Jefferson Bethke Biography
Jefferson Bethke is an American YouTube personality, author, speaker, and poet who was born and brought up n Tacoma, Washington, United States of America. He make videos with subjects relating to dating, Jesus, the Bible, relationships, and all things hopeful and inspiring. Jefferson is widely known for his viral YouTube video “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” which has over 34 million views as of September 2021.
Born on June 12, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington, Bethke grew up in a Christian family and attended a private Christian school. He went on to study at Pacific Lutheran University, where he earned a degree in Political Science.
After college, Jefferson began writing and performing spoken-word poetry, focusing on topics such as faith, relationships, and culture. In addition to his poetry, he has written several books, including “Jesus > Religion” and “It’s Not What You Think.”
Bethke is also a popular speaker, traveling around the United States and internationally to share his message of the gospel. He has been featured on several media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, and The Huffington Post. He currently lives in Maui, Hawaii with his wife and three 9children.
10 Quick Facts About Jefferson Bethke
- Name: Jefferson Bethke
- Age: 34 Years (As of 2023)
- Birthday: 12 June
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Height: Average
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: YouTube Personality, Author, Speaker, and Poet
- Marital Status: Married
- Salary: Under Review
- Net worth: $18 Million
Jefferson Bethke Age
Jefferson is 34 years old as of 2023, he was born on 12 June 1989, in Tacoma, Washington, United States. He celebrates his birthday on 12 June every year and his birth sign is Gemini.
Jefferson Bethke Height
Bethke stands at an average height. He appears to be quite tall in stature if his photos, relative to his surroundings, are anything to go by. However, details regarding his actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We will update this section when the information is available.
Early Life and Education
Bethke was born on April 19, 1985, in Tacoma, Washington. He grew up in a Christian family and attended a private Christian school. Bethke has mentioned in his interviews and writings that he had a difficult childhood due to his parents’ divorce and other family issues.
After completing high school, Bethke attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, where he studied Political Science. During his time in college, he became involved in a Christian campus ministry and started to develop his passion for speaking and writing.
Bethke also struggled with his faith during college and went through a period of questioning and doubt. He eventually came to a deeper understanding of his faith and began to see it in a new light, which greatly influenced his future work as a writer and speaker.
Rise to Fame
Bethke rose to fame in 2012 with his viral YouTube video “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” which has over 34 million views as of September 2021. The video is a spoken-word poem that critiques the institutional aspects of religion while emphasizing a personal relationship with Jesus.
The video’s popularity led to Bethke’s book, “Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough,” which was published in 2013. The book expands on the themes of the video and became a New York Times bestseller.
Bethke has since published several more books, including “It’s Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die,” which was published in 2015. He has also continued to produce spoken-word poetry and spoken at events and conferences around the world.
Bethke’s work focuses on topics such as faith, relationships, and culture, and he has become a popular speaker and writer among young Christians. His rise to fame has been largely attributed to his ability to connect with younger audiences through his use of social media and his relatable and authentic approach to Christianity.
Jefferson Bethke Family, Parents
Bethke was born and raised by his parents in Washington. Our efforts to find out more about his family came to no avail as no such information is publicly available. Thus, the identity of Jefferson’s parents is still unclear. It is also not known if he has any siblings. We will update this section once this information is available.
Jefferson Bethke Wife
Bethke is currently married to his wife Alyssa Joy Fenton, the author of Satisfied: Finding Hope, Joy, and Contentment Right Where You Are. The couple tied the knot in 2012. They have a YouTube channel named ‘Jeff & Alyssa’ where they host ‘The Real Life Podcast’. They are blessed with three children and they lives in Maui with a dog named Aslan.
Jefferson Bethke Children
Bethke and his wife Alyssa Joy Fenton have three children together, two daughters named Kinsley and Lucy, and a son named Kannon. Kinsley was born in 2014 and Kannon was born in 2016.
Jefferson Bethke Net Worth
Bethke has an estimated net worth of $18 million dollars as of 2023. This includes his assets, money and income. His primary source of income is his career as a YouTube personality, author, speaker, and poet. Through his various sources of income, Jefferson has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Jefferson Bethke Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Jefferson.
Jefferson Bethke Wiki
- Full Names: Jefferson Bethke
- Popular As: Jefferson
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: YouTube Personality, Author, Speaker, and Poet
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: Not Available
- Religion: Christian
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Jefferson Bethke Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 34 years (2023)
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Date of Birth: 12 June 1989
- Place of Birth: Tacoma, Washington, USA
- Birthday: 12 June
Jefferson Bethke Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: Average
- Weight: Moderate
- Eye Color: Hazel
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: Not Available
Jefferson Bethke Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Not Known
- Mother: Not Known
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Known
- Marital Status: Married
- Wife/Spouse: Married to Alyssa Joy Fenton
- Dating / Girlfriend: Not Applicable
- Children: Sons (Kannon) Daughter(s) (Kinsley and Lucy)
Jefferson Bethke Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $18 Million
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: YouTube Personality, Author, Speaker, and Poet
Jefferson Bethke Career
Jefferson a four-minute video had received 6 million views three days after its release on January 10, 2012, as well as 64,000 comments. and by January 23, the video later got viewed over 16 million times.
