THIS IS EPISODE 71 OF THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
Ryan Hollingshead is a professional soccer player in the MLS with FC Dallas.
On January 6, 2017, Ryan Hollingshead almost died.
While stopping to help a stranded motorist, Ryan was stuck by a motor vehicle that had crashed due to icy conditions, launching him 30 feet into the air. He sustained three broken veterbrae in his neck as a result of the collision, but miraculously survived and then returned to soccer in the summer of 2017.
On this episode of the podcast, Ryan shares his story of coming to faith in Christ, putting his professional soccer career on hold to help his brother plant a church, and how he survived a near-death auto accident.
TIMELINE:
3:05 – His season in 2017 on the field with FC Dallas
3:45 – The level of play in MLS
5:30 – When soccer started taking shape for Ryan as a young person.
6:45 – Growing up without faith.
10:20 – Balancing his newfound faith and his family of non-believers.
12:30 – Playing soccer at UCLA and being drafted by FC Dallas
16:40 – Making a decision to help build a church instead of playing pro soccer.
20:25 – Planting/Starting a new church and the challenges that come with it.
24:05 – Going back to FC Dallas
28:05 – January 6, 2017 and how his life changed forever
39:40 – Rehabbing and returning to the soccer field.
40:30 – What he’s learning from the Lord right now.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPwKAcJjNlq/?taken-by=rmhollingshead
QUOTES:
“All in all, the Lord is really good.”
“The Lord has been so faithful in bringing our family to faith.”
“If the Lord were to take all things from me, would I be equally as God glorifying, would I love Jesus the same if all these things were taken?”
“He’s been so faithful to make himself the priority in my life and to be the thing that my ultimate joy rests in and I’m really thankful for that.”
