{"id":6648,"date":"2014-06-17T18:55:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-17T18:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/christian-faith-critical-for-world-cup-star-clint-dempsey-10646\/"},"modified":"2014-06-17T18:55:00","modified_gmt":"2014-06-17T18:55:00","slug":"christian-faith-critical-for-world-cup-star-clint-dempsey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2014\/06\/christian-faith-critical-for-world-cup-star-clint-dempsey\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian faith critical for World Cup star Clint Dempsey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jun 17, 2014 \/ 12:55 pm (CNA<\/a>).- U.S. soccer fans went wild on Monday as team captain Clint Dempsey scored a goal during the first minute of the club\u2019s opening World Cup game against Ghana.<\/p>\n

\tThe goal is among the quickest in World Cup history and the fastest scored by an American during the World Cup games, adding to numerous records held by the acclaimed player, who is also the first American to score in three different World Cups.<\/p>\n

\tPerhaps less well-known is the role that Dempsey\u2019s Christian faith plays in his life.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cMy faith in Christ is what gives me confidence for the future. I know that through both good times and bad, He is faithful and will watch over me,\u201d he told Sports Spectrum in an article published May 16.<\/p>\n

\tDempsey started playing soccer at the age of 10 and quickly joined the Dallas Longhorns, a club team located three hours away from his home.<\/p>\n

\tHis parents worked hard to afford the expenses of club soccer, but he later gave up his sport so that his parents could support his sister Jennifer in her promising endeavors as a tennis player.<\/p>\n

\tHowever, everything changed when Jennifer died at age 16 from a brain aneurism. Before she died, she told Dempsey, \u201c(I)f I ever die I will help you get the ball in the net.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tNow, Dempsey plays in honor of his sister. \u201cThat\u2019s why I look up to the sky now when I score \u2013 to remember her,\u201d he told the Guardian in a 2010.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI pray for strength to walk the road before me,\u201d Dempsey told Sports Spectrum. \u201cI play to the best of my abilities and am thankful for the many opportunities and amazing successes He has given me. Through it all, I want to do right, not make mistakes, and live a life that is pleasing to Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jun 17, 2014 \/ 12:55 pm (CNA).- U.S. soccer fans went wild on Monday as team captain Clint Dempsey scored a goal during the first minute of the club’s opening World Cup game against Ghana.<\/p>\n

\tThe goal is among the quickest…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-americas"],"yoast_head":"\nChristian faith critical for World Cup star Clint Dempsey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jun 17, 2014 \/ 12:55 pm (CNA).- U.S. soccer fans went wild on Monday as team captain Clint Dempsey scored a goal during the first minute of the club’s opening World Cup game against Ghana. 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