Hulk Hogan’s pastor says wrestler was a ‘Jesus-loving man who lived out his faith every day’

The pastor of Hulk Hogan is testifying to the legendary entertainer’s devotion to Christ, writing in a weekend social media post that Terry Bollea – his real name – was a churchgoing man who loved Jesus and finished his life strong for the Lord.

Hogan died last week at the age of 71, following a career that made him one of the most recognizable names, voices and faces in professional wrestling history.

He played both hero and heel in the ring, and in his later years, he came to Christ and spoke openly about his faith, including during a 2023 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. He was baptized that same year, declaring on X: “Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life.” His wife, Sky, also was baptized that day.

The pastor who baptized him, Aaron Filippone of Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Largo, Florida, recalled specific details about Hogan’s faith.

“Terry was a member of our church and a personal friend,” Filippone wrote on X. “Over the past two years, we had the opportunity to pray together, study God’s Word, challenge one another, and grow in our faith. It’s always a highlight to see believers taking spiritual steps, but I will always remember baptizing Terry and Sky and officiating their wedding ceremony.

“Though we miss him deeply, we know he is in the presence of the Lord – fully healed, fully free, and worshiping the Savior he loved with all his heart. Terry is more alive now than he has ever been.”

The larger-than-life Hogan that the public knew was more soft-spoken in person, Filippone said, and regularly attended Indian Rocks while wearing a shirt emblazoned with a Bible verse.

“To the world, he was Hulk Hogan – a legend. But to us at Indian Rocks Church, he was simply Terry: a humble, joyful, Jesus-loving man who lived out his faith every day,” Filippone wrote. “He worshiped faithfully with his wife, Sky – not behind the scenes, but shoulder to shoulder with the people he loved. He didn’t want the spotlight or the green room. He wanted to be where God was moving. Those of us who had the joy of worshiping alongside Terry knew him not as a celebrity, but as a brother in Christ. He loved God, loved people, and loved his neighbors right here in Pinellas County.

“Most Sundays, he showed up in his iconic John 3:16 shirt – often with a guest or two – friends he invited because he wanted them to experience the same hope and love he found in Jesus. He always made time for people: handshakes, hugs, and conversations that pointed hearts to Christ.”

Hogan was a testimony to the power of the gospel, Filippone added – that anyone can be redeemed, no matter their past.

“Terry wasn’t a perfect man – he never claimed to be. He had a past, and he made mistakes,” Filippone wrote. “But Terry was a Jesus man, and that’s the beauty of the Gospel. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Terry didn’t just talk about his faith – he lived it. He walked in grace, and he made sure everyone around him knew that grace was available for them too.

“I’m going to miss him, but I hold on to the simple truth Terry believed with all his heart: ‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ – Romans 10:9. That’s the kind of saving faith Terry had. That’s why we know we’ll see him again one day.”

Filippone concluded: “I love you, Terry. Thank you for showing us how to boldly live for Jesus and finish strong.”

Featured image: Aaron Filippone (X)