Baltizar Maria de Moraes Junior

BALTAZAR-GOD'S GOAL SCORER

Scoring goals is the business of this "Goiano" guy. As a kid, he would jump over the fence of his backyard just so he could go out and play with the other kids in the block. Actually, right behind his house was the soccer stadium owned by the famous Atletico Goiano squad. There he rehearsed his first steps in this marvelous art of soccer.

At age 11, he put on the Atletico jersey for the first time as he played for the younger kids category. From that point on, he experienced many victories as he defended several big teams around the world.

In 1978, Baltazar made the most important decision of his entire life when he decided to enter Jesus' Team. That team, he says, never loses.

His parents, who took him to church on a regular basis, thought: "Now, that's it! This young guy is going to be a true believer.!"

But God had other plans for him. Baltazar discovered that his two careers - his career as a soccer player and his "faith" career - are perfectly compatible. HE came to understand that the soccer fields are ripe for the harvest of many lives of players and fans who join Jesus' Team.

EUROPE

In June 1985, Baltazar moved to Europe after signing a contract with the Vigo Celta. He had a lot of hope in his heart regarding his career as a pro.

He arrived at the Vigo squad as a savior. He did his best to give the Celta a number of victories but he only scored five times - his worst record in his career. He was made the sole responsible for the team's defeat and he was sacked. His salary was retained for almost a year. Together with Myrna, his wife, they faced lots of problems as they tried to adapt to the new environment. They barely had enough money to buy food - fortunately they had received some money in advance as part of Baltazar's payment. In the end, Celta was downgraded to the second division.

"I was humiliated and tested to the limit. We had to practice in a soccer field which was filled with stones because the Team was not allowed to practice in the same field where we disputed our games. I looked at that ugly, stony soccer field and I remembered the lusciously green soccer fields in Brazil. I said to myself: What am I doing here? I missed home so much. We nearly returned right away. We were praying one day and my wife said to me in tears: God doesn't want us to live like this. God has the power to change all this. That same week the club paid all salaries which were overdue and renewed my contract for one more year."

Baltazar scored again. He was the top scorer on the second division tournament, with 34 goals in 44 games. He didn't suffer any injuries and he played all games to the end, without any substitutions.

With that result, Celta returned to the first division and Baltazar became the pride of all Vigo's fans in town.

He was going through the best of times in his career. Celta sold him to the Madrid Atletico where Baltazar developed his talents to the full. He scored 35 goals in the 1988/1989 season thus becoming the top all-time scorer in Spain's history!

For that remarkable achievement, Baltazar received the European Golden Soccer Boots Award. He was also invited to play for the Brazilian National squad in the conquest of the America Cup of 1989. Though he could finish any complete game at the time, he nonetheless scored one goal.

At the time Baltazar was considered the most famous Christian person in Spain in the last 100 years. As usual, he didn't miss his chance to talk about the love of Christ for humanity. In December of that year, he talked about the true meaning of Christmas in one of the top rated programs on Spanish TV. That was a clear demonstration that God had placed Baltazar on a field larger than that defined by the lines of soccer. The world is the field where God's scorer scores his goals whenever he reaches someone with the transforming message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This same message that transformed Baltazar's life can also transform your life!

Would you like to know how?

Read Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23.

If you would like to know more about Jesus and what He can do for you, just click the button on the left side of your screen to change your life.