在2023年2月5日，克里斯蒂安．阿特蘇（Christian Atsu）在土耳其的一場足球比賽中，為他的球隊踢進了致勝的一球！這名來自迦納的國際明星球員從小就赤著腳跑步，在玩樂中學習踢足球。阿特蘇是基督徒，曾直言不諱地宣稱：「耶穌是我畢生的至寶！」在社交媒體上，阿特蘇公開發布聖經經文，清楚表明自己的信仰，並以實際行動去資助一所為孤兒設立的學校，活出基督信仰。

在他踢進致勝球的隔天，一場毀滅性的地震搖撼了土耳其的安塔基亞市，即聖經記載的安提阿城。阿特蘇所在的那棟大樓在地震中倒塌了，他就這樣回歸天家與救主永遠同在。

在兩千多年前，安提阿是初代教會時期的宣教基地，門徒稱為基督徒是從安提阿開始的（使徒行傳11章26節）。人們稱為「好人，被聖靈充滿」的使徒巴拿巴，也曾被派遣到安提阿傳福音，因為他的緣故，「有許多人歸服了主」（24節）。

我們提到克里斯蒂安．阿特蘇的生平事蹟，並不是要崇拜他，而是要從中看到抓緊機會服事的重要性。無論我們現今身處何種境遇，我們都無法知道上帝何時會帶我們回歸天家。所以我們應捫心自問，要如何像巴拿巴或阿特蘇一樣，以基督的愛去關懷別人。這才是最重要的致勝球！

On February 5, 2023, Christian Atsu kicked the winning goal for his football (soccer) team in a match in Turkey. A star international player, he learned to play the sport as a kid running barefoot in his home country of Ghana. Christian was a believer in Christ: “Jesus is the best thing that ever happened in my life,” he said. Atsu posted Bible verses on social media, was outspoken about his faith, and put it into action by helping finance a school for orphans.

The day after his winning goal, a devastating earthquake shook the city of Antakya, once the biblical city of Antioch. Christian Atsu’s apartment building collapsed, and he went to be with his Savior.

Two thousand years ago, Antioch was the fountainhead of the early church: “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). One apostle, Barnabas, said to be “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit” (v. 24), was instrumental in bringing people to Christ: “a great number of people were brought to the Lord” (v. 24).

We look to the life of Christian Atsu not to idolize him but to see in his example an opportunity. Whatever our circumstance in life, we don’t know when God will take us to be with Him. We do well to ask ourselves how we can be a Barnabas or a Christian Atsu in showing others the love of Christ. That, above all, is the winning goal.