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More churches in the UK are getting behind plans for joined up outreach during the London 2012 Olympics than with any previous Games. With just over a year left before the Games come to the capital, churches are drawing up their plans for coordinated outreach and engagement during the Games. David Willson, chief executive of More than Gold, the umbrella group for outreach during the Games, has coordinated church engagement in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and Vancouver. He said there were more churches and agencies getting behind the London Olympics than with any other Games previously. Chairman of More than Gold, Lord Brian Mawhinney, expressed his excitement at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Esher, Surrey this week saying, ‘ It has even been suggested to me that More Than Gold could well turn out to be the largest venture of inter-church cooperation the United Kingdom has ever seen.’
Pray: for this Olympic outreach and all involved in preparing for it. (Lev.9:23)
London is awash with many Christian groups ministering across the city and there are many others throughout the British Isles. Please pray for: a team of former Olympians known as ‘Chaplains to the World’s Olympians’. Their ministry ‘Bridging the Gap 2012 UK Outreach headquarters is based in the Kingsway International Christian Centre. Pray also for the Olympic Village Chaplains in each Olympic host city made up of a local component and an international contingent. Please pray for the 3,000 copies of commemorative English-language Scriptures available as a welcome gift in the Olympic Village, and the ‘More Than Gold’ ministry providing sports clinics, a ministry providing cups of water on every street corner for Olympic visitors, and ‘street chaplains’ welcoming people to London and helping visitors find their way around. Prayer is the secret ingredient in any evangelism and for Olympic ministry it is particularly important as the world comes together in goodwill.
Pray: for clear unhindered communication to flow through every event, particularly between volunteers and the public, organising agencies and volunteers.
The London Paralympics run from 29 August to 9 September. British Churches are organizing celebrations and activities for these Games but critics are wondering whether churches will be inspired to improve their own facilities for the disabled. ‘There’s a sharp contrast between the facilities provided for this event and those available in most churches. Between 10 and 18% of people are disabled but we don’t see that number in our congregations,’ said Tim Wood of Through the Roof. In spite of years of campaigning and changes to legislation that in theory require public buildings to have accommodations such as wheelchair ramps and designated parking spaces, more than half the churches in the UK still lack such features. ‘St. Paul spoke about people running in a race to win medals that don't last. Our churches offer something so much more. I hope the legacy of the Paralympics is that we welcome many more disabled people into our faith communities.’
Pray:for the inclusion of all individuals, even those with mental, physical or emotional disability in our faith communities.
When the world’s greatest athletes start arriving at the Olympic Village next week (W/B July 16) to prepare for the start of the London 2012 Games, they will be greeted by a special drama performance staged by young people and a rendition of their national anthem, along with the raising of the country’s flag. But perhaps the most moving part of the welcome ceremonies will be their backdrop – a 'Truce Wall’ decorated with statements from British schoolchildren expressing their hopes and aspirations for a more peaceful world. Among those statements will be one by 16-year-old Amy Wight, from St John’s RC Comprehensive School, in Gravesend, Kent, who wrote: ‘Athletes are more than competitors ... they inspire us to a more peaceful world.’ The team welcome ceremonies are repeated for the arrival of each national team. For some athletes they may be the only time they hear their national anthem and see their home flag raised during this summer’s Games.
Pray: for the final preparations for the Olympics and that the games will run smoothly without disruption and that the recent severe weather will abate in time for this important event. (1Sa.25:6)
Statistics released by the Church of England show an increase in the number of young people attending weekly church services in addition to a rise in adult and child baptisms. The number of people attending Christmas services also rose by 14.5 per cent between 2010 and 2011, reaching a total of over 2.6 million. A growth in church attendance was recorded in a total of 20 of the Church of England's 40 regional areas, while nationally there was a 1.2 per cent increase in children and young people attending to 216,928. The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham James, said: “The attendance figures are heartening, especially the very strong growth in Christmas day attendance. “The encouraging news of further growth to come even on these high figures is very welcome and points to a growing trend. “Also welcome is the stabilising of the numbers of those who attend church services on a weekly basis.
