Athletes In Action (AIA) has produced a tremendous tool for the Athens Olympics. It's a take- off on the "More Than Gold" video used in the Sydney Olympics...but it uses new "life journey stories" from current athletes...and a much more convenient DVD format. The athletes' stories introduce the classic feature length film on the life of Jesus--their personal favorite as "World Champion".
From a practical side, a DVD is much easier to ship, carry, and distribute. For the recipient it is more "valued" simply because it is a more up-to-date format...and it is easier to pack into a bulging suitcase for the trip home.
What really excites me is that research has shown these DVDs will reach the most remote corners of the earth (within a matter of days) as the athletes return home and share the DVD with others. The "ripple effect" of a tool like this almost beyond imagination.
One of my mates with AIA at Athens (thanks Ray) has sent me some early stories of the use of the DVD and asked me to pray for these people. What a privilege to have this responsibility as my contribution to the effort this time around.
(I have chosen not to record actual names here...in an attempt to preserve some "privacy"...but these are stories of real people.)
- A player on the US Volleyball team who is a strong Christian who
could help us get the DVD's into the hands of many athletes.
- A female athlete from a former Iron Curtain country who was glad to
accept a Jesus DVD from us at a practice Gymnastics session.
- The sister of a crew member of a western European Olympic Sailing Team. She gratefully accepted 2 DVDs and promised to give one to her sister.
- An African boxer sent home due to an abnormal blood test. He was just
chewing a tribal remedy for headaches that apparently has hallucenigenic
properties. Pray that his family will not be persecuted because of his
shame and that God would use this in his life.
- A member of the USA rowing team who will receive the DVD as a result of AIA contact with his parents...who are in Athens to support their son.
I'm on the prowl for stories and will try to secure some more in the next couple of days.
1 comment:
Gary, thanks for the stories - they really help encourage me to pray and to be focused on God's priorities in the midst of Olympic glory.
The blog is a useful tool - I hope it creates some dialogue - sometimes people are not sure what to say in response - some messages/topics lend themselves to a response more than others - not always is a response needed.
I think lots of prayer will be important after the Olympics is over - that the message will be accessible when athletes, family and friends are coming to grips with what the experience (positive or negative) means for them personally and professionally.
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