Stephen Curry's name has been added to the NBA record books numerous times already this season, but add it once more as the Golden State Warriors guard was named the NBA's most valuable player for the second consecutive season—the first unanimous MVP selection in NBA history.
A longtime friend of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Curry is featured on the cover of the new May/June 2016 issue of FCA Magazine.
“When it comes to faith in sports, many of the coaches and athletes we work with are shining examples of how the love of Christ comes through on the court, field or arena,” FCA Magazine editor Clay Meyer said. “These stars and leaders in sports are helping to teach their young fans—and a watching world—how God's principles are at work in their lives. This couldn’t be more true for Stephen Curry. As one of the biggest names in all of sports, we’re honored to feature him once again in FCA Magazine and tell his faith story to fans around the world.”
In the most recent FCA Magazine cover story, Curry’s faith story is chronicled. From the moment he entered the NBA, he had a strong biblical foundation and some idea, thanks to his father’s advice, of how to stay spiritually faithful in a worldly environment. But positive locker room influences are always welcome for rookies. Thankfully, Curry and Anthony Tolliver hit it off as friends and realized they both shared a common faith. After Tolliver later signed with Minnesota, Curry contacted him and thanked him for the Christian example he set, saying how much his friend had helped him grow in his own faith.
Curry, who first trusted in Christ at a church youth group meeting, says he wants to “grow even more” in sharing his faith with “teammates that may not know Jesus and how He can impact their life.”
“I’m not a guy who’s going to be trying to bash people over the head with the Bible,” he says. “I want people to know when they see me play that something is different, that I play for something different, and whether I’m talking about it [or not], I just hope by the way I carry myself and by the way I play the game, they can see there’s something different about that guy. And they find out what it is and then they know. It’s part of who I am.”
Curry calls his faith “my driving force.” It’s both the anchor and rudder for his life as he navigates the remarkable but often perilous journey of being a famous athlete.
“I’ve always been a believer that the Lord has put whatever talent in you, [and] whatever gift He has put in you, He wants you to get the most out of that. He wants you to succeed; He wants you to pursue and work and be passionate about it,” Curry says. “It’s not about getting any of the glory for yourself; it’s all for His [glory]. That’s where you have to keep perspective. Work at it and do all you can so you get the most out of yourself, but do it for His will.”
Read more of the new FCA Magazine story on Stephen Curry here, and check out the previous article at this link: Curry: In His Own Words—June 17, 2015.
-FCA- Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports