Christian Atsu would come up the steep slope from St James’ to pray at Hillsong Church. In the midst of Premier League fame, he desired an anonymity the church could provide. Yesterday, the congregation was praying for him.
Atsu was 24 when he arrived on Tyneside and after a life spent chasing a career, he was able to settle. His wife and children remain in Newcastle and were guests of the club at St James’ on Saturday evening for the game againstNewcastle and Liverpool players pay tribute to Christian Atsu before their game on Saturday
“I had lunch with him on several occasions, I’d try to leave the conversation open. I enjoy football and it’d be easy for me to ask him about it, but I’m aware that these guys are surrounded by it and sometimes they might just want to talk about everything else in life — parenting, all that kind of stuff.
They were not the first Newcastle players to attend Hillsong — the local Ameobi brothers, Shola and Sammy, were regulars, particularly Sammy. Gael Bigirimana was another Ferguson got to know well.“DeAndre would come from time to time,” he says, “Christian and his family were a lot more regular — the children would be part of our kids’ church. We’re a multi-ethnic church, which is really beautiful, and there’s an older Ghanaian couple who took them under their wing a little bit.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ex-Premier League footballer Christian Atsu pulled injured from Turkey earthquake rubbleThe ex-Chelsea and Newcastle star Christian Atsu was trapped under the wreckage of a building after two earthquakes killed more than 5,000 people
Read more »
'He never forgot his roots': Tributes to Christian Atsu's work supporting Ghana orphansThe former Newcastle player, who was killed in the devastating earthquake in Turkey, was the 'main benefactor' for a school for orphans in Ghana
Read more »
Footballer Christian Atsu's body returned to GhanaThe 31-year-old was found dead under the rubble of his home in Turkey two weeks after the earthquake.
Read more »
Newcastle United fans launch charity initiative in memory of Christian AtsuA positive reaction to such sad news - Newcastle United fans launch charity initiative in memory of Christian Atsu
Read more »
Saint-Maximin and Howe pay emotional tributes to footballer Atsu after his deathNewcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin and manager Eddie Howe have paid emotional tributes to footballer Christian Atsu after he was found dead following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Read more »
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool: Reds revive top-four hopes with victory at St James' ParkLiverpool remain the only team to have beaten Newcastle in the Premier League this season, but now they've done it twice. Liverpool are back in the top-four equation, and Loris Karius is on his way to Wembley...
Read more »