Jefferson’s videos “Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales”, “Sexual Healing” and “Death Of Yolo” are another ones of his most popular works, receiving over 6 million, over 5.2 million and 1.9 million views respectively.
He is also known by Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus is a viral video created by Christian speaker Jefferson Bethke, who uploaded his work that rose him to fame onto YouTube and GodTube, under the screenname bball1989.
The video has thus far received more than 33.1 million views. The theme of the video revolves around “the difference between Jesus and false religion.” Underneath his video, Bethke delineated its purpose:
A poem he wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures, Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At its core, Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification.
Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can’t do your own list of rules and feel not good enough for God.
With Jesus, though, you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don’t represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect, putting us in perfect standing with God! He repudiated those who used his video to criticize the Church, stating “The Church is His vehicle to reach a lost world.
A hospital for sinners. Saying you love Jesus but hate the Church, is like a fiancé saying he loves his future bride but hates her kids.” Nevertheless, the author of the video stated that he wanted to expose the legalism prevalent in many houses of worship.
The popular rapper Lecrae, on his Facebook, encouraged his fans to think about the video by linking an article titled “Does Jesus hate religion? Kinda, sorta, not really” by Kevin DeYoung who had, since writing it, spoken with Jefferson about it and the video.
Jefferson Bethke Books
- “Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough”
- “It’s Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die”
- “Love That Lasts: How We Discovered God’s Better Way for Love, Dating, Marriage, and Sex”
- “To Hell with the Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World”
- “The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery” (co-authored with Ian Morgan Cron)
Notable Travel, Events, and Experiences
Jefferson has had several notable travel, events, and experiences throughout his career. Here are a few:
- Speaking at the Catalyst Conference: Jefferson has spoken at the Catalyst Conference, one of the largest Christian leadership conferences in the world. He has delivered powerful messages on topics such as authentic faith and the power of storytelling.
- Hosting a retreat in Hawaii: Jefferson hosted a retreat in Hawaii in 2019 called “To Hell with the Hustle,” where he invited attendees to unplug, recharge, and focus on their spiritual and personal growth.
- Speaking at the IF: Gathering: Jefferson has been a regular speaker at the IF: Gathering, an annual women’s conference that focuses on discipleship and spiritual growth.
- Traveling to Israel: Jefferson traveled to Israel with his wife Alyssa in 2017, where they visited several biblical sites, including the Sea of Galilee and the Mount of Beatitudes.
- Hosting the Real Life Podcast: Jefferson co-hosts the Real Life Podcast with his friend and fellow author, AJ Jones. The podcast explores topics such as faith, culture, and personal growth, and features conversations with various guests.
- Launching the True You Course: Jefferson launched the True You online course, which helps people discover their identity and purpose. The course has been successful and has helped many people gain clarity and direction in their lives.
Future Aspirations and Goals
While Jefferson has not publicly shared his specific future aspirations and goals, based on his past work and public statements, we can infer some possibilities.
- Continuing to write and publish books: Jefferson has been a prolific author and has published several successful books. It is likely that he will continue to write and publish books in the future.
- Expanding his online courses and resources: Jefferson has launched successful online courses, including the True You course, and it is possible that he will expand his offerings in this area to help even more people grow and develop.
- Speaking at more events and conferences: Jefferson is a popular speaker and has spoken at several events and conferences. It is likely that he will continue to accept speaking engagements in the future.
- Growing his media presence: Jefferson has a large following on YouTube and social media, and it is possible that he will continue to grow his media presence through these channels or other media platforms.
- Focusing on his family and personal life: Jefferson has often spoken about the importance of family and personal growth, so it is likely that he will continue to prioritize these areas of his life in the future.
Social Impact: Philanthropic, Charitable and Community Involvement
Jefferson has been involved in various philanthropic, charitable, and community initiatives throughout his career. Here are a few examples:
- Supporting clean water initiatives: Jefferson has been involved with charity: water, a nonprofit organization that provides clean water to people in developing countries. He has helped raise awareness and funds for the organization.
- Partnering with Compassion International: Jefferson has partnered with Compassion International, a Christian child sponsorship organization that helps children in need around the world. He has helped raise awareness and funds for the organization through his work.
- Supporting foster care and adoption: Jefferson and his wife, Alyssa, are advocates for foster care and adoption. They have shared their own experiences with fostering and adopting children and have encouraged others to get involved in supporting children in the foster care system.
- Volunteering at local organizations: Jefferson has volunteered at local organizations in his community, such as food banks and homeless shelters. He has encouraged his followers to get involved in their own communities and make a difference.
- Encouraging generosity: Jefferson has written and spoken about the importance of generosity and giving back. He encourages his followers to be generous with their time, talents, and resources and to make a positive impact in the world.
