Hundreds of Christian Pastors Form ‘Religious Volunteer Army’ at the Olympics — But Why?
- Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:36am by
Billy Hallowell
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LONDON (AP) — At the Olympics, it’s not just the athletes who go faster, higher and stronger. So do the emotions of spectators at this vast, dramatic and often confusing event.
Amid the mayhem, a religious volunteer army is on hand to offer spiritual succor.
Roaming London’s transport network in blue baseball caps are 300 volunteer “games pastors” from a range of Christian denominations. Deployed at airports and train stations, they are ready to step in for the most minor or most serious situation, from a lost contact lens to a potential suicide.
They say they are there to offer a listening ear and a helping hand, not to shove religion down anyone’s throat.
Volunteer pastors Douglas and Magarita Barr-Hamilton roam the St. Pancras station as they look for people to help on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. Roaming London's transport network in blue baseball caps are 300 volunteer "games pastors" from a range of Christian denominations. Deployed at airports and train stations, they are ready to step into the most trivial or most serious situation, from a lost contact lens to a potential suicide. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
“They’re not giving out tracts and Bibles,” said pastors organizer Mike Freeman. “They’re giving out a listening ear.”
From dawn until the wee hours, St. Pancras station, terminus of fast trains to Olympic Park, is full of harried, confused and lost people. The Olympics has brought hundreds of thousands of extra visitors to the British capital, many far from home, disoriented or simply tired.
The volunteer pastors, who are not officially part of the Olympics, but are authorized by transport authorities, roam the station in easy-to-spot sky-blue caps and vests.
They have done everything from help a man who had lost a contact lens — they directed him to a pharmacy — to help police calm a drunk and disorderly woman and talk for an hour with a man so consumed by guilt over his role in a fatal car crash that he was considering suicide.
“When he left after an hour, OK, all his problems weren’t solved, but he had had a listening ear and went away with some hope,” said Freeman.
Religions of all stripes have a strong presence at the Olympics, where Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish clerics are on hand around the clock to minister to athletes’ spiritual needs.
Around the Olympic Park, Christian volunteers — not employed by games organizers — chat with Olympic volunteers and games-goers. They say they are struck by how many people want to talk.
Alan Ratliff, an American pastor with International Sports Chaplains, said Olympic visitors “are in an open mood.”
“They are here to experience it,” he said. “They want to soak it up for all its worth. That opens people up.”
Ratliff, a lawyer and accountant from Houston, Texas, says he wants to spread the word about Jesus — but only if the person he’s open to seems open to it.
“People come up and ask us why we are there, they find out what they do and suddenly they’ve got a story,” he said. “The conversations just start from there.”
Although most Britons are nominally Anglicans — and there are large Catholic, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities — Britain is a largely secular country.
The British games pastors said they have received little hostility, but that God comes up relatively infrequently in their conversations with people.
“Sometimes you get people who are anti-anybody of faith,” said Margarita Barr-Hamilton, a retired head teacher from London. “But when you tell them what we’re doing, they say `That’s a good idea.’”
Henry Playle, a retired church training officer from Royston, north of London, said the volunteers were conscious that they had to tread carefully.
“I think we’ve got to earn the reputation by doing the right thing,” he said. “We could overstep the mark by proselytizing, which is not what people want.”
The National Secular Society, which works to limit the influence of religion, said it was relaxed about the Olympic outpouring of faith, pointing out that church attendance in Britain has been declining for years anyway. A survey in 2008 and 2009 found that slightly more than half of Britons had never attended a religious service.
“Yes, they are jumping on the games, seeing it as an opportunity to reach lots of people,” said secular society spokesman Stephen Evans. “But in an open and free society they have a right to do it.”
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Repent Amarillo
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:27pmI am the leader of Repent Amarillo, a street ministry team. These people being “nice” without preaching about Jesus Christ are doing no good for either the people they speak with or the kingdom of God. There is nothing wrong with being nice but we are COMMANDED by Christ to reach the lost with the saving Gospel. There are street preachers in London right now. I have a dear friend who is there actually preaching to get people saved. Letting people go to hell for fear of offending them with Christ is not really “nice” by God’s definition. “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son….” If we so love the world that’s exactly what we will give too. Telling someone the truth is the ultimate act of love.
Report Post »Nanaswords
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 1:02pmGods’ calling is a surety for all people…mans’ calling is always falling short…The rich young ruler went away sad from Jesus Christ !!! Only what is done for Him…In Love with the Father will succeed !!! It is not ours’ to decide what seeds a Faithful follower of Jesus Christ sows will take root…we just have to be faithful…because He is always there to protect those that will choose Him!!! He is Faithful to His Own…He is willing that None should perish !!!
