BRAZIL.- The Paris Saint-Germain striker, Neymar, maintains its links with the Peniel Baptist Church at a distance. The temple, whose headquarters are in the municipality of San Vicente, on the coast of the state of Sao Paulo, has received the soccer player since he was 8 years old.
Nevertheless, Neymar it has faced location difficulties to stay present. Since 2013, when he moved to Barcelona, his presence and his contact with Pastor Newton Lobato, the president, have become rare.
But, according to information released by Placar magazine, the 25-year-old player is still present through phone calls, WhatsApp messages and without missing his tithes and offerings, contributions of a financial nature.
In an interview with the sports magazine, Newton Lobato affirms that the family and the player still have considerable proximity, despite the difficulties of the Brazilian striker’s presence.
The pastor, who considers himself a ‘spiritual mentor’ and friend of Neymarbelieves that his distance has hindered his walk in the Christian faith, which includes parties, girlfriends and, mainly, the controversies in relation to the treasury in Spain.
During the conversation, Newton did not agree to be photographed and did not count the value – in numbers – that Neymar contributes in tithe. Veja magazine, however, estimates that if the percentage of 10% is respected, the value given by the player per year exceeds 20 million reais (6,357,000.00 USD).
In 2010, in an interview given to the State of São Paulo, Neymar He even talked about his vision about tithing and guaranteed, at the time – the player was earning 400 thousand – that the 10% portion was delivered as he did when he earned less than minimum wage.
“For God, nothing hurts. And I think it’s legal. People know the pastor of Peniel well. I have been there for ten years and now they are expanding the church. I believe that if we believe in God, things come naturally. God gave me everything: gift, success… ”, he said.
“His (Neymar) first salary was 450 reais. We made that first little contract with him at Santos and my wife took 45 reais and gave to the church every month. Well, there were still about 400 left over to pay the bills. From there she went on to earn 800 reais. It’s good, donate 80… Only that God began to test, right? We received 400 thousand… But from there you think that God was faithful. PUM, give 40 thousand! But that’s where the real ‘catapatapum’ came from. My God, I don’t even want to know, soon ‘tithe’ that! (Laughter). … God tests you in how little and how much”, said on that occasion the father of Neymar.
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