Tag: jehovah's witnesses

15 Athletes Who Are Jehovah’s Witnesses 2024: Profiles and Beliefs in Sports – Southwest Journal
All around the world, more than 8.2 million people are devout followers of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and intriguingly, this group includes several high-profile athletes. These sports stars, ranging from boxers to basketball players and baseball professionals, all share a common faith while are one of the best in the World in their fields.

While some were born into this religious belief, others embraced it later in life, finding solace and direction in its teachings. Notably, the realm of tennis boasts two of the greatest female athletes who practice Jehovah’s Witness faith.

Among them, Serena Williams stands out as perhaps the most famous athlete associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses. She, along with her sister Venus, was brought up following the faith’s traditions.
Key Takeaways

Tennis players Serena and Venus Williams

Baseball players Chet Lemon and Lou Whitaker

NBA players Darren Collison and Danny Granger

Professional golfer Mark McCumber

Footballer Peter Knowles

ABA and NBA player Willie Wise

Basketball player Dave Meyers

Boxer Kid Gavilán

Ice hockey goaltender Travis Scott

NFL player Dave Pear
1. Chet Lemon

Chet Lemon, selected first overall in the 1972 draft by the Chicago White Sox, later became a key player for the Detroit Tigers as their center fielder, contributing to their 1984 World Series victory according to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He was born on February 12, 1955.

He is famous for his exceptional defensive skills in center field, Lemon’s life took a significant turn during his time with the Chicago White Sox in the 1970s after he encountered Jehovah’s Witnesses.

His commitment to this faith deepened to such an extent that in 1991, faced with a life-threatening blood disorder, he adhered to his religious beliefs against undergoing surgery as per Tampa Bay states.
- Age: 69
- Birthplace: Jackson, Mississippi
- Teams: Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox
2. Serena Williams

Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981.

She is a well-known athlete who began her professional tennis career at 14, receiving a wild card entry at the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland, California. according to World Tennis Magazine.

Since then, the 41-year-old has secured 23 Grand Slam singles titles and has been named the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year four times, among other achievements, establishing her as the most successful female tennis player in history.
- Age: 42
- Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan
3. Venus Williams

4. Darren Collison

Darren Collison, born on August 23, 1987, started his basketball career in college, playing four years for the UCLA Bruins.

His performance peaked in his senior year when he won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award and was picked by the New Orleans Hornets in the NBA draft.

Collison played as a point guard for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers from 2009 to 2019.

Following a season where he averaged 11.2 points and six assists per game, he retired in 2019 to focus on his religious faith saying in a statement:

“While I still love basketball, I know there is something more important, which is my family and my faith. I am one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and my faith means everything to me.”
- Birthdate: August 23, 1987
- Highlights: Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner, former NBA point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Clippers
- Retirement: 2019 to pursue religious dedication
5. Travis Scott
- Age: 48
- Birthplace: Kanata, Ottawa, Canada
- Teams: Kölner Haie
6. Lou Whitaker

Born on May 12, 1957, Lou Whitaker played baseball from high school to college before being drafted by the Detroit Tigers, where he spent his entire career.

He contributed to the Tigers’ 1984 World Series victory and played in 2,390 games before retiring in August 2022 according to ClickOnDetroit.

Seven years ago, Whitaker was recognized as an American League All-Star, earned four Silver Slugger Awards, and won three Gold Glove Awards.

His teammate Chet Lemon introduced him this faith. Whitaker, who did not grow up as Jehovah’s Witness, later converted to the religion.

He now dedicates at least 840 hours annually to missionary work for the organization.
- Age: 66
- Birthplace: New York City, New York
- Teams: Detroit Tigers, Detroit Tigers
7. Dewayne Dedmon

Dewayne is a notable supporting player in the NBA, a position he attained against the backdrop of growing up in a Jehovah’s Witness family where his mom didn’t support his basketball ambitions.

He taught himself the skills necessary to enter the NBA because he didn’t have access to professional coaching.

Despite not winning a championship with the Miami Heat, his path to the NBA is noteworthy.
- Age: 34
- Birthplace: Lancaster, California
- Teams: Miami Heat
8. Kid Gavilán
- Age: Dec. at 77 (1926-2003)
- Birthplace: Berrocal, Spain
9. Dave Pear
- Age: 70
- Birthplace: Vancouver, Washington
10. Danny Granger

Danny Granger was born on April 20, 1983. Following his two-year stint at the University of New Mexico, he was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 2005, marking the start of his ten-season NBA career as per Proballers.

Granger stood out as one of the Pacers’ top scorers for nine seasons. He later joined the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat as a forward.

Despite his contributions, he was never able to secure a championship title with any of these teams.

It is unclear if he still practices the faith today.
- Age: 40 (on April 20. 2024)
- Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Teams: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Indiana Pacers
11. Mark McCumber

Mark McCumber is a professional golfer with experience on both the PGA and Champions Tours, having 10 PGA Tour victories.

He also teamed up with Ben Crenshaw to secure a win for the United States in the World Cup.

Beyond his playing career, McCumber has worked in golf course architecture and served as an analyst for Fox Sports.

He is a committed Jehovah’s Witness and frequently delivers sermons to clarify misconceptions about his faith.

