Lighting the Olympic Flame

As the traditional torch for the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing is being carried from country to country towards China, the Back to God Hour of the Christian Reformed Church in North America is working to bring another more enduring light to China—and indeed throughout the world.

"The upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing is going to be the event for China this year,” says Rev. Jimmy Lin, Chinese ministry leader for BTGH. “The current world focus on China also offers an unprecedented window of opportunity to reach Chinese people for Christ.”

BTGH is broadcasting special radio programs called “Eye on the World Olympiad” and has produced special CD's, booklets and Olympics segments on its websites as part of this outreach.

In some ways, says Lin, the Chinese government is more open to “western” and Christian influence at this point in the country’s history. As Christians demonstrate how the Bible teaches respect for authority and caring for the poor, government leaders seem to be less threatened by the church’s impact on society.

On a trip to China last summer, Lin observed that attendance at churches is growing, and many “underground” churches are less cautious about worshiping openly.

Even as the current news reports of protestors trying to snuff out the Olympic torch, says Lin, “we may be confident that during this window of opportunity, as God has used us to shine the ‘Light of the World’ into China, Christ’s light will not fade…Please pray for the Lord's blessings on all these efforts.”

Nancy Vander Meer, The Back to God Hour