I Belong to Jesus

These pictures were taken of three of the biggest soccer stars in Italy. Kaka (above) was raised by Christian parents in Brazil. He leads Bible studies and is very active in sharing his faith (as you can tell). This pic was taken after he dribbled through the entire opposing team to score a game-winning goal for international powerhouse, AC Milan.

Adriano (right) is a newborn believer who plays for Inter Milan. He was led to Christ by Ze Maria (below). This picture was taken after he scored 3 GOALS in one game; the day after he gave his life to Christ.

I was told by Jason, one of our IMB missionaries, that the closest equivalent to these gestures would be Terrell Owens doing this after he scored a huge game-winning touchdown in the NFL. Yet it was much more dramatic being that these men have made a much weightier anti-cultural statement than Terrell Owens has ever dreamed of making. In what has been labeled as a post-Christian culture in which only 1% are believed to be Protestant, these actions provide a powerful and radical contrast. He said the media was bedazzled. "Uhh...It looks as if Adriano is referring to the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians here..."

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. --2 Corinthians 5:17