|
By Jim Coggins
ONE of the most remarkable things that has emerged as part of the More Than Gold
(MTG) Olympic outreach effort – and one of the things that may be an important part of the MTG legacy – is the depth of unity and collaboration between denominations.
Many of these groups had no connection with each other prior to the games. For
many denominational representatives, the experience has had a real impact.
“The diversity of God’s church truly amazes me, and the More Than Gold experience has reinforced that
amazement significantly,” said Sharon Tidd, 2010 Olympic outreach coordinator for the Salvation Army, and
facilitator for the MTG Hospitality Working Group.
“It is a blessing to be working alongside believers from other denominations, as
we all plan for God-ordained outreach during the 2010 games,” Tidd added. “We are all learning from and inspiring each other.”
The experience, she said, has greatly broadened her knowledge of the variety
existing within the Christian community. “I have new friends from 15 different denominations, who are serving the church
and the world faithfully in the Lower Mainland. Each is an incredible gift.”
These other believers, she said, “help to keep me grounded amid the chaos of planning for our refreshment
services. They pray for me daily, they jump in to assist, and they remind me to
take care of myself. Really, I think this is a small glimpse of heaven, where
denominational lines will totally disappear – and serving and worshipping the King will be everything!”
“The part that has been the most heartwarming for me, working with the variety of
people representing other denominations, have been the prayer times,” said Marilyn Hiebert, director of administration for the B.C. Conference of
Mennonite Brethren (MB) Churches, and MB representative to MTG.
“Whether it’s a small group praying for a specific request or corporate prayer for the work
of More Than Gold, it is amazing how all denominational lines and practices
become insignificant when we all use the same language to talk to our Father in
heaven. We can express our concerns, our joys and our worship in a language
that is understood by us all.
“I have also been impressed that, through the prayers, I have heard an intense
love for God, for the gift of his salvation, for his church and for his people.
We are all in this ‘kingdom building’ work together, just each in our own area, contributing to the bigger picture.
Is that not exactly how God would want it?”
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver (RCAV) has been plugging its
parishioners into various aspects of the MTG effort, said RCAV vice chancellor
Barbara Dowding.
Many Catholics don’t feel comfortable talking about their faith in public, so few of them took the
personal witnessing training offered through MTG.
Continue article >>
|
More have signed up to serve coffee and other beverages at SkyTrain stations,
sometimes filling a block of time as a group. Others are serving on MTG
committees and working groups. Catholics have also signed up to host athletes’ families and others in the Homes for the Games program; these families receive
$100 a night, but Catholic participants are donating half the fee to a charity
such as Covenant House, and some are donating the other half to MTG.
The focal point of Catholic work for the games is Canadian Martyrs Parish on
Robson Street, which will act as a hospitality centre offering refreshments and
an open chapel, from noon to 10 pm every day. Holy Rosary Cathedral will offer
confession, mass and tours to visitors. The Holy Rosary rectory will serve as a
coffee brewing centre for a SkyTrain station five minutes away.
“As a cradle Catholic,” said Dowding, “it has been a whole new experience for me to be on a board with so many
different denominations – and a most wonderful experience.
“Being Catholic is different in that group. There was a divide, but then we began
to see each other as people, not denominational reps. We came to talk the same
language. For example, evangelicals pray out loud on the spur of the moment,
but Catholics don’t. Now they tease me when I pray.
“It is an example of how we have grown with each other, of what each of us brings
to the table. It has been broadening and eye-opening, as we work on the things
we have in common.”
For an overview of the wide spectrum of Christian involvement in the Olympic
campaign, read BCCN’s special feature on ‘radical hospitality,’.
February 2010
|