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:35amThere’s never anything wrong with doing good, but talking to a suicidal man for an hour and sending him on his merry way sounds neglectful.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:19amThey’re trolling for virgins. Know any?
Report Post »Dushman Kush
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:44amPastors from the World Council of Churches and from the National Council of Churches are allied with the Communist International goals. They are instruments of social change. Tracts and “holy” books are no longer important to the Mission. Long Live the Communist International!!!
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:23amcorrect.
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:40amIs it so rare for Christians to act like human beings that when it does happen it makes the news?
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:08amSpeaking as a Christian —–Yes.
There are plenty of Christians, but many have forgotten to act like Christians.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:22amdefine your human beings,
Report Post »Yeshuratnam
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:07amPastors can help non-Christian Olympic athletes to know about Jesus. But even without pastors, even Moslems are accepting Jesus. You rarely hear about Saudi Arabia on CNN. It’s hard to get information from a place the government says is 100% Muslim, backed up by a death sentence for conversion. That’s why this story is amazing: A Muslim woman on YouTube says she’s now a Christian. Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs is amazed “to see a Saudi woman put her face–even though it’s veiled, but put her face on the internet and say, ‘I’m not a Muslim any more. I’m a Christian now.’ She basically is signing her own death warrant.” The video has angered authorities who fear that Saudi young people are turning to Jesus. Nettleton is issuing a call to prayer, especially now. “It is the middle of Ramadan. Muslims all over the Arabian Peninsula are fasting and praying and seeking God. Let us pray that they find Jesus, just as this lady did in a dream when Jesus came to her. Let us pray that many more Muslims will meet Jesus.” Help get underground Christians get a Bible.
Report Post »kenneth45
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:02amWhen are we going to start a religious army right here on our own soil. We are way to passive when it comes to defending our own religious rights. We stand by and let a few people dictate this issue. We need a leader to step up and make our stand now!
Report Post »benthenachos
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:25am“”I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” – 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
Report Post »piper60
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 7:44amI agree with what the volunteers have said. People on the other side of “the pond” have been fed the pablum of atheism for so long, that they are at times hostile to anybody who suggests that there is a better way. BUT, having said that, once you get the door open, even just a crack, the light of Christ’s love Can shine into the darkness. Even just a little can do a lot.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:59amHenry Playle, a retired church training officer from Royston, north of London, said the volunteers were conscious that they had to tread carefully.
“I think we’ve got to earn the reputation by doing the right thing,” he said. “We could overstep the mark by proselytizing, which is not what people want.”
Want vs. NEED???? I would say the tiny little old woman in Times Square in NYC is doing more for GOD in one night than you all together in the entire time. Hellloooo, anybody home in those earth suits? This life is not about us or about making folks “feel good”, but rather it is all about our souls. Every opportunity GOD grants us especially now, we should take to tell others about HIM. Say WHOSE you are. Tell them. Out loud. “I am here because I serve a loving GOD. How can I help you?” There you go. You have witnessed and offered help in quick succession. Try it.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 7:23amPaying Cesar what is due Cesar is more than taxes. Within the framework of AA there was many a drunk that I spoke with where getting sober was NOT part of our first conversation. It seems to me the same can be said here. The seed has been planted.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 7:31amSomeone plants the seed, someone else waters it, and the Lord harvests it. But, you can’t come to the Lord, unless He calls you. God knows time from the end to now, and he knows who will come to him in the end, and who will resist until the bitter end. Some, He chooses to let them have the evil desires of their heart. We, as humans don’t have that knowledge. I always said God knows the last person who needs to be saved in order for Christ to come back, and what if it‘s our neighbor and we don’t say anything to them? We could be holding it up.
Report Post »PATRIOTMAMA
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 7:56am@KICKAGRANDMA
I agree with you. However, I don’t think cautiousness is called for, but WISDOM is much needed both in and out of the Christian faith. Too many “false” Christians have damaged our faith to the point where we do need to have a healthy respect for how we are now viewed in the world and MAKE SURE we walk the walk and not just talk the talk. But you‘re right as well when we you say we can’t sacrifice our faith to making ourselves “relevent” and making people “comfortable” with our God. Conviction is still just as important to Christianity as grace and mercy and love. God disciplines those He calls His children. But we need WISDOM to make sure we deliver that part of the message IN LOVE and walk in God‘s timing and God’s way.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:21amICKINGRANNY . . . ““I am here because I serve a loving GOD. How can I help you?” ”
Well, I’d like it if you could spread hate and bigotry and embarrass the living God with your hypocritical life. You will? Thanks so much. You’re a saint.
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