World Cup Witness
American players proclaim Christ on international stage
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Despite being eliminated from the tournament last weekend, the members of Team USA represented their country well in the World Cup in South Africa.
The Americans’ World Cup dreams fell short as they lost to Ghana in a heartbreaking 2-1 match that went into extra time.
While the goal of bringing the United States’ first World Cup title home may have ended, Team USA’s Christians understand their true reward awaits them elsewhere.
God “has a plan for you,” said Team USA forward Herculez Gomez. “There’s a quote that I remember growing up where it says for a rich man to get into heaven, it’s as hard as it would be for a camel to get through the eye of a needle.
“So, it kind of makes me think like this is great, but there’s still more out there,” Gomez continued. “This isn’t all there is.”
Gomez and other Christ followers on Team USA used the international stage to share about their faith and how it affects them both on and off the field.
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Fans of Team USA showed up in abundance at stadiums and other venues in South Africa and in front of television sets for the team’s four World Cup matches against England, Slovenia, Algeria and Ghana. (Photo by Max Powell/IMB)
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U.S. goalie Tim Howard shines on & off the pitch
SHINING STAR U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard enjoys a lighthearted moment during a World Cup practice in Pretoria, South Africa. He said his faith in Christ undergirds him—“from dealing with Tourette’s syndrome to the pressures playing on a level like this.” (Photo by Max Power)
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By Charles Braddix
International Mission Board
Johannesburg, South Africa—It was all about goalie Tim Howard, an outspoken Christian, during Team USA’s World Cup opening match against England June 12, which ended in a 1-1 tie.
In spite of a first-half injury to the ribs that left him in excruciating pain, Howard managed to stay on the pitch and ward off England’s continuous attacks throughout the rest of the game, a feat that earned him the “Man of the Match” award.
While thwarting an attempted goal 36 minutes into the match, Howard was kicked in the ribs by England’s Emile Heskey. The injury left him writhing in agony at a time when his team was down 1-0.
“It felt like agony,” Howard said. “I knew Heskey was going to slide in, and he had every right to that ball, the same as I did. You just leave yourself exposed when you’re at full stretch, and he came in and caught me just under my chest and my ribs.”
Team trainers feared Howard’s ribs were broken, but doctors confirmed two days later that they were severely bruised.
England scored in the fourth minute, while the U.S. got on the scoreboard after 40 minutes of play. Both teams seemed to slow down toward the end of the match to accept a draw rather than risk a loss.
A winning team earns three points, while a losing team gets none. In a draw, both teams earn one point. In the group stage of the World Cup, the two teams in each group that earn the most points proceed to the next round. Both the U.S. and England earned five points, earning a spot in the tournament’s “knockout round.”
This is Howard’s second World Cup. He served as backup goaltender for the U.S. squad in 2006. Now he’s starting.
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A goalkeeper’s faith
In an exclusive interview with Baptist Press, Howard talked about his faith.
“I’m certainly just a vehicle for Christ,” he said, “and He moves me and the Spirit moves me in miraculous ways—that’s from dealing with Tourette’s syndrome to the pressures playing on a level like this and in England in the Premier League. I just try to rely on faith.
“I’m not perfect,” he said, “I’m far from it and that is the reason I do need Jesus. I try to live it. ... I stumble, as many people do, but always in the belief that I’m loved and that I’m meaningful.”
For the first 10 years of his life, Howard suffered with an undiagnosed case of Tourette’s syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by physical and verbal tics.
“I did not experience peace,” he said in a testimony published by the Christian organization Athletes in Action. “But even though my life often seemed chaotic, I knew I could always count on at least one person to provide calm and stability: my grandmother. Nana’s sense of peace was so powerful because it came from her faith in the Lord. Through her, God revealed His love for me as well. It wasn’t long before I was following in her footsteps. I wanted the same kind of faith and peace she had, and that is exactly what God gave me.”
Howard said living with Tourette’s is not easy. “But God has blessed me with the gift of athleticism as well,” Howard pointed out. “He has done some powerful things in my life through the combination of these two gifts. ... He also has shown me ways to use my position as a professional athlete to encourage others with Tourette’s syndrome.”
In 2001, at the age of 22, Howard became the youngest winner of U.S. Major League Soccer’s “Goalkeeper of the Year” award. Two years later he was signed by Manchester United in the English Premier League. He now plays for Everton in the same league.
“Today, I am blessed to be living a dream,” Howard said. “And yet, if it all went away tomorrow, I know I would still have peace. That probably sounds crazy to most people, but that’s the kind of peace Christ gives. It is rooted in His love, and it surpasses all understanding.” (BP)
Western Recorder issue date June 29, 2010
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