Despite some being upset with the imagery in the Olympics’ opening ceremonies, other Christians are actually making a difference in the lives of the athletes, including the Baptist International Mission Board which conducting a six-week outreach during both the Olympics and Paralympics.
The outreach with biblical truth also comes against a backdrop of a controversial win of a biological man who identifies as a woman over an Italian female in a boxing match.
Between 40 and 100 short-term volunteers will serving alongside IMB missionaries who live in and around Paris and several local French churches, “The Baptist Press” reported.
Image: IMB.
“We had 40 volunteers, 14 summer interns, 15 French partners, eight IMB team members from other parts of Europe, four IMB team members from Asia and two IMB team members from Africa join together in partnership with Antony Baptist Church just outside of Paris, for one purpose — to make Jesus known,” team leader Jason Harris said.
Over the course of the summer, volunteer teams will come from churches in Alabama, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Illinois, Virginia, Nevada, Oklahoma and New York.
“We had a Haitian Baptist Church that we partnered with from Delray Beach, Fla.,” Harris said. “Many of them are French speakers, and they were really helpful in terms of communication. They all had a servant’s heart to go out and share the gospel. We are seeing God break spiritually rocky European soil and open hearts to the gospel.”
The team also sponsored outreach events in partnership with local French churches, including an evangelistic film showing, a children’s festival, a talent show and a pick-up volleyball tournament. “We had excellent interaction with lost people at each event,” Harris said, adding that these events provide an open place for fun, informal connection between believers and non-believers and lead to gospel engagement.
In the weeks to come, the Paris team will continue its strategy of bold evangelism, evangelistic events and outreach points in key locations around the city. Alongside U.S. and local French churches, they will make the most of this moment to reach Parisians, French people and the nations on their doorstep.
“It’s going to be an intense summer,” Harris said. “I’m excited for it.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice