Topic: Dutch Stars Depay, Gakpo Stand for Christ During FIFA World Cup: ‘We Are Thankful to God’ – Christian News 10 December   2022 – Faithwheel.com

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Dutch Stars Depay, Gakpo Stand for Christ During FIFA World Cup: ‘We Are Thankful to God’

Memphis Depay of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Qatar, Dec. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Millions of soccer fans have been tuning in to the prestigious FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament over the past month. Friday and Saturday the contest reaches a fever pitch during the quarterfinals.

Friday morning, Croatia stunned the world by knocking out the World Cup favorites, Brazil.

And before taking the pitch on Friday afternoon against Argentina and Lionel Messi, players from the Netherlands were preparing for the game by praying and studying the Bible.

“If I can’t go to church, I call the pastor. I do that at (soccer club) PSV, and now too. Faith gives me peace. And strength when I need it,” Dutch star striker Cody Gakpo told NRC. “I often read the Bible before I go to sleep. It is a kind of love letter that tells us how we should treat each other.”

Gakpo and Memphis Depay, the Dutch international team’s other top striker, are two players who are outspoken about their faith, and it is drawing their teammates closer to God. 

“I try to read the Bible every day, I pray every day, I like to go to church, and I read many books about the faith,” Gakpo said.

Gakpo and Depay have led Bible study for 15 Netherlands players during the tournament and it is changing some of their teammates’ hearts.

Read also: Open Heaven 10 December  2022 Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – GOD CONTROLS FRUITFULNESS 

“We often speak to each other about our faith, how we understand passages of the Bible which describe situations in life. This creates a bond among us teammates even if some of us do not know each other much yet,” Gakpo explained. 

Memphis Depay usually leads the team in prayer. 

The 28-year-old became a Christian in 2016 and told the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant that he is changed for “good.”

“I changed for good, God had been always on my side, it was me who hadn’t been there for Him before,” he said. 

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During the playoffs in Qatar, Depay explained in a press conference, he celebrates his goals by covering his ears, Evangelical Focus reports.

“I indicate that I isolate myself from everything and I point to heaven,” he said. “This shows that I read the Bible and continue to live in the word of Jesus. To what the outside world says, I have become deaf and blind.”

He also told journalists recently that his faith in God gives him peace. 

“Faith gives me inner peace, I can rely on my faith, on God, on my prayers, that’s how I live my life. I don’t worry too much about things, because I want to have fun, because the talent God gave me is to have fun and to entertain others.”

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