Back home, with lots to share with you!

I am home!

Serving as a chaplain at the London Olympics was an exciting and humbling opportunity. God allowed me to minister to athletes from around the world. I will be writing a newsletter soon to share some of the highlights. In the meantime I thought you might enjoy watching a video clip  from the inaugural Legacy Breakfast sponsored by Athletes in Action. Bryan Clay and Debbie Flood received the Eric Liddell Award.

Thank you for helping to make this possible through your prayers and financial support. 

Below too, a note by one of the athletes whom we have had the priviledge to minister to and encourage, sent by one of my fellow chaplains:

"PLEASE tell every one of the Chaplain's that i will miss them all and that i absolutely loved getting to meet and spend time with them. The Faith Center was the highlight of my Olympic experience. I will always remember how God worked through us all to share and experience His many blessings. I will miss sitting in a circle and hearing accents from all over the world talking about Jesus and His love. It was magical."

Legacy of sport influencers after Eric Liddell

For the last few years I have been dreaming to see Olympians of outstanding character be honored as they honor Jesus. Yesterday morning in London, their dream came true in a gold-medal way! The AIA team, was simply fantastic.  Their hard work, dedication and teamwork over the last several months was outstanding. With no full-time staff members on the ground with AIA in Great Britain, they relied heavily on our partners with Agape UK & More Than Gold. MTG provided valuable resources such as credibility, introductions, networking and encouragement to keep going when it was really tough and table sales were lacking, and, for months, non-existent. The vision for the More than Gold Legacy Breakfast is to help extend the legacy of Eric Liddell, the winner of the gold and bronze medals for Great Britain at the 1924 Paris Olympics. The Eric Liddell Award honors one male and one female Olympian who display outstanding character at home, in their community and on the field of competition. Liddell is best known for the portrayal of his Olympic experience in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire.     Powerful story from Stephanie Reid The two award winners, Debbie Flood and Bryan Clay, are outstanding recipients for the inaugural award.  Flood, a three-time Olympian and two-time silver medalist in rowing from Great Britain, devotes countless hours with organizations committed to helping transform disadvantaged youth into positive leaders. Clay, a gold-medal decathlete from the USA in the 2008 Beijing Games, leads a foundation that encourages young athletes to develop into total athletes -- physically, mentally and spiritually. Thank you Debbie and Bryan, for sharing your lives and faith stories in such a real and compelling way! Two of Eric's daughters, Heather Ingham and Patricia Russell, were on hand to present the awards, and both spoke in such endearing terms of their father's commitment to faith, sportsmanship, mission and service to others.  So, as the Games come to a close this weekend in London, be encouraged as the gospel was on display in front of 550 influential people and many media outlets, including athletes, coaches and officials from the Olympic Village. And, the display was inviting and compelling! All for Him,

His mercies endureth forever!

Last night I facilitated a Bible study in the Village with athletes and coaches from several nations and chaplains from our shift. We shared on Luke 17. It was a great time of deepening in the word through our mutual discernment and experiences and taking it in prayer to the Lord. We prayed for each others prayer request as well.

Right before that I was able to listen and encourage two athletes. Their personal and mutual journeys have been really tuff from childhood and even on the way to be here. We read at Psalm 23 together, prayed for them, and their competition coming up soon, and encouraged them to stick to whom they are in Jesus.

He is good all the time, and His mercies endureth forever!

Eternal Triumph project marching on

160 delegates from the whole globe are already at full speed in London. I was with them on saturday and today again as they gathered at All Souls church Club House (John & Kathy Horne from Agape London explained to the group that the club was founded by John Stott to serve and reach the community in 1949). Great training and vision casting time by Dave Johns, Billy Crossan, Mark Householder, Reid Lamphere, along with testimonies and interviews to others.

Great to see and hang out with our european leaders & rookies involved (Brad, Wouter, Mihail, Chris, Ellen, Abraham, Taavet...). All of them go to different parts of the city every day to put into practice what they have learnt as they meet with athletes they know or try to stablish meaningful conversations with them.

Only 3 days to the Legacy Breakfast. Pray for the final push on selling the tables and inviting Olympians to join us.

Susie Thomas has started her quimiotherapy treatment today. It will be a long two months for her and the family. Lift her and them up to Jesus ever

Pray for Reid, Dave, Billy & Brad to lead well the training and mentoring of the group.
Pray for fruitful harvest.
Pray for all of them building self confidence, understanding and heart to go back home and develop solid service and ministry to top sportspeople.
Pray for a great Legacy Breakfast next friday.
Please pray for Susie, and for Ben and the family.

Praise be to the King!

Greetings from London mates,

We had a wonderful Sunday service in the Village yesterday morning. Over 60 athletes, coaches & officials from 25 nations came together for worship. Many shared testimonies about God’s work in their life. The message reminded them that their identify was in Christ and not in a medal or a certificate of participation. That the "I belong to Jesus", well can be displayed in their faces and shirts when they win, but when they loose as well.

I feel the weight of two weeks of active service here just after our camp big basketball camp in Malaga. I miss Lidia and the kids and sometimes that puts me a bit down. Thanks for your prayers so I can finish well and strong here. One week to go!

Please pray:

that I will be able to meet and connect with those still in the village.

that I will use my time wisely and rest well. 

that God will use this experience to draw many to Himself.

Thanks so much,