by Clément Diedrichs
We give thanks to God for the way the Games 2024 went. We were told there would be organizational and security problems, but apart from some destruction on the railway tracks the day before the opening, nothing major was reported. A great deal of work by the organizing teams, all the volunteers and the police, whose efforts we would like to salute. In such a secularized France, the contribution of many Christians from all over the world, including athletes, was encouraging. The CNEF has contributed by providing a document entitled “Free to share it in the public arena” (https://bit.ly/4d71xgQ). And the freedom to share our faith was assured. I reproduce here the testimony of one of the organizers:
“Frankly, we had more freedom than ever to hold distributions, events, even unplanned and sometimes hastily organized actions. The authorities and security forces were welcoming, smiling and, frankly, very friendly with teams all over Paris, because they saw that we didn’t represent any danger or public order problem. Here and now, for the Paralympics, our team here at the Hub even received permission from City Hall to demonstrate handisport IN the 12th arrondissement fan zone!”
While some aspects of the opening ceremony shocked many Christians, it was possible to share the Gospel to this world in need of God. While remaining lucid, let us not stop at “the tribulations we have in this world”, but take courage, for our Lord has overcome the world!
These games also enabled us to see that family values have not disappeared! How many athletes have expressed their gratitude to their parents, spouses, husbands and children during these games. May our families continue to make up our Churches, bearing witness to the relevance of the Gospel, because strong families make strong Churches!
The CNEF is so proud of the collaborative work of Ensemble 2024 to whom we have delegated the organization of collaboration between the players, the various organizations and the churches! May our Lord inspire us all to value the legacy of these 2024 Games for the advancement of the witness of the Gospel in France and in all the countries where the athletes were coming from.
Clément Diedrichs is general secretary of CNEF, the French Evangelical Alliance.
