The torch handed. The boiler is lit. And the Beijing Winter Olympics have formally begun.
Regardless of accusations of genocide and quite a few human rights abuses, prompting worldwide protests and a US diplomatic boycott, the Video games will go forward as deliberate.
On the twenty fourth Winter Olympic Video games, 3,000 athletes from 91 international locations compete for medals in 109 totally different competitions.
If you happen to're searching for athletes to root for, we advocate following these 5 Christian opponents—and a particular method you’ll be able to pray for every of them.
Eric Staal, Hockey, Canada
In a 2018 interview with Promise Keepers Canada, Eric Staal stated that enjoying hockey “is a chance to attempt to stay my life for God and present our followers and teammates that there are higher issues up there.”
Because the captain of Workforce Canada, Staal isn’t any stranger to management—and success.
He’s the eldest of 4 brothers. And every of his brothers adopted in his footsteps (or on skates) to the NHL.
Staal received Olympic gold with Workforce Canada in 2010, the World Championships in 2007 and the Stanley Cup in 2006. The uncommon triple of championships (Olympic Gold, Worlds and Stanley Cup) makes him a member of the unofficial “Triple Gold Membership”. .”
Whereas chasing championships and medals, Staal nonetheless acknowledges the significance of spending time in God's Phrase, though he admits that his busy schedule makes it tough.
Staal, a supporter of Hockey Ministries Worldwide, stated, “Hockey season is at all times a busy time – it's an extended 12 months and generally it's arduous to search out time to check, however after I do it's at all times nice and refreshing.”
Would you pray that Eric leads Workforce Canada in a method that glorifies God—and that he takes time to attach with God by his Phrase on the Olympics?
Staal's first recreation with Workforce Canada on the 2022 Olympics is on February 10 in opposition to Germany.
It’ll face america on February 12 and China on February 13 in pool play.
David Clever, freeskiing U-ramp, United States of America
Because the sport's introduction to the 2014 Winter Video games, just one man has stood on the rostrum and received a gold medal in males's downhill snowboarding. That man is David Clever.
In Sochi, David Clever turned the primary Olympic gold medalist within the occasion after posting an unimaginable rating of 92.00.
4 years later in PyeongChang, Clever defended his title, profitable gold by 0.8 factors.
Clever attributes a part of his success to his religion in God—not as a result of God miraculously made him go quicker, however as a result of his belief in God grounds him in humble belief. He appears to know increasingly more that his identification will not be made or damaged by his skis, however by who God says he’s.
In a 2018 weblog submit, Clever stated:
I admire the chance to signify my nation, my hometown, and MY individuals at this 12 months's Olympics greater than I knew I used to be able to. I additionally know that that is all momentary and that's okay. The whole lot I’ve is a present from God and He can take it away from me if He desires to. I’m surrounded by individuals who really love and assist me for who I’m, not for what I do on a pair of skis, and never for any degree of success I’d obtain.
Would you pray that he continues to search out his identification in God, whether or not he’s first or final?
Clever might be trying to win Olympic gold for the third time in Beijing.
Watch David Clever compete within the Free Ski U-Ramp on February sixteenth (Qualifying) and February 18th (Finals). Comply with him on Twitter at @MrDavidWise.
Elana Meyers, Bobsled, United States of America
“I'm on this sport to glorify God.
Elana Meyers enters her fourth Winter Olympics with two silver medals and one bronze.
She wasn't at all times a bobsledder. The truth is, she started her athletic profession as a star softball participant. She was the primary softball recruit at George Washington College and located speedy success, breaking a number of data in her younger profession.
After failing to make the 2003 US Olympic softball workforce, she turned her consideration to bobsledding.
“I despatched an e-mail [U.S. bobsled] coach, they invited me to Lake Placid, New York to check out, and two weeks later I made the nationwide workforce,” says Meyers.
Whereas Meyers has skilled loads of success, her final objective goes past awards.
“God put me right here for a particular motive and I don't assume it's simply to win medals,” he provides. “On the finish of the day, I'm on this sport to glorify God, so if which means I'm going to complete final or win a gold medal, I'm going to do it.”
A part of glorifying God by the game of bobsledding is the usage of evangelistic alternatives that come up. As Meyers stated:
“One of many predominant causes I received into beans is to assist individuals not solely obtain their objectives, but additionally come to Christ.”
Would you pray that God would give Elana the chance to share the love of Jesus together with her teammates—and opponents—in the course of the Olympics? And in addition that she would cross sufficient COVID assessments to compete?
Watch Meyers race in each girls's bobsled occasions, the ladies's monobob (Feb. 13-14) and the two-woman occasion (Feb. 18-19).
Paul Schommer, Biathlon, United States of America
Paul Schommer doesn't simply wish to speak about God on his social media. He strives to stay a life that absolutely integrates his religion together with his sport.
“I don’t need.” [people to see] I’m a Christian from my Fb profile solely. I would like it to be a life lived in a method that's like, 'There's one thing totally different about it.'”
Schommer competes in biathlon. It's a singular sport that includes cross-country snowboarding – and rifle taking pictures.
A former highschool wrestler, Schommer will compete in his first Olympics in Beijing.
He credit discipleship by FCA for a lot of his non secular development:
Once I began going to FCA, I actually began to see [my faith] was not one thing that needs to be contained in the 4 partitions of the church. It was to exit into the world; it was a life-style. My FCA supervisor in highschool took me beneath his wing and have become my mentor rising up. He was the primary particular person I met, who I noticed actually stay. He had this joyful coronary heart and obedience as a result of he had this revelation at a sure level in his life when it was price it. FCA is the place I actually started to know the truth that we might be remodeled by this gospel in a method that units us free.
Would you pray that Paul fashions his Christian religion in Beijing in a method that enables opponents and followers to see him combine two seemingly totally different paths (sports activities and religion) into a completely built-in life for God's glory?
Watch Paul compete within the 4×6 kilometer medley relay on February fifth.
Nicole Hensley, Hockey, United States
After profitable a gold medal with Workforce USA on the 2018 Winter Olympics, Hensley is again in internet because the workforce's goalie for 2022.
And she or he takes the ice figuring out that the presents God has given her as a steward are alternatives to the touch the lives of others:
I really feel that with the abilities and love for hockey that God has given me, He has additionally given me a little bit of a platform to achieve out to others who’re serious about their religion, or perhaps don’t have any religion or wish to strengthen. of their religion. Possibly it's a strategy to begin a dialog with somebody.
Hensley, who frequently makes use of her social media platforms to share numerous Bible verses, is aware of that her non secular development is a course of with no end line. “As an athlete, my religion on the ice calmed me down and helped me notice that the outcome will not be essentially a very powerful factor,” she says. “It's extra necessary to be on the ice and benefit from the likelihood to play when God has given me such ardour and talent on this recreation.”
Would you pray that Nicole would expertise God's presence together with her on the ice and proceed to develop in understanding what it means to compete for him?
Watch Nicole Hensley and the USA Hockey workforce compete of their first recreation in opposition to Finland on February third. You may follow her on Twitter.