True Love Waits takes Olympic stance; world’s youth challenged
ATHENS (BP)--The 10th anniversary of the True Love Waits marital purity movement culminated in the shadow of one of the ancient world’s most impressive ruins, once a site of sexual indulgence.
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| TLW, worldwide True Love Waits commitment cards from more than 20 countries around the world arrived in Athens for display during the Summer 2004 Olympics. Photo by Matt Jones |
Richard Ross and Jimmy Hester, co-founders of the movement that originated with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, called on youth of the world to make a stand for sexual purity by remaining sexually abstinent until marriage.
The event was held Sunday Aug. 22, at the Dora Stratou Theatre, located on a hill adjacent to the Acropolis, site of the Greek Parthenon.
Olympic decathlete Bryan Clay counts on faithful supporters
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| Counting on prayer No matter how he finishes in the decathlon, Bryan Clay is counting on the prayers of family and friends both as he competes in the Olympics and as he lives out his faith in Athens. |
“I’ve never felt like I was alone when I’m out there competing,” Clay said. “A lot of people get all this pressure built on them and they get so stressed out because they feel like it’s all on their shoulders. I’ve never felt like that. I’ve always been able to give that to God and allow Him to carry that burden for me.”
One of the main reasons Clay feels such company as he’s competing is because of the prayer support he’s getting from family and friends. He values that kind of support for how instrumental it is to his success as both an athlete and a Christian.
Collegians venture to Olympics to prayerwalk, aid local churches
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (BP)--Shannon Brandt, centerfielder for the California Baptist University softball team, has worked hard for 15 years to be the best in her sport.
SPORTS: Olympian’s silver came before gold
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| Brandon Slay |
Slay was facing Germany’s Alexander Leipold in the championship wrestling match in the 167.5 pound weight class. Slay and his coaches had dissected the German’s every move, and they had their strategy all worked out. Confidence was high. Slay seemed sure that his dream for an Olympic gold medal was about to come true.
Olympian says ‘thrill of victory’ must reflect ‘the right reasons’
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| Dan Browne |
Browne would love to duplicate Shorter’s success. But regardless of the outcome, he holds forth an even greater goal.
“It’s my job to take what God’s given me and do the best I can with it,” Browne said in an interview with Baptist Press. “I do my absolute best to honor God when I run. I run with my full heart and soul. God decides who wins and loses ultimately.”
Seminarians venture to Athens, utilizing sports to share Gospel
ATHENS (BP)--When the Apostle Paul spoke at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17:16-33), the city was an important center for philosophical thinking. Paul used the language of the day as a platform for sharing the Gospel. As the eyes of the world focus on Athens for this month’s Olympics, students from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary are using the language of the day –- sports -– as a platform for sharing their faith.
Olympian Matt Hemingway ready for gold, but not at all costs
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| Opening ceremonies U.S. high jumper Matt Hemingway, at the Athens Olympics opening ceremonies, poses with some members of the Indian delegation. “I told them that my wife [Kate] went to school at Kodai Kanal [in India] and they thought that was cool.” Photo courtesy of www.higher2fly.com |
His high school’s teams in Buena Vista, Colo., were named the Demons, and Hemingway refused to wear the word “Demons” on his uniform. His stance was so adamant that the track coach ordered uniforms with only the school name on them.
At the Olympics in Athens, Hemingway won’t have to worry about satanic references on his uniform and will gladly don “USA” instead. But the high jumper, who begins his competition Aug. 20, is still concerned about living a life of faithfulness to God, especially in a setting as visible as the Olympic Games.
Major Sports Event Partnership helps spread Word in Athens
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (BP)--Christian ministries have converged on Athens for the 2004 Olympic Games with a unified, organized approach to evangelism through a comprehensive volunteer network they call “More Than Gold.”
Union Univ. volleyball standout in Athens for Kenyan homeland
ATHENS (BP)--Union University senior standout Gladys Wandera is playing volleyball in the Summer Olympics -- her second straight Olympic Games as a member of the Kenya national volleyball team.
True Love Waits takes Olympic stage; event broadcast on web
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| TLW in Athens |
True Love Waits, a ministry of LifeWay Christian Resources, is partnering with Lay Witnesses for Christ International to host “An Evening with the Olympians: True Love Waits” in Athens’ Dora Stratou Theatre located at the base of the Acropolis.