Pray: for this trend to continue and that the Gospel will reach out to an increasing audience. (Heb.10:25)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/latest-cofe-figures-heartening-says-bishop
An awful lot of planning has taken place for the security of the Olympic Games. The planning started before we won the bid in 2005 and it has carried on. Last week a mock July-7-style terror attack took place in London, to test responses to attack during Games. Behind the scenes the Government Police and the Church are working together with full programmes of
planning, training and extra recruitment. For insights into how to pray during the months leading up to the Olympic Games go to the ‘More’ link below. For further insights into the pagan roots of the Olympics go to: Click Here
Pray:for Olympic prayer rooms and prayer events to grow in power and number in the coming months.(2Ch.7:13-15)
Info: http://site.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=51&Itemid=93
Fusion is bringing people from 15 countries to take part in a Pilgrimage of Hope during the Olympic Games. From 22 July, 75 people from South America, Africa, Europe, China and Australia will be helping communities in the UK to enjoy the Games. After three days of training in community transformation, the pilgrims will head off in teams of 10 to work alongside local Christians in running community events, such as youth cafes, kids clubs and festivals. The outreach draws its inspiration from the legacy of small groups of Christians that many years ago made a huge impact, such as the Clapham Sect, which included William Wilberforce and campaigned successfully for an end to the slave trade. After eight days of mission, pilgrims will travel to Iona and Lindisfarne to retrace the steps of some of the heroes of the Christian faith. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fusion.focuses.on.communitybuilding.during.olympics/30239.htm For a handy resource to aid churches, homegroups and houses of prayer to intercede for the Olympics use the INSIGHT article (pdf download).
Pray: for all those participating in these events that they will bring community transformation. (Gen.28:3)
Info: http://site.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=393&Itemid=93
Murderball, which followed the United States wheelchair rugby team during their 2004 Paralympic campaign, gathered a string of glowing critical reviews from the movie critics. The film centres on the USA and Canadian teams, following their fierce rivalry from the 2002 World Championships to Athens two years later. It gives an insight into the ferocity of the sport in which wheelchairs often collide at high speed. The Academy Awards Committee nominated the film for its prize as the best documentary of 2006. Empire Magazine said it ‘strips away the layers of delicacy with which the able-bodied treat the disabled’ to reveal ‘the spirit and joie de vivre of those to whom disability is their making, not breaking. When Murderball came out, everyone in a wheelchair saw the movie and wanted to play the sport, but you have to have limitations in all four limbs. Murderball really changed how people thought about people in wheelchairs. People now look at those in wheelchairs and see them for what they can do rather than what they can't do'.
Pray: that the abilities that wheelchair users will have may not be restricted by the perceptions of those more able. (Dt.8:18b)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19484847
A delegation of more than 40 church leaders from 12 of the nations where major sports events will be taking place over the next few years met this week in London to learn from the valuable lessons learned by More Than Gold over the past three years. It included a dozen from Brazil who are getting ready for the World Cup in two years time and the Olympics two years
later. The week-long in-depth briefing included representatives of churches, missions and Christian sports organizations from Brazil, Scotland, Canada, USA, Korea and Russia. The representatives visited churches in action and were briefed on areas ranging from running community festivals, sports outreach, mission teams, social action and prayer to finance, operations and communications. The Brazilians have already been in the UK for some months receiving hands-on experience in running community festivals. Carla Mendes, one of the More Than Gold Brazil team, said ‘We breathe sport in Brazil. It’s in our DNA. So we are already starting to train people how to use sport to engage with their community and are encouraging more than 10,000 churches to work together for 2014.’
Pray: for increased international Christian contributions into sporting events to grow from seeds sown by More Than Gold and other Christian agencies. (1Cor.3:6)
Four Paralympic flames have been kindled at the top of the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ahead of next week's Games. They were created on Northern Ireland's Slieve Donard, Snowdon in Wales, Scotland's Ben Nevis and on Scafell Pike in England's Lake District. Four teams scaled the highest peaks of the home countries to spark the flames which will come together at Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday. The Games start the following day. The flames are being carried down in lanterns ahead of celebrations in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast over the Bank Holiday weekend. A 24-hour relay will leave Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Games, to arrive in Stratford in time for the opening ceremony in London.
Pray: that the flames will once more unite the nations.