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By Peter Biggs
DAVID WELLS occupies a unique role in the upcoming Olympics.
As general superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and chair of
the board for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, he is known as a national
leader with many responsibilities.
But he wears another hat: that of the official overseer for VANOC chaplaincy
program. This is the fifth Olympics he has been involved with. BCCN caught up
with a busy Wells in Ontario, and asked him about his participation in these
games.
BCCN: When did VANOC approach you?
David Wells: I began discussions after Athens 2004. It started as me being a volunteer kind
of consultant. That, in turn, led to talking about programs, around the time of
Beijing.
With a multifaith centre planned, and inclusion of the five major faith groups,
I served on the Interfaith Working Group – where I also served as the coordinator for Christian chaplaincy.
BCCN: What will you be overseeing?
DW: Of all the chaplains, 70 percent are Christians, with 30 percent representing
the other faith groups. There are 29 Christian accredited chaplains. With a
multifaith centre in each of the two athletes’ villages, there will be daily services.
BCCN: Why are there so many more Christian chaplains?
DW: It simply represents the demographic of the athletes’ stated faith; there will be over 5,000 athletes, team members and officials.
BCCN: Can you describe what chaplaincy involves ?
DW: Each centre in the villages has a reception area, a private room for
counselling and two rooms for meetings.
Daily services will include a Roman Catholic mass, and two more informal
Christian services. There is a team of chaplains in two shifts.
More than once, I have been involved in bereavement for the loss of an athlete’s family member, while at the games.
We are also there to encourage the athletes in facing disappointment – perhaps in the form of training injuries happening, after so much personal
sacrifice and work.
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Others, including volunteers, can face significant issues with overload and
stress.
Chaplains are also able to be invited back to athletes’ residences for private counselling sessions.
BCCN: You are also overseeing Community Chaplaincy for More Than Gold, outside the
village?
DW: Yes. Greg Laing, Dwayne Buhler and Carole Gerber, all trained professionals,
are heading up teams of trained community chaplains – often full-time chaplains or pastors. There are around 30 to 40 of them. Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association has also trained a number of ‘Rapid Response’ people, that in the event of need can be mobilized. They will serve in three
zones throughout the days of the games.
BCCN: How can Christians pray for chaplains?
DW: Thank you, prayer is important. Pray for ongoing sensitivity spiritually, and
for ongoing strength in what will be a demanding timetable.
February 2010
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