Newsmax released its annual list of the top 100 Christian leaders in America this week. The list shows people in America who spread Christian values most often.
But this isnt just a list of Christian pastors, preachers and priests. The list includes celebrities, athletes and religious leaders alike, all who share their Christian faith and values with the world. The list also includes authors whose books are making waves in Christian circles, as well as producers who are creating movies and TV shows that tell biblical stories.
Entertainment and sports stars are not usually considered religious leaders, but today their influence often exceeds that of pastors and televangelists, Newsmax reported.
Here are the top 15 on Newsmaxs list.
1. Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham is a Christian evangelist and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He often speaks to Christians about moral and societal issues and encourages them to help people who have been through crises, according to the BGEAs website.
2. Joel Osteen
Osteen is a preacher and televangelist who leads Lakewood Church, the largest Protestant church in the United States.
3. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey
Youll recognize Burnett and Downey as producers of the NBC series A.D. The Bible Continues. Their previous work includes The Bible miniseries and the Son of God feature film.
4. Cardinal Donald Wuerl
Wuerl is a cardinal of the Catholic Church and is a part of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
5. Billy Graham
Billy Graham is a Christian evangelist who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Graham preaches across the world on Christian values.
6. Rick Warren
Warren is an American pastor who heads the Saddleback Church, a megachurch in Lake Forest, California. Warrens church has more than 19,000 present at each sermon, making it one of the most highly attended megachurches in the nation.
7. Mike Huckabee
Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and a possible 2016 presidential candidate. He has often been described as an evangelical Christian.
8. Jerry Falwell Jr.
Falwell is the president of Liberty University, a nonprofit Christian college.
9. Joyce Meyer
Meyer is a Christian speaker and author. Shes also the head of Joyce Meyer Ministries, which offers televangelical broadcasts for Christian believers.
10. Pat Robertson
Robertson is a Christian speaker and author who often talks to the media about Christian beliefs. Hes written several books on similar subjects, according to his website.
11. Ronnie Floyd
Floyd is the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the head of the Southern Baptist church.
12. Richard Land
Land makes the list for being the president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary, a Christian college in North Carolina.
13. Thomas Spencer Monson
Monson is the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has more than 15 million members worldwide.
14. The Rev. T.D. Jakes
Jakes runs The Potters House Church, which has an attendance of about 17,000 at each sermon, according an article I wrote last year.
15. Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Dolan is a Catholic Cardinal who made the TIME 100 Most Influential People list in 2012.
But this isnt just a list of Christian pastors, preachers and priests. The list includes celebrities, athletes and religious leaders alike, all who share their Christian faith and values with the world. The list also includes authors whose books are making waves in Christian circles, as well as producers who are creating movies and TV shows that tell biblical stories.
Entertainment and sports stars are not usually considered religious leaders, but today their influence often exceeds that of pastors and televangelists, Newsmax reported.
Here are the top 15 on Newsmaxs list.
1. Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham is a Christian evangelist and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He often speaks to Christians about moral and societal issues and encourages them to help people who have been through crises, according to the BGEAs website.
2. Joel Osteen
Osteen is a preacher and televangelist who leads Lakewood Church, the largest Protestant church in the United States.
3. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey
Youll recognize Burnett and Downey as producers of the NBC series A.D. The Bible Continues. Their previous work includes The Bible miniseries and the Son of God feature film.
4. Cardinal Donald Wuerl
Wuerl is a cardinal of the Catholic Church and is a part of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
5. Billy Graham
Billy Graham is a Christian evangelist who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Graham preaches across the world on Christian values.
6. Rick Warren
Warren is an American pastor who heads the Saddleback Church, a megachurch in Lake Forest, California. Warrens church has more than 19,000 present at each sermon, making it one of the most highly attended megachurches in the nation.
7. Mike Huckabee
Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and a possible 2016 presidential candidate. He has often been described as an evangelical Christian.
8. Jerry Falwell Jr.
Falwell is the president of Liberty University, a nonprofit Christian college.
9. Joyce Meyer
Meyer is a Christian speaker and author. Shes also the head of Joyce Meyer Ministries, which offers televangelical broadcasts for Christian believers.
10. Pat Robertson
Robertson is a Christian speaker and author who often talks to the media about Christian beliefs. Hes written several books on similar subjects, according to his website.
11. Ronnie Floyd
Floyd is the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the head of the Southern Baptist church.
12. Richard Land
Land makes the list for being the president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary, a Christian college in North Carolina.
13. Thomas Spencer Monson
Monson is the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has more than 15 million members worldwide.
14. The Rev. T.D. Jakes
Jakes runs The Potters House Church, which has an attendance of about 17,000 at each sermon, according an article I wrote last year.
15. Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Dolan is a Catholic Cardinal who made the TIME 100 Most Influential People list in 2012.
