Sharing Something Worth More Than Gold
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by Courtney Simpson
(Birmingham, Ala.) - March 9, 2010 - Sharing the Gospel with people from every nation is an integral part of God’s mission for believers in the world. What better place to reach out to people gathered from around the globe than to build relationships with people at the Olympics.
While most are there to celebrate the great athleticism of their country, national WMU sent a team to spread the love of Christ among those assembled from around the world at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.
In the past, WMU’s International Initiatives sent groups to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Torino in 2006, and Beijing in 2008. This year, a group of 18 volunteers packed their bags and left for a 10-day missions trip to Vancouver, Canada, working through the ministry organization, More Than Gold. Andrea Mullins, the team’s group leader, described More Than Gold as an organization that connects Christian volunteers to ministries at international sports events.
Specifically, More Than Gold seeks to engage volunteers to serve as chaplains, put on sports clinics, hold block parties and activities with children and youth, host cultural events, provide drama and music, and general hospitality during events such as the Olympics.
“One of the unique experiences in Vancouver was giving out hot chocolate,” said Mullins. “Together we gave free cocoa that gave us many opportunities to tell people that there is something worth more than gold. Knowing God loves you and has a plan for your life is worth more than gold.”
The team handed out hot chocolate to people getting on and off the trains, standing in lines, and in front of the Russia House. Since Russia is hosting the next Winter Olympics, Mullins said thousands of visitors came to the Russia House.
Besides building relationships through distributing hot chocolate, the Vancouver team was also able to host a cultural event. The event was a play, similar to an off-Broadway production, called “Hockey Dad.” The team took tickets, manned the refreshment stand, and helped set up the lobby of the theatre each evening. Through these assignments, the team was able to have conversations with people from around the world.
While at the train station one day, Mullins saw a young woman trying to pull three suitcases across a park to the station. She walked over and asked if she could help her bring her things to the train. As she walked with her, Mullins discovered she was a drug addict with a serious criminal record and was on her way to rehab. Mullins was able to tell her of the God Who loves her and knows her need. She prayed with her, gave her More Than Gold literature to read on the train, and exchanged smiles as they parted ways.
“While this seems so small, it illustrates many conversations of this kind that my team and I had while in Vancouver,” shared Mullins.
To read more about the Vancouver team’s missions experience and to see photos, go to Andrea Mullin’s publisher’s blog at http://newhopepublishers.wordpress.com/. For more information on WMU’s International Initiatives or how you and your church can get involved, visit WMU’s Web go to www.wmu.com/getinvolved. To learn more about More Than Gold and the opportunities at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, visit their Web site at www.morethangold.org.uk.
