FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 23, 2026
Contact: Chris Stone, Founder, FDC
Chris@FaithDrivenGlobal.com
FAITH DRIVEN CONSUMER LAUNCHES “STAND WITH FAITH-DRIVEN ATHLETES” CAMPAIGN
Petition Calls on Major Sports Leagues to Respect Athletes Living Out Their Christian Faith
RALEIGH, N.C. — Faith Driven Consumer (FDC) has launched a national campaign, “Stand with Faith-Driven Athletes,” calling on the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, NASCAR, and other sports organizations to ensure athletes are free to express and live out their Christian faith without fear of backlash.
The effort comes amid growing concern over how faith is treated in professional sports. In one recent example, NBA player Jaden Ivey was dismissed after posting messages on Instagram affirming his faith in Jesus Christ and expressing his opposition to mandatory Pride Month participation—speaking from his biblical convictions about gender and marriage. Though shared on his personal account, his comments were labeled “conduct detrimental to the team.”
FDC says the broader issue extends beyond any single incident. Major sports leagues regularly promote initiatives such as Pride Month celebrations, yet many faith-driven athletes and consumers say their beliefs are not equally recognized or welcomed. “We’re not asking leagues to remove anything—they just need to add us in,” said Chris Stone, Founder of Faith Driven Consumer. “There are millions of faith-driven athletes and fans, but very few places where that part of their lives is acknowledged or supported. If we’re going to have nights that celebrate certain identities, there should also be space to recognize faith and family.”
While leagues openly promote many viewpoints, FDC says athletes who express Christian beliefs often face pressure or consequences—creating what it describes as a double standard where faith is welcome only if it stays private.
“Millions of Americans support athletes who live out their faith with integrity,” said Chris Stone. “This campaign is about making that support visible and united.”
Faith Driven Consumer first gained national attention during the #IStandWithPhil campaign, when hundreds of thousands mobilized in support of Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson after his suspension, contributing to his reinstatement in nine days. FDC has also engaged national conversations around films like Noah and Exodus, launched the Faith Equality Index, and met directly with leaders at more than 160 major U.S. brands.
Today, FDC represents a measurable audience of approximately 41 million Americans whose faith shapes everyday decisions—part of a broader group of roughly 90 million whose beliefs influence their economic choices.
The campaign invites individuals to add their voice at faithdrivenconsumer.com/petition, sending a unified message to professional sports organizations that faith-driven athletes should be welcomed and respected.
⸻
About Faith Driven Consumer
Faith Driven Consumer (FDC) is a national movement focused on the intersection of faith, culture, and everyday life. It exists because many Christ-followers feel increasing pressure to keep their beliefs private or risk backlash, exclusion, or loss. FDC works to unite this audience into a visible and measurable voice—equipping individuals to live their faith openly and engaging institutions across the marketplace, workplace, and public culture to recognize and respond to that presence.
###
