The Olympic competition for souls
The Olympic athletes coming to Beijing in August might not be the only ones competing at the Games. Many Christian missionary groups are salivating at the opportunity to compete for all those heathen souls in the Orient. As FaithWorld blogs reports:
Doing covert missionary work in difficult areas — usually Muslim countries— is a challenge some Christian groups relish.James Catford of the UK's Bible Society said in a statement,
This great sporting event presents a unique opportunity to make the life-changing message of the Bible available to thousands of athletes and visitors from all over China-– and all over the world.
While missionaries gear up for the opportunity, it remains to be seen if they'll be let anywhere near China's coveted souls. The central government was less than accommodating to any suspicious Sichuan earthquake aid workers who might proselytize, and Chinese authorities have already taken several legislative measures to ensure a flawless Olympics. However, the recent news that Bibles have been made available to athletes at the Olympics has heartened many Christian organizations.
Photo by Patricia Soransso.
