J.John’s Olympic initiative has gained momentum and over 100,000 copies of his booklet about the life and faith of Eric Liddell have been distributed throughout the UK and around the world.
Eric Liddell was a Scottish runner whose story, famously retold in the classic movie Chariots of Fire, focuses on his uncompromising desire to honour God. Liddell believed that his response to what God had done for him included keeping Sunday free from sport, so when he heard that the heats for the 100m would be held on a Sunday, he refused to take part. It was a courageous decision, and despite enormous pressure, he refused to compromise his faith and instead prepared for the 400m race, a distance over which he was not expected to do well.
On the morning of the race, he was handed a note on which was written the Bible verse, ‘He that honours me, I will honour’. Encouraged, Liddell took the race at a sprint and won, breaking the Olympic and world records.
J.John’s booklet entitled Running the Race of Your Life is written to create curiosity and conversation during the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024. 47,000 copies of this booklet have already been distributed to UK prison chaplains and other prison-focused groups in preparation for a summer season of sport-themed ministry to prisoners. Other groups have ordered copies in bulk to give to parents at Olympic-themed children’s holiday clubs, foodbanks, door drops throughout the community and in schools and churches across the country.
J.John said: “We are delighted that this booklet has already had such a significant reach. It is such a simple resource to be able to give to someone to stir curiosity and conversation. We are still praying that we might ‘God-willing’ distribute one million copies by the end of the year, and we are planning how we can further develop this initiative to reach even more people with the Good News of Jesus ”
Abigail Irozuru, an Olympic long jumper explained: “This little pamphlet is a wonderful reminder of the power of sport as a vehicle to fulfil the gifts and purposes of the Lord in our lives. Everybody has their own ministry and it’s amazing that Liddell’s lives on in a legacy that has spanned a century. Thanks for creating ‘Running the Race of Your Life’ to inspire others through Liddell’s faith and sporting story. It particularly resonates with me as an Olympic long jumper; his story has always inspired me. Hopefully, in the hands of young people, this will be a great opportunity for them to reflect on what comes first in their lives – rightfully elevating God’s plans, purposes and promises in their lives, no matter how difficult that may be. What an important challenge for us all!”
Copies of the booklet are available at raceofyourlife.co.uk. Costs have been kept as low as possible to enable churches and ministries to place bulk orders. Booklets are priced at 10p per copy plus postage and packing.
Main Photo Credit: Alexander Redl via Unsplash