Jefferson Bethke Awards Accomplishments and Achievements
While Jefferson has not received any major awards or recognition, he has accomplished a lot throughout his career. Here are some of his achievements:
- His spoken-word video “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” has been viewed over 35 million times and helped him gain a large following.
- Jefferson has authored several books, including “Jesus > Religion,” which was a New York Times bestseller.
- He has spoken at various events and conferences, including Catalyst Conference, Q Conference, and the IF: Gathering.
- Jefferson’s YouTube channel has over 1 million subscribers, and he has received millions of views on his videos.
- He has been featured in various media outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and CNN.
- Jefferson has also launched several successful online courses, including “The True You,” which helps people discover their identity and purpose.
Legacy
Jefferson’s legacy is still in the making, but he has already made a significant impact through his work. Here are a few examples of his potential legacy:
- Inspiring people to live authentic lives: Jefferson’s message has been centered on living an authentic life, free from the pressures of performance-based religion and cultural expectations. His message has resonated with many people and has inspired them to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
- Helping people grow in their faith: Jefferson’s work has helped people deepen their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Through his books, courses, and speaking engagements, he has encouraged people to pursue a deeper understanding of their faith and to live it out in practical ways.
- Advocating for social justice: Jefferson has been a vocal advocate for social justice issues, including clean water initiatives, foster care, and adoption. His work has helped raise awareness and funds for these causes and has encouraged others to get involved as well.
- Leaving a positive impact on his family: Jefferson has been open about his commitment to his family and his desire to leave a positive legacy for his children. Through his example and his work, he has shown the importance of prioritizing family and living a life of purpose and impact.
Hobbies and Interests
Jefferson has various hobbies and interests outside of his work. Here are a few examples:
- Reading: Jefferson is an avid reader and has often shared his reading lists and recommendations with his followers. He enjoys books on a variety of topics, including theology, personal growth, and leadership.
- Playing music: Jefferson is a musician and has released several albums of his original music. He plays guitar and sings, and his music has often been inspired by his faith and personal experiences.
- Traveling: Jefferson enjoys traveling and has visited various countries around the world. He has often shared photos and stories from his travels on social media.
- Spending time with family: Jefferson is committed to his family and enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He has often shared photos and stories of his family on social media and has encouraged others to prioritize their own families as well.
- Hiking and outdoor activities: Jefferson enjoys hiking and other outdoor activities. He has often shared photos and stories from his hikes and adventures on social media.
Personal Beliefs
Jefferson is a Christian and his personal beliefs are centered on his faith. He has spoken and written extensively on various aspects of Christianity, including the nature of God, the importance of grace, and the role of the church. Here are a few examples of his personal beliefs:
- God’s love and grace: Jefferson believes in the transformative power of God’s love and grace. He has emphasized the importance of understanding God’s unconditional love and grace and how it can impact our lives and relationships.
- Personal responsibility and action: While Jefferson believes in the power of God’s grace, he also emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and action. He encourages people to take ownership of their lives and make positive changes in themselves and their communities.
- Authenticity and vulnerability: Jefferson is a strong advocate for authenticity and vulnerability. He believes that true connection and growth can only happen when people are willing to be vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings.
- Social justice: Jefferson has a heart for social justice issues, including clean water initiatives, foster care, and adoption. He believes that Christians have a responsibility to care for the marginalized and vulnerable in society.
- Biblical literacy: Jefferson emphasizes the importance of biblical literacy and understanding the context and history behind the Bible. He encourages people to read and study the Bible for themselves and not simply rely on others to interpret it for them.
Quotes
Final Thoughts
Jefferson is a talented writer, speaker, and musician who has made a significant impact in the world of Christianity and personal growth. He has used his platform to share his personal beliefs and experiences with honesty and vulnerability, and his work has resonated with many people around the world.
Jefferson’s commitment to authenticity, social justice, and personal responsibility has inspired many to live more purposeful and intentional lives, and his passion for music and creativity has brought joy and beauty to many. His legacy will continue to inspire and impact generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jefferson Bethke
Jefferson is an acclaimed YouTube personality, author, speaker, and poet who is widely known for his viral YouTube video “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” which has over 34 million views as of September 2021.
Jefferson is an American national born on 12th June 1989, in Tacoma, Washington.
Jefferson stands at an average height, he has not shared his height with the public. His height will be listed once we have it from a credible source.
Yes, Jefferson is married to Alyssa Joy Fenton. They got married in 2013 and together they have two children. The couple resides in Los Angeles together with their children.
Jefferson has an approximate net worth of $18 million. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the entertainment industry.
Details about Jefferson’s salary are not yet disclosed. However, information about how much he makes will be updated as soon as it is available.
Jefferson is a resident of Maui, Hawaii, USA, we shall upload pictures of his house as soon as we have them.
Jefferson is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.
Jefferson Bethke Contacts
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