Tony Janzen is a super star soccer player, but on top of all his practices and games he always makes time for his faith. Tony has played soccer since he was eight starting off in a league, and now he got back from Cambodia in 2016 where he was playing professional soccer at the age of 30. But throughout his busy soccer career he never failed to put his faith first.
While Janzen was in Cambodia he attended a Cambodian church where the services were spoken in Khmer. That did not stop Janzen from practicing his religion, and as the years went by he developed a better understanding each time he attended. He never just gave up and focused on soccer. “Visiting Cambodia and going through the process of Mennonite Central Committee was a gift that grew my faith and relationship with my wife.” said Janzen.
Going to Cambodia to play soccer also gave Tony the chance to witness a different culture and ways to grow in his faith, with always trusting in God. Being in a new country where everything is different can cause stress, and challenges. But with those challenges came moments to trust in his religion to get him through the tough times. “Taking the opportunity to learn from others… you’re humbled… helps you relate to people who are different, which is something I think we struggle with in the U.S.,” said Janzen.
Tony was dedicated to both his religion and soccer. However, when it came to serving God he would regardless of the time, or the place. “Growing up in a Mennonite church that would go over seas, always seemed like the right thing to do.” In the MCC program (the group he traveled to Cambodia with) they had three main goals for working in Cambodia: sustainable living, conflict resolution, public education system. Although, Janzen’s soccer career was very time consuming his faith was always his first priority.
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Kathryn Detweiler