Golden Opportunities in Greece
Cynthia Schnereger

All the world’s attention will be focused on Athens, Greece, Aug. 13-29, 2004. Who will take the gold? How many medals will each country win? Who are these athletes? What are their stories?

“As the world strives for excellence and perfect performance, let the gospel-bearing believers of the international community make a gold-winning presentation,” says a pamphlet distributed through Free Methodist World Missions. “Let’s do as Paul says,” the leaflet challenges: “‘I lengthen my stride, and I run straight’ for the goal of the high calling of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:13-14).

The Free Methodist Church has a small presence in Greece … with golden aspirations. They’ve developed a variety of ways to minister to both Greeks and visitors before, during and after the 2004 Olympic Games.

Good Old FM Hospitality


Click here to meet the Free Methodists who'll be traveling to Greece to minister at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Since housing is predicted to be one of the biggest problems in Athens, Free Methodists are participating in the financing and building of up to 10 modular units in an Olympic village located at the new Cosmovision sports center. Operated by AMG International, the village will serve as the hub for a united evangelical Olympic ministry called Flame 2004. (See inset.) Following the Games, some of the siding from the Olympic units will be shipped to Bulgaria and used in the construction of a new Free Methodist church.

Also during June and July, sports camps are being conducted in Thessaloniki, Greece, to capitalize on the pre-Olympic interest among Greek young people.

During the Olympics and the Paralympics that immediately follow them, a wide variety of outreach activities will include hospitality areas, refreshment stands, showings of the “Jesus” film, craft venues and presentations (sports, music and drama). Personal evangelists, short- and long-term missionaries, and relationship builders will work one-on-one alongside each other. Special Christian festivals are also planned at the conclusion of the Olympics, as is evangelism to the whole of Greece (hoping to reach locals who’ve stayed away to avoid the crowds and fanfare surrounding the events in Athens).

About Flame

According to the Flame Web site, as Athens began preparing for the 2004 Olympic Games, the Christian community in Greece (in cooperation with the International Athletic Organization, “More than Gold”) formed “Flame,” a nonprofit organization designed to meet the spiritual needs of locals, athletes and others in Greece for the competition. A valuable presence at several previous Olympics, Flame is cooperating with the International Olympic Committee and hundreds of volunteers from Greece and beyond.

In September, after the last medals have been awarded and the competitors and visitors have all gone home, the work will continue as Free Methodists and other Evangelicals seek to nurture into lasting fruit the seeds planted before and during the Olympic experience.

“This is a historic moment for Athens and Greece,” the pamphlet concludes. “The civilization that gave to the world democracy, great food, the Olympics … and (let us not forget) the New Testament, needs the world of believers to give back to it the love and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Prayers are coveted for a unified ministry effort among all the Christian organizations involved, for life-changing conversations and opportunities to reach out with Jesus’ love to participants, attendees and locals alike.
Donations are welcome as well. In the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, they can be designated for the Athens 2004 Olympics and mailed to: Free Methodist World Missions, P.O. Box 535002, Indianapolis, IN 46253. For more information, call Free Methodist World Missions at 1 (800) 342-5531.