He also says:

“It’s a very misunderstood religion.”
- Age: 72
- Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
12. Peter Knowles

Peter Knowles, born on September 30, 1945, started his professional football career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, scoring 101 career goals.

He is also known for being one of the footballers who are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

He chose to leave football to dedicate his life to his faith, taking on various jobs such as reportedly delivering milk, washing windows, and working in a warehouse for Marks & Spencer.

Today Knowles says he does not regret leaving his successful football career for his beliefs.
- Age: 78
- Life Choices: Transitioned from professional football to embrace full-time religious activities
13. Willie Wise

14. Dave Meyers
- Birthplace: Vancouver, Washington
15. Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard, who was born on December 8, 1985, is a well-known NBA player with a career spanning several teams, including the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets.

He is also a devout Jehovah’s Witness, a faith that he credits guiding his personal life and professional career.
- Age: 38
- Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia,
- USA Teams: Notably Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets
Srdjan Ilic

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March 26, 2024
5 members of Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations charged with child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania | CNN

CNN
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Five members of Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations were charged with child sexual abuse by the Pennsylvania’s attorney general on Friday, following a yearslong investigation into allegations of sexual abuse in the religious community.

The children were all also members of Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations, and the alleged abusers gained access to – and the trust of the victims – through the organization, authorities said.

The cases include alleged sexual abuse of 4-year-old child and a developmentally disabled victim.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced charges Friday against David Balosa, 62, Errol William Hall, 50, Shaun Sheffer, 45, Terry Booth, 57, and Luis Manuel Ayala-Velasquez, 55, for sexually abusing minors across the state.

A news release from the attorney general’s office describes Balosa as 61, but the attorney general said he was 62 in a news conference and court documents show a birth date that would have him turning 62 this year.

“The details of these crimes are sad and disturbing, facts which are made even more abhorrent because the defendants used their faith communities or their own families to gain access to victims,” Henry said in the news release.

“Our office will never stop working to seek justice for those who have been victimized, and we will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone who harms the most vulnerable in our society,” Henry said.

Sheffer “adamantly denies the allegations and looks forward to the opportunity to set the record straight,” Sheffer’s attorney Benjamin Steinberg told CNN in a written statement Sunday.

CNN is attempting to identify defense attorneys for the other four defendants.

CNN has reached out to the attorney general’s office and public defender’s offices in Philadelphia, Delaware, Butler, Allegheny, and Northampton counties, where each defendant has been charged, respectively.

The five defendants have each been charged and bail has been set, according to the attorney general’s office and criminal court dockets for three of the defendants reviewed by CNN.

The charges are part of an investigation into child abuse in the Jehovah’s Witnesses community launched by the attorney general’s office in 2019, according to a report from the AG’s office listing findings of fact and recommendations of charges against the defendants.

While the five cases are distinct from one another, they share a common thread, according to the attorney general. The defendants and victims were all part of Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations at the time of the alleged abuse.

Balosa, from Philadelphia, has been charged with indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, and corruption of minors, according to a criminal docket filed in Philadelphia County.

He allegedly sexually assaulted a 4-year-old girl whom he had met through the Jehovah’s Witnesses community when he was in his 30s, according to the attorney general’s report. Balosa allegedly assaulted the girl in her family’s basement and told her not to tell anyone what he had done, the document states.

Hall was charged with indecent assault without consent, indecent assault forcible compulsion, and corruption of minors for inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl whom he met through the community, according to a criminal docket filed in Delaware County.

Sheffer has been charged with rape, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and corruption of minors, according to a criminal docket filed in Butler County.

He allegedly repeatedly raped his developmentally disabled younger sister, starting when she was 7 years old and he was 18, according to the report. The grand jury heard testimony that the rapes occurred approximately 50 to 75 times and lasted until the girl was 12 years old, according to the attorney general’s report.

Booth was charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors, according to the attorney general. He allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual conversations with a 16-year-old boy he was mentoring within the Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation.

On at least one occasion, the conduct escalated into inappropriate touching without the victim’s consent, according to the attorney general’s findings of fact and recommendations of charges.

Ayala-Velasquez was charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors, the attorney general said. He allegedly sexually assaulted his daughter multiple times, according to the attorney general’s report.

“I have to say that I am thankful to the courageous survivors involved in these cases who were willing to share the horrific abuse that they went through. I am inspired by their strength,” Henry said at a news conference on Friday.

In October, the Pennsylvania’s attorney general charged four other members of Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations with child sexual abuse, according to a news release. In those cases, the alleged abusers also found their victims through the church, says the release.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses faith is a non-mainstream Christian denomination. The church was founded in Pennsylvania in the late 19th century and claimed over 110,000 congregations worldwide as of 2022, according to its website.

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July 9, 2023
2 people found dead at Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Colorado, suspicious device found at the scene | CNN

CNN
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Law enforcement officials are investigating a homicide at a Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Colorado where two adults were found dead, police said.

“The investigation is still active, witnesses being interviewed, scene being examined,” Thornton Police said in a tweet. “A suspicious device found at the scene is being evaluated by the Hazardous Materials Unit.”

There is no known threat to the community at this time, police said.

The cause or manner of death has not been identified, police added.

Thornton is located about 10 miles north of Denver.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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December 25, 2022