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“There is nothing in life my wife can't conquer with Jesus Christ in her corner", Holiday tweeted. His team, the New Orleans Pelicans, fully supports him.
Jrue and Lauren Holiday. / Twitter
Jrue Holiday is the starting point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. While his teamates are getting ready for the new NBA regular season, he is expected to miss the start to serve as caretaker for his wife, Lauren Holiday.
Lauren Holiday, member of the U.S. women's national soccer team, which won 2 gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and in 2012 at the London Games, retired last year in the prime of her career, to start a family with her husband Jrue.
“MY FAMILY COMES BEFORE BASKETBALL”
At the beginning of the year Lauren got pregnant, and everything was right, until two months ago, when she started experiencing painful headaches. A magnetic resonance imagining scan in New Orleans revealed a benign tumour on the right side of her brain.
The good news was the tumour was operable and not a threat to the Holidays' unborn daughter. After successful surgery, doctors were confident Lauren would return to full health.
Lauren's due date is mid-October. If possible, the couple hopes to induce the birth early, perhaps as soon as late September, or expedite her treatment.
Doctors plan to perform Lauren's brain surgery about six weeks after the birth. Both procedures are expected to be conducted at Duke University Hospital.
"My family comes before basketball”, said Holiday. "I'm obviously blessed to play this game and be in the position I am in, but my wife is the most important thing in the world to me. She comes before anything else", he added.
Jrue Holiday is the starting point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans.
STRENGTH IN THEIR FAITH
The Pelicans starting point guard finds strength in his faith, as he posts in his Twitter account:
There is nothing in life my wife can't conquer with Jesus Christ in her corner. Thank you all so much for your support! God bless!
— That Boy Jrue (@Jrue_Holiday11) 5 de septiembre de 2016
His wife Lauren also uses her social media to show her faith, and thanks those who are supporting them:
We are firm believers that people need people. So thank you for your thoughts and prayers as we navigate a difficult time.
— Lauren Holiday (@laurenholiday12) 5 de septiembre de 2016
The Pelicans' leading assist man has publicly asked for “your prayers, really pray for my family, we can take all the prayers that we can get."
PELICANS SUPPORT
Pelicans general manager Dell Demps and head coach Alvin Gentry met with Holiday and his agent, Jason Glushon, in early August in Los Angeles to outline a game plan for their star point guard. "The most important thing for Jrue to do right now is be with his wife and family", Gentry said in a statement.
Lauren Holiday won 2 Olympic gold medals.Gentry added: "Every one of our coaches and players understands what Lauren and Jrue are going through, and they know we're behind them 100 percent. We'll continue to do everything we can to support them and help them get through these hard times."
"The Pelicans have been great, there wasn't any pressure to be with the team or to choose between my team and my wife. They told me to be a husband first. I don't think they know how much their support means to me and my family", Jrue explained.
A STAR OF THE TEAM
Holiday is the Pelicans' second-most important player behind Anthony Davis. His scoring average of 16.8 points per game last season was second on the team to Davis, and his averages of 6.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals also ranked among the team leaders.
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Christians in politics?
What is the role of Christians serving in politics? An interview with Auke Minnema, the new General Director of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM).
Michael Ramsden: Communicating the Gospel in today’s societies
RZIM International Director Michael Ramsden responds to questions about the secularisation of Europe, the role of Christians in public leadership and the new ‘culture of victimism’.
Michael Schluter: Relationships are the key to build Europe
The economist summarises the manifesto “Confederal Europe: Strong Nations, Strong Union” and explains why personal relationships should be at the centre of our economy, education and democracy.
Efraim Tendero: Relationship with Roman Catholicism and other current issues
The World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General participated in the Italian Evangelical Alliance assembly (Rome, 8-9 April). In this interview with Evangelical Focus, Bp Tendero talks about the need to listen to local churches and to face challenges like the refugee crisis and climate change.
Greg Pritchard: European Leadership Forum
Pritchard explains the vision of ELF, comments on the 2015 event in Poland and reflects on what it means to have an "evangelical identity".
Evi Rodemann: Youth and mission
“We want to see the youth not just being equipped, but also being multipliers”, Evi Rodemann director of Mission-Net. The European Congress took place in Germany from December 28 to January 2.
Coexistence in the church - a model for society
“Gospel, identity and coexistence” were the themes of the General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance. Two days in Palma de Mallorca to reflect about the role of evangelical churches in society.
'Ungi kulimi changana'
Educator and journalist Jordi Torrents shares images of the Sekeleka social centre in Mozambique. About 50 children live there, many with some kind of disability. All photos were taken with permission.
The President in an evangelical church on Christmas Eve
For the first time, the President of Portugal attended a worship service in an evangelical church. It was in Sintra, on Christmas Eve.
I am not on sale
Young Christians gathered at Madrid’s central square Sol to denounce human trafficking. A flashmob highlighted the work of three evangelical NGOs which support women who escape sexual slavery in Spain.
Stamps to commemorate the Reformation
Poland, Lithuania, Namibia and Brazil are some of the countries that have issued special stamps on the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 theses.
Why are Christian leaders particularly vulnerable to sexual temptation?
“The reasons why somebody might have sex with a prostitute are very different from the reasons why somebody might want to have an affair with a member of their congregation”. An analysis by John Stevens, National Director of FIEC (UK).
Be safe on social media
A video about the way traffickers target teenage girls online, produced by anti-slavery gorup Abolishion.
In Mission
A 360º lyric video about how all followers of Jesus Christ are called to serve God. Duo in Spanish (Alex Sampedro) and Portuguese (Marcos Martins).
Heart
A short animation film by Swiss cartoonist Alain Auderset tells the message of the Bible in four minutes.
Philip Yancey interview
An 8-minute interview with Philip Yancey on the role of Christians in a secularised society. Recorded in Madrid, September 2016.
An interview with Prof. John Lennox
New atheism, the definition of "faith", Christianity in Europe, the role of the Bible in mission, and the need to listen more. An exclusive interview recorded at "Forum Apologética" (Tarragona, Spain) in May 2016.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
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