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FEBRUARY and March 2010 will see hundreds of thousands
of visitors come to town for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games.
In preparation for this influx of people from all over
the world, an unprecedented network of Christian leaders from churches,
ministries and businesses are uniting – for the common purpose of
being a reflection of Christ, before during and after the games.
With this volume of visitors comes logistical needs
– and great opportunities to connect with people.
In 2003, an interim committee gathered under the
leadership of City in Focus head Tom Cooper. They presented an introductory
package to the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 games.
In May 2007, this led to an official relationship with VANOC being
established.
More Than Gold
Initially called VWGN (Vancouver Whistler Games Network), the group’s
envisioning began in earnest two years ago, with its first board of
directors meeting. Momentum is mounting, and now teams of working groups
which represent various areas of ministry meet regularly.
VWGN has become More Than
Gold – a name used by other
Christian Olympic Games initiatives. The name represents an overarching
theme, an identity which has successfully served as the means of Christian
witness at major sporting events – such as the Commonwealth, Pan Am
and other Olympic games.
Christian Info Society (CIS), which produces BC Christian News, is partnering
with More Than Gold to provide monthly updates on the development of an
unprecedented vision for unity, service and witness. CIS is also helping
with behind the scenes support and administration.
Hospitality
One area of ministry is hospitality. On October 9 at 7:
15 pm, More Than Gold is hosting an information evening, with refreshments,
at Broadway Church in Vancouver. The purpose is to help people learn about
the specific outreach opportunities in hospitality. There will also be an
opportunity to sign up and learn about upcoming training opportunities.
Now is the Time!
A series of initiatives linked to More Than Gold,
leading up to 2010, is being undertaken by Hope Vancouver.
They are calling churches from Whistler to Hope to
participate in “100 days of fervent prayer, 60 days of sacrificial
serving, 40 days of fasting, 20 days of generous giving,1 day of
celebrating.”
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These initiatives are being called ‘Now is the Time.’
At the July 1 ‘Voices Together’ gathering,
which drew thousands of Christians to GM Place, Hope Vancouver’s
Kevin Cavanaugh outlined the vision for Now is the Time. It is a series of
initiatives, culminating in a massive gathering of Christians at BC Place
around the time of the Games.
Hope Vancouver describes this as “a bigger
display of [God’s] splendor than the Lower Mainland has ever before
witnessed!
“Together, as the spiritual gate keepers of this
region, we will welcome the nations, pray for the games, and proclaim his
Lordship over all the earth. Together, we will celebrate in his great Name,
and seek to make his great fame better known throughout the whole
earth!”
Regional leaders
Hope Vancouver has organized a series of five regional
meetings for pastors and leaders, to cast vision for ‘Now is the
Time.’
• September 17 drew together those from New Westminster, Burnaby and Surrey at Surrey’s
Cedar Grove Baptist Church, hosted by Kevin Cavanaugh.
• Leaders from Hope,
Chilliwack, and Abbotsford
were hosted by Abbotsford Christian
Assembly’s pastor Mitch Burrows September 18.
• September 24 saw Langley, Fort Langley and Aldergrove pastors gather
at Southgate Church, Langley, with pastor Dave McTaggart.
• Maple Ridge,
Tri-Cities and Mission will be coming together October 8 with pastor Mike
Schroeder (location TBA)
• Leaders from the large area of Richmond, Vancouver and Whistler meet in Vancouver
October 22 at Tenth Avenue Alliance, with pastor Ken Shigematsu.
www.hopevancouver.org
www.morethangold.ca
October 2008
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