Page 12 - The Plain Truth Spring-Summer 2026

David Jardine

Risking everything to

give our lives to Jesus

hen I watched that event in 2002, squad knelt in prayer around the centre circle, holding
I could hardly believe my eyes. I had hands. Then eventually they got up and ran over towards
Wnever seen the like of it before and their fans. Quite a few of the players pulled off their shirts
and underneath were vests which said, ‘Jesus loves you.’
I expect I will never see the like of it again. But one of the players had written on his vest, ‘I belong
0 3 / 0$! +.( 1, Ƃ* ( $!( %* +'+$ ) Ī to Jesus’. I said to myself, ‘That’s it. When you can say “I Photo Credit: Matthew Ashton/alamy.com
Japan between Germany and Brazil. Because belong to Jesus” and live by it, you have got your hands on
+" 0$! 0%)! %ƈ!.!* ! !03!!* , * * 0$! the real thing.’
United Kingdom, it was screened live over here
on a Sunday morning. Simply stated
It is a very simple message, but very profound. Even a child
By the time I got back from church, the match could understand it. There are a number of expressions
was almost over. Brazil won 2-0. But it was what used to describe someone who becomes a Christian – being
happened after the match which astonished me. saved; being born again; becoming a committed Christian;
giving your life to Jesus. That last one is my favourite.
When the final whistle blew, the Brazilian players were It makes clear that we are not just making one or two
obviously delighted. But instead of rushing over to adjustments in our life. We are handing everything over
celebrate with their fans, many of them fell to their knees to the Lord.
in prayer. There they were, small groups of them, praying During my lifetime, I have seen the radical change
to God all over the pitch. After a few minutes, the whole that has come over people when they take that step. In
one such instance, I remember praying with a girl in Port
Washington on Long Island, USA.
It was during the three years that I spent in New York.
I had been asked to conduct a healing service in the
Episcopal Church in Port Washington. A young woman
came for prayer. She looked very attractive, but that night
something was troubling her. There was a frown on her
face. Her shoulders were hunched, her general demeanour
gave the impression that she was troubled.
AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE WHOLE SQUAD She explained to me that she was having problems in her
KNELT IN PRAYER AROUND THE CENTRE CIRCLE, marriage. As she gave me more details, I just felt prompted
HOLDING HANDS. to ask her if she had ever given her life to Jesus.
She said that she hadn’t. I asked her if she would like to
take that step. She said immediately that she would. So,
Shirt Names and Numbers have been omitted for copyright reasons.

12 The Plain Truth Spring-Summer 2026 Find us online at www.plain-truth.org.uk