“Faith Day means I get to let people know how good God has been to me.”

Jenny Burr
Spur Ottawa Correspondent

The Ottawa Fury FC hosted their second annual Fury Faith Day on August 28. The event, sponsored by Family Radio CHRI, Athletes in Action, and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, gives Christian players a platform to share why their faith is central to their lives.

“Faith Day is an opportunity for the community of Ottawa to hear from the pro-soccer players that make up the Ottawa Fury FC, and specifically those who have a Christian faith,” explains team chaplain Paul Huggins. “The guys share about their walk with God, what it’s like to be a pro-soccer player, and how their faith shapes who they are.”

Huggins adds that Faith Day provides an excellent opportunity for players to connect with the local Christian community. It also encourages the Christian players to further use the platform God has given them to share His word.

Eddie Edwards, a defender for the team, says he believes God gave him this publicity for a reason.

“I feel like God is blessing us in order to do what we do and I feel that we should use the platform to speak out and connect with our community.”

Sharing the reason for the hope they have

Team midfielder Lance Rozeboom says, “To me, Faith Day means I get the blessing of having a platform to let people know how good God has been to me, my wife, and my son. God has watched over us, city after city, and blessed us year after year in different ways. This is a day I can let people know how faithful He has been.”

Rozeboom grew up in a Christian home and he has played soccer since he was four years old. He is thrilled to use this platform to share some of his faith story.

“I was blessed to grow up with a mother and father who love and worship God. My mom is a Bible teacher and has been for years. My dad is a wise, faithful man. I grew up with it, but I didn’t come to fully embrace Christ until I was out of college.

God is always faithful

“God humbled me, my first year as a professional, with a serious injury. During that time He let me find my wife. She was the light He brought me that really helped me fully embrace Jesus.”

Rozeboom says despite his own shortcomings, God is always faithful.

“I have failed God many times, but He hasn’t failed me. He has given me challenges to overcome and humbled me time after time. As Jeremiah 29:11 says, His plan is to prosper us and not to harm us. The more faith I put in Him and His plan for me, the clearer I see that this verse rings true.”