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By Mallory Mattingly
US Men’s National Team defender Mark McKenzie declared that God is his “everything” and a constant source of unearned grace.
“He is not only my savior, not only my Jehovah Jireh, my Jehovah Rapha, my Jehovah Nissi. He is my everything,” the soccer told Matt Forte on the “Sports Spectrum” podcast. “He is the one who is holy of holiest. He is the one who reigns on high. He’s the one I depend on for everything. I think that’s the only way I can describe Him. It might seem a little cliche, but it is the truth.
“He is the one who knows all, knew all, yet still gives His all for me and requires so little. Like the salvation that I have is is nothing that I’ve earned. It’s a gift, and there’s nothing else to it, you know? Like every day that goes by is a day where I have to look up and say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for seeing me through this,'” McKenzie emphasized.
McKenzie will represent the United States at this years Fifa World Cup, an honor that the defender has dreamed about since he was a little boy.
“Just wanted to send a special message expressing how excited and how honored I am to be named to this year’s USMNT roster for the Fifa Men’s World Cup,” McKenzie said in a video shared on his social media. “It’s been a dream since I was a child and started playing this game of soccer to represent my country on the world’s biggest stage, and to do that is not only a dream come true but a true blessing.”
Related: Soccer Star’s Olympic Gold Marks Major Comeback: ‘God Is So Good’
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all those who have supported not only myself but this entire group through the ups and the downs and the journeys that we each have,” he continued.”Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the messages congratulating each and every one of us, and hopefully we can make this summer memorable, and ultimately make each and every one of you guys proud. So, hope to see you all soon. God bless, and let’s get to work.”
McKenzie also represented the USMNT in November, where the team played in Philadelphia and Tampa, Florida.
“Fantastic team performance to close out this window and close out 2025! Thank you for the love shown back home in Philadelphia and out here in sunny Tampa, wishing you all a safe and happy holidays! See you in 2026 🇺🇸” he wrote in a social media post.
He concluded that post with 1 Peter 5:5-6, which reads, “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
As McKenzie prepares to represent the US at the 2026 Fifa Men’s World Cup, he does so knowing that his identity is not in soccer but in Christ alone.
Read Next: For This Pro Athlete, Soccer Is an ‘Act of Worship’
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