OF ALL THE TROPHIES I HAVE
RECEIVED IN MY LIFETIME, THE
GREATEST HAS BEEN TO
KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS
MY LORD AND SAVIOR.
IT IS MY GREATEST
VICTORY.
Eliza was from a Christian family. They
were very different from other people I had
met. She had something that fascinated
me; she shined. I know now that her shine
came from Jesus.
I went to church with Eliza, not because
I wanted to learn about God, but because
I wanted to be with her. I forced myself to
go. I couldn’t see why I needed God. I had
everything I needed and wanted in this
world—why would I want God or anyone
else interfering with my life?
I knew it was important to Eliza, though,
so I decided maybe I would accept Jesus
later. Maybe when I was old and finished
with soccer, but not now.
I was a very difficult man back then.
I disagreed constantly with everything
people said, especially when it came to
things about God. But then Jesus got
hold of my heart on April 19, 2004, and
everything changed.
It was a few months
before Eliza I
were to be married,when I began to
hear a terrifying
voice in my It
taunted me day and night,
telling me that in
a car crash. For this
voice; it grew louder each passing day.
The incredible this voice taunted powerful
desire arose within drove
more during those driven in my life. Think about that…I was
scared to death kept
drawing me back time
I drove, I just knew I was moments away
from death. I’d had
died in automobile fear
would increase.
GREATEST HAS GREATEST
and I
ried,
n ying
head. It
y I was going to die in
r 20 days I heard this
ouder and louder with
ay.
ble thing is that, while
nted me, a powerful
thin me to drive. I drove
hose 20 days than I’d ever
fe.to drive, yet something kept
ck to the car. The whole time
remember friends who had
obile accidents, and my fear
.
Rivaldo has been
credited as being one
of the greatest attacking
midfielders to ever have
played the game of
soccer. Pictured playing
in Barcelona for team,
Football Club Barcelona.
Photography by Manuel Auset kojministries.org Issue 1 2018 21
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