Start Date + Olympics

SO I was reading this (---->Minsitries seek excellence during the Olympic Outreach) article today on the Vancouver Olympic outreaches from early 2010. Since they're the most recent Olympic host I wanted to look up on whats been done before, what stood out and what we can do again, or do differently. This is obviously going to be a long process but so far unity of the Church and love ministry seem to be key themes.

I'm sure we all heard about the negative aspects of the Vancouver games - the Canadian winter proving milder than expected and therefore not as suitable for some of the games - overflowing ice cleaning machines, cancelled event tickets and the death of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in a training run. 

But what about the postives?

Where was the church and what were Christians doing?

Tens of thousands of volunteers from across world-wide body of Christ were there under the coordination of More Than Gold (MTG), a non-denominational Christian faith community, networking and motivating them into service.

"It's about radical hospitality," says Karen Reed, Executive Director of More Than Gold (MTG) "Whether we are serving free coffee to people waiting in line-ups, or offering directions and free maps to guests looking for Olympic events, we want everyone to feel generously served." 

 Like the Vancouver Olympics and many Olympics before, we once again are under MTG, linking together as many Christian organisations and individuals as possible for unity and action in the upcoming games.

But I've been thinking a lot recently about what this looks like practically, specifically in my area of Arts.

There are so many opportunities and ideas to link into - but what are God's ideas?

I spent last week in Newcastle, one of the 7 Olympic cities, and where we will plant a team ready to receive outreach teams throughout 2012. Along with the rest of the Forever team, we hosted 140 staff and trainees from Discipleship Training Schools (DTS's) from all around the UK as well as from Sweden and Italy and the School of Evangelism (SOE) from Norway. With Westgate Baptist Church as our base for teaching, worship, meals and accomodation for the girls (boys were at St Lukes) we spent the week together in lectures on Evangelism followed by practical outreach in the City center, University and in conjunction with local churches.

The Forever team being prayed for by leaders of the Newcastle church networks and the DTS'

It was such an encouraging week with testimonies of good conversations, healings and salvation as well as God deepening a passion to GO - to seek and serve the lost and see people saved!

This includes me. 

I'm in the process now of praying about where God wants ME to go. He has provided an amazing network of relationships in Newcastle, including a gallery space for exhibitions as well as host churches and mission opportunities to join. This is all so encouraging but does God want me there or to simply oversee teams that will go there as a result of the work we have done?

The Oval is brilliant, I'm at home here and learning a lot- both such answers to prayer but what is the next step.

Please pray that God will make this clear to me.

Also that he will grow my team. There are many options and ideas but I need help in this. Interest was expressed by people I met last week but only God knows who will join me and who will be best to do this work. May HIS will be done.