Tim Howard of Everton makes a save from William Gallas of Arsenal during a Premier League match on January 9, 2010 in London. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Even if the dream ended tomorrow, I know I would still have peace, says Tim Howard

Since 2007, Spain had consistently scored goals against all-comers, that is, until they faced USA and Everton keeper Tim Howard in the 2009 Confederations Cup semi-final. Howard stopped all eight shots on goal, ensuring the game ended in an upset loss for the former world number one’s.

Although USA lost to Brazil in the final, Howard was awarded an excellent consolation prize, the Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

Everton’s recent success in the English Premier League (fifth place the last three years) and in the FA Cup (2008—09 runners up), owes a great deal to their keeper. During the 2008—09 season, Howard set the club record for most league match clean sheets; sixteen.

He was also the hero of the 2008 FA Cup semi-final when he made two saves in the penalty shoot out. Those heroics wrecked the hopes of his old club, Manchester United, of achieving a historic haul of five trophies and put Everton through to their first FA Cup final in 14 years.

But Howard has revealed how his relationship with God beats anything football can offer. He insists that being a football star comes a poor second to being a Christian.

Says Howard, the first American to win an FA Cup winner’s medal (with Man Utd): “My faith in the Lord is vitally important. The joy I have in my life doesn’t come from football, the winning and the losing. I have an amazing family — we share an amazing faith together.

“Faith is a joyous thing, something to be shared. I don’t want it in the background of my life, but I certainly don’t want it to be ‘in your face’, either. I just want to be open about it.”

Howard has drawn on his faith to cope with an illness called Tourette’s syndrome. He has also given much of his time to helping others with the same condition, winning a humanitarian award in 2001 for his work with children with Tourette’s.

FULL NAME: Timothy Matthew Howard DATE OF BIRTH: 6 March 6, 1979 PLACE OF BIRTH: New Jersey, USA POSITION: Goalkeeper HEIGHT: 1.91m CAREER: 1997-1998 North Jersey Imperials (USISL) 1998-2003 MetroStars, NY (MLS) 2003-2007 Manchester United (Eng) 2007-2010 Everton (Eng) CURRENT CLUB: Everton NATIONAL TEAM: USA from 2002 ACHIEVEMENTS: 2001 US Goalkeeper of the Year 2001 US Humanitarian of the Year 2004 FA Cup - Manchester United 2004 English Goalkeeper of the Year FAVOURITE VERSE: Psalm 118:24Psalm 118:24

He says: “At age ten, I was diagnosed with this neurological disorder, characterised by physical and verbal tics. Living with Tourette’s is not easy. It affects me all the time, even when I’m playing. And even if it’s not seen by someone looking on, it’s something I have to deal with on a 24-hour basis. I have been able to cope pretty well with it. I’ve had it for a while now, so you learn to deal with it.

“But God has blessed me with the gift of athleticism as well. He has done some powerful things in my life through the combination of these two gifts. Not only has he helped me earn a place in the top English league, he also has shown me ways to use my position to encourage others with Tourette’s.”

As a child, Howard saw the effect of in his grandmother’s life, and greatly impacted him: “Nana’s sense of peace was so powerful because it came from her faith in the Lord.

“Through her, God revealed his love for me and it wasn’t long before I was followed in her footsteps. I wanted the same sense of faith and peace she had, and that is exactly what God gave me.”

On his website, timhowardstory.com, Howard explains the good news of Jesus Christ in ‘four spiritual laws and that by believing in Jesus, he was forgiven and made right with God.

One, God loves you. Two, your sin (breaking God’s law) separates you from God and will result in eternal judgement in the lake of fire. Three, Jesus died for your sin on the cross. And four, you must trust in Jesus as sovereign King and Saviour to be saved.

He continues: “Today, I am blessed to be living a dream. And yet, if it all went away tomorrow, I know I would still have peace.

“That probably sounds crazy to most people, but that’s the kind of peace Christ gives. It is rooted in His love, and it surpasses all understanding. You can experience this same sense of love and peace too. All you have to do is ask for it.”

Howard says he really wants to be known as someone who lived for Jesus Christ; “who didn’t always get it right, and who made mistakes and stumbled, but at the end of the day, believed and had faith that God is the beginning and the end.

“People are going to see your stumbles, but if people can look at me and see Christ and not just see me, that is of the utmost importance.

“The most important thing in my life is Christ. He’s more important to me than winning or losing or whether I’m playing or not. Everything else is just a bonus.”

And for the US World Cup team, Howard is certainly a bonus.

Howard’s website:
www.timhowardstory.com