France and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud – who has publicly spoken of his Christian faith before – has given his backing to the Alpha Course in a video shared on Twitter by Alpha founder Nicky Gumbel.
He described taking part in Alpha online over the last two months as “a fantastic experience”.
He said it helped him “to share my faith with friends I invited to do Alpha in a not threatening way, I really enjoyed it, and I'm pleased my friends could enjoy it also. That's the spirit!
“I highly recommend it. Don't hesitate to do it. It's fantastic and you won't be disappointed. Be blessed and keep being a blessing”.
Giroud has certainly not shied away from sharing his faith in Christ. After being part of the 2018 World Cup-winning French side he said he was “very grateful to have the opportunity to live my dream. To live every single day for me is a day blessed”.
He also commented: “Every time I read the words of the Holy Bible, it makes me feel grateful about everything that has happened to me, and positive”.
In 2019, together with other Christian players Lucas Moura, David Alcibiades and Paul-Jose M’Poku, he organised a fundraising gala in London in aid of persecuted Christians, where he said “It is unimaginable to see so many persecuted Christians in the world today. It’s amazing to have numbers like that – we have to talk about it. There needs to be awareness.”
And Giroud literally carries his faith on his sleeve: his right arm has a tattoo with the first line of Psalm 23 in Latin – “Dominus regit me et nihil mihi deerit – ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want’.