Traveling, training, and getting ready for the Opening Ceremonies

OLYMPICS | Serena Butler

Still smiling after a two-hour train ride,
and ready to work with Southfields Baptist Church.

Our first full day of ministry in London started with a train ride. (Well, it actually started with a bowl of traditional English porridge for breakfast, then a train ride). Our group traveled together for an hour until we arrived at Liverpool Street station, where eight of us jumped off to catch the Tube (London’s subway) to Kings Cross Baptist Church. The rest traveled another hour to the Southfields stop, near Wimbledon, where we’ll work alongside Southfields Baptist Church.

Our first day of training was a lot like training for a new job. We learned how to make sandwiches, run the coffee machines, and keep the store room stocked with supplies. We also hung banners and set up tables and chairs, all in preparation for the people who will stop by the coffee houses this week to grab a bite to eat and watch the Games on the big screen.

We continue to have opportunities to talk to people who are here as volunteers or representing their countries or just as spectators. On Thursday, we met some members of the Chinese press, and also two young ladies from Russia who were trying to get tickets to some of the Olympic events. We told them about the coffee house and gave them flyers so that they could remember times and the place. We also delivered flyers to the homes around the coffee house. (Unlike in the U.S., you can put a flyer in the mail slot of the homes here. You just open the slot in the door and drop it onto the floor.)

We’ve had opportunity after opportunity to answer the question: Why are you here?

We’re having lots of conversations about why we’re here, and one of the beautiful things about this team is watching the younger members learn from the older members. The younger ones are seeing evangelism being modeled, and then are trying their hand at it a little while later.

Friday evening’s Opening Ceremonies will be our first big ministry event. At Southfields, they’ll be showing “Chariots of Fire” and the ceremonies on the big screen. Our group will be running the coffee house and passing out flyers at the Tube stop. Pray for both Kings Cross and Southfields churches as they minister, and that hearts will be open to the Gospel.