Peacock And The Church!

Last updated : 02 June 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Gavin Peacock: "Well, I've been a Christian practically all my playing career, from when I was 18, but I've never felt called to the ministry. When I retired from playing six years ago, a very good friend of mine, whom I regard as my spiritual mentor, the Rev Tony Roake [chaplain to the church of St John and St Philip in The Hague, the Netherlands, and chaplain to the British Embassy], said to me: "I think you should go into the ministry." I said: "No, Tony. I've no calling to do that at all. I'm going to do media work." There are people who have faith, who are Christians, but who aren't called to lead. But then about two years ago, out of the blue really, I just felt a weight of conviction. I'd forgotten what Tony had said but I just felt: 'I'm going to do this.'

"Over my football career and life as a Christian, I've always spoken at different things - youth events, dinners, in churches. Over the last eight months, I've actually been preaching in churches. When I do that, I'm happy, it feels right. I enjoy it but, at the same time, I have to do it. I feel compelled to do it. It's twofold. I not only enjoy it and it makes me feel good and it completes me, it's that I have to do it. It's a conviction I have. It's different from doing something just because you enjoy it.

"We [the family] go to Canada quite a lot, we've got a small place there, we love the place. I looked at the seminary that was proposed, it was a good one, I went for an interview and I got accepted. I just feel that that's the right place to be for us for the next three years. To go away, to do this. Sure, anything that takes you out of your comfort zone is a bit scary. It's the unknown but, because I have my faith, the unknown is not as frightening.

"I've always been open about my faith, but it's not as if I went in and bashed the lads over the head with a Bible. It's more a case of: "What did you do on Sunday?" "Oh, you went to church." And then the conversation strikes up. People get to know. Sure, there's the ribbing. About anything that's different, if you wear a new tie or a new pair of shoes. The lads would take the Mickey. But when they saw I was sincere about what I believe, I think most of them respected it.

"I just think I'm an ordinary person. I do do things wrong [laughs] and there are lot of other people who I consider as better than me. But that's not really the issue. I just feel that when my faith is there, it is the centre of my life. Football was never central, it was never my God. It was very important, it was my job, I loved it. But it's never been the core of my life."