wfn.org | Olympic Athletes Share Faith

[umethnews-request@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3088 notes).

Note 3088 by UMNS on July 29, 1996 at 15:46 Eastern (4595 characters).

SEARCH: Olympic, bomb, Johnson
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                       374(10-71){3088}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             July 29, 1996

Olympics chaplain encounters
the world face to face

by the Rev. Keith Johnson, Chaplain
Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta*

     The small chapel within the Olympic Village was packed Sunday
morning, only hours after the celebrative spirit of the world
games was scarred by a terrorist's bomb.
     Athletes, coaches and others listened intently as the
familiar words of Romans declared that "neither death nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to
come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus our Lord."
     After singing, prayers and scripture reading, several
athletes testified to what God had done in their lives.  Some had
won gold medals. Others had faced the disappointment of being
disqualified and unable to compete. Regardless, they testified to
the common reality of God's faithfulness.
     Prayers were said for the victims of the bomb and those who
had been injured but there seemed to be an unwillingness among the
worshippers to let that tragedy define the spirit of the worship
service or the Olympic games.
     Interacting with some of the 10,000 athletes has been a joy
and an eye-opener for me as one of the chaplains. Each day I meet
individuals from both well-known and little-known countries.
     I have had peaceful encounters with athletes from countries
at war.  I have had rich experiences with athletes from poor
countries and powerful experiences with athletes from countries
that are not considered "world powers."  
     From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe athletes have converged upon the
Olympic Village to participate with one another in the highest
level of competition and the highest level of human interaction. 
     Often our perceptions of other countries have been formed by
political events of the past.  Certainly this is true of Iraq,
Sudan, Russia, Palestine and Croatia. But as a Christian host here
at the games, I have had to discard these perceptions and be open
to new insights gained by face-to-face encounters.  
     From the time I stepped off the plane in Atlanta until now, I
have been busy removing old ideas and replacing them with new
friendships.
     All the chaplains have offices in a building where the
athletes and coaches come to receive a free gift from one of the
Olympic sponsors.  A few days ago a young man came to claim his
gift.  When we greeted each other there seemed to be a quick
connection.  
     The lettering on his uniform revealed he was from Cyprus so I
asked about is country.  With obvious pride, he took me to the
world map and showed me that small dot in the Eastern
Mediterranean Sea.  
     He could speak little English and I can only read a little
Greek but within 20 minutes I had learned his name, his athletic
event, his career, some of his political views, some of his
challenges and some of his dreams. We communicated very
effectively because of our desire to do so.  That desire to
communicate evolved into a time a prayer and the establishment of
a friendship.  
     I am encouraged that this same desire has been displayed by
athletes from all over the world: a young woman from Brazil, a
young man from Mauritius, a woman from Zaire, a man from Poland.
     How has the bomb affected the Olympic spirit?  It depends on
who you ask.  The fear of some athletes is increased.  Others feel
numb because they have had many experiences with terrorism.  Some
are so focused on their competition that they won't allow
themselves to be sidetracked.
     If you ask some of the athletes who worshipped with us Sunday
morning, I believe they might given an unexpected response.  They
would express their belief that there is something more powerful
than terrorism, fear, and even the "Olympic spirit."  They believe
that their faith in God is greater than anything else, even
greater than a gold medal.
                              #  #  #
     NOTE TO EDITORS:  Photo forthcoming.
     * Johnson, pastor of Park Avenue United Methodist Church in
Minneapolis, is one of five United Methodists who is among the 37
chaplains from seven countries, overseeing religious services at
the Olympic games in Atlanta.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------