knows these are all things you ask when you're home shopping as a parent. That's why Each listing on Holmes.com includes extensive reports on local schools, including photos, parent reviews, test scores, student teacher ratio, school rankings and more. The information is from multiple trusted sources and curated by Holmes.com's dedicated in house research team. It's all so you can make the right decision for your family. Homes.com we've done your homework.

[Avocado Green Mattress Announcer]

Your day starts with how you sleep and comfort makes all the difference. Avocado green mattress delivers natural comfort you can feel night after night. Certified organic materials like breathable latex and temperature regulating wool create the kind of sleep that leaves you refreshed, not restless. After all, you sleep better when you sleep cool. No gimmicks, no shortcuts, just thoughtfully made plush support that helps you sleep deeper and wake up better. Visit avocadogreenmattress.com to shop today or find a store near you. Avocado Dream of better new school year.

[Homes.com Announcer]

New routines, and somehow your calendar is already full. When life gets hectic, cauliflower's got your back. We make the food you crave made.

[Saks Off 5th Announcer]

Better for you, like thin and crispy.

[Homes.com Announcer]

Cauliflower crust pizzas, all natural chicken tenders.

[Saks Off 5th Announcer]

And nostalgic pizza snacks ready in minutes.

[Homes.com Announcer]

And something the whole family can agree on. Cauliflower is available in freezer aisles nationwide. Visit eatcolipower.com to find a store near you. This is an iHeart podcast.