Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Olympic Messengers - #8089

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

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Oh there’s nothing like the Olympics! Ten thousand athletes from more than two hundred nations in Beijing for the 2008 Games, but unlike previous games, there’s not a single Christian missionary in the Olympic village. At past Olympics Christian ministries have sent chaplains to serve the athletes, but not this time. Only Chinese chaplains were approved by the government, but Christ has an Olympic voice, even in China.

One Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader said, “This is evangelism in its truest form. It’s not about huge rallies; it’s about a player praying with another player.” So who’s going to be an Olympics athlete’s chance to hear about Jesus? Another athlete. What a concept.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft. I got so excited when I read about this. This is how Jesus set up the plan for giving people a chance to go to heaven; people from a tribe telling other people from that tribe about Him and in the process, stepping up to a life that matters. Look at what He did in Samaria where because of racial issues and religious issues they wouldn’t appreciate a Jewish preacher. So Jesus reached a woman from that village and it says, “She went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come see a Man.’ Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony” (John 4:28-29 ; 39).

People listen to someone from their world. More and more hearts are pretty hard when the messenger’s perceived to be a religious professional, but we listen to people like us—ordinary people. You’re in a tribe—occupational, generational, recreational, relational—so guess who God’s counting on? Guess who’s there best chance at Jesus? That would be you.

There’s a lot of help with this at our website, ALifeThatMatters.org, because God put you here to live a life that matters.

This radio program references: John 4:28-29 ; 39