NFL Punter Turned YouTube Star Michael Turk Refuses to Hide Jesus — Even if It Costs Him Subscribers
Michael Turk is a full-time media personality who has built what could be described as a YouTube ministry like no other.
Turk operates on faith, family and football. Usually in that order.
He’s also no rookie when it comes to being thrown some of life’s curveballs.
An athlete with high hopes of building a career in the NFL, he didn’t let setbacks hold him back.
The 28-year-old former Division I college punter, who once played before packed arenas and had a contract with the Miami Dolphins, now runs the Hangtime and HangOn YouTube channels.
From NFL to YouTube
Instead of pining for the glory days, the NFL hopeful transformed his vlogging into a full-time faith-based media platform after being waived from playing pro-ball in 2023.
Working with his talents, gifts, abilities, and interests, Turk threw himself further into the YouTube arena.
Since then, his content has attracted the attention and appreciation of over 3.4 million subscribers.
Although Turk, a seasoned Christian, doesn’t refer to his media business as a ministry, he has no issue with being open about the gospel or bearing the cost of doing so.
Turk refuses to hide his Christian faith, even if it costs him subscribers.
He doesn’t back down; he respectfully doubles down.
Turk has indicated that he doesn’t believe his work is done in vain.
As such, he hands any potential roadblocks that could hinder his full-time work on Hangtime over to God.
This includes Turk’s goals for growing the biggest YouTube channel he possibly can.
Counting the Cost of Following Christ
In a recent Instagram post, he published a range of comments that showed just how real the threat of being cancelled for sharing his Christian faith is.
These he summed up as: “I would subscribe if it weren’t for the Jesus stuff.”
One particular comment said, “I was going to subscribe, but not after the weird Jesus B***.”
Responding, Turk said he understood, then declared:
“It got me thinking. As someone who does this full-time, should I stop talking about Jesus because it turns off the masses?
“Absolutely not, because folks, everything in life is complete vanity without Jesus.
“And my goal for my YouTube channel is to make videos that reach a lot of people and plant seeds of gospel truth.”
Identity in Jesus, Not Popularity
By not surrendering his dignity or integrity in exchange for popularity, Turk is living the difference between wearing a cross and carrying one.
In a 2023 video, the footballer said one of the best decisions he’s ever made was putting his faith in Christ.
During the 10-minute sit-down talking about salvation, identity and fulfilment, Turk affirmed that we quickly find out that putting our identity in anything other than Jesus does not stand.
“It is not a firm foundation,” he explained.
Referencing Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, Turk said, “How would I describe my identity? Well, simply put, it’s in Jesus Christ.
“Romans 8:15 says the spirit you receive does not make slaves so that you live in fear again. Rather, the spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship and by him we cry ‘Abba father’.”
Turk then asserted that he doesn’t place his identity in football; he accepts that in Christ, his identity is that of a son of God.
Living for the Glory of God
The creative genius behind Hangtime said the way he now views his life — his worldview from football to any other endeavour, place or relationship — is with the mindset that what he’s doing, he’s doing it all for the Lord.
Closing out the reasons why he needs Christ, Turk leaned further into Colossians 3:23, saying that real fulfilment comes from doing all things for the glory of God.
Speaking with Oklahoma’s Baptist Messenger around the same time, Turk said he committed to Christ in middle school.
This was driven by the Holy Spirit, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and a mixture of dire circumstances that caused him to realise he wasn’t living right.
Turk credits God’s providential guidance throughout that time, saying,
“I know he was guiding me for a specific purpose.”
___
Image via Michael Turk/Instagram.
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Good on you Michael!
“Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” – Paul’s statement to the Philippians [2:16] which I believe also applies to you.
Great article Rod. This guy is pure Gold!!!!!