Last year, a Christian soccer star, Jaelene Hinkle withdrew from the United States Women’s National Team after the team decided to swap out their normal jerseys for LGBT Pride jerseys in international matches.
Hinkle withdrew from the United States soccer roster in June citing “personal reasons.” This came at a time where she was called to play in international games versus Sweden and Norway.
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Hinkle’s resignation from the team came two weeks after the U.S. men and women’s national teams announced that they would be wearing LGBT pride jerseys in support of the June pride month.
Although Hinkle did not state her reason at the time, speculation grew. The 24-year-old was criticized as people thought she withdrew because of her strong Christian faith and her convictions over same-sex marriage.
In a recent interview with “The 700 Club,” Hinkle explained, for the first time, why she withdrew from the team last June. She revealed to the Christian Broadcasting Network, that she did in-fact withdraw after the decision to change the jerseys took place.
She pointed out that she took time to seek guidance from God on the topic and eventually He gave her an answer.
“I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey,” Hinkle said. “I gave myself three days to just seek and pray and determine what [God] was asking me to do in this situation. … I knew in my spirit I was doing the right thing. I knew I was being obedient.”
She added that when she was invited to play for the women’s national soccer team it was like “out-of-body experience.” She couldn’t contain her excitement and was ecstatic to be able to wear the U.S flag proudly on her chest.
When the teams announced their decision to wear the LGBT pride jerseys last June, she immediately knew she had a decision to make. Was she going to honor God and her beliefs or follow the dreams she had had since being a small child?
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“I am essentially giving up the one dream that little girl’s dream about their entire life and I am saying no to [it],” she explained. “It was very disappointing.”
Despite her feelings of disappointment, she said she had a peace within her that overruled any feelings of disappointment.
“I knew in my spirit I was doing the right thing,” Hinkle said. “I knew that I was being obedient. Just because you are obedient doesn’t make it easy.”
Hink doesn’t hide that she was disappointed and let down by the US soccer teams decision, but that she didn’t question Gods plan for a single second.
“I don’t question His goodness. I know He is good. I know He is faithful. If I don’t get a national team [invite] again, that is part of His plan and that is OK,’ she said. “Maybe this was why [I] was meant to play soccer.”
Hinkle comes from Colorado where she grew up in a Christian home, accepting Christ as her Lord and Savior at the young age of 12. Hinkle hasn’t been shy about pointing out the different trials she faced when in school and later at Texas Tech where she played soccer.
This isn’t the first time Hinkle has taken a stand for her beliefs. She has boldly voiced her opinions about things like same-sex marriage.
In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court made controversial decision to make same-sex marriage legal on a federal level, whereas it had previously been a state issue.
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When the Supreme Court announced their decision, Hinkle posted a picture to Instagram.
“Jesus didn’t come to save those who already believed in Him. He came so that the lost, rejected, and abandoned men and women would find Him and believe,” she wrote. “I believe with every fiber in my body that what was written 2,000 years ago in the Bible is undoubtedly true. It’s not a fictional book. It’s not a pick and choose what you want to believe. You either believe it, or you don’t. This world may change, but Christ and His Word NEVER will.”