Jefferson Bethke is an American author, spoken word artist, and YouTube personality. He is best known for his viral poem “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” which has over 33 million views on YouTube. He is the author of several books, including Jesus > Religion, It's Not What You Think, and Love That Lasts. He is also the founder of the non-profit organization, Speak Life, which works to bring hope and healing to those in need. Bethke is passionate about helping people find their identity in Jesus and has spoken at conferences and churches around the world. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife and four children.