As up to 15.9 million visitors are expected to descend on France’s capital from July-September 2024 for the Paris Olympic season, International Mission Board teams are ramping up efforts to reach the nations that will be in their backyard.
IMB teams, headed by IMB missionary Jason Harris, are eager to partner with Southern Baptists from the United States for evangelistic outreach. In addition, IMB teams in Paris are partnering with French Baptists and Great Commission Christians across the globe.
IMB missionaries are grateful that people from around the world will gather to watch more than 10,500 athletes. They believe God is providing an opportunity to connect and proclaim the gospel to peoples of many nationalities — many who otherwise do not have access to the gospel. The Olympic games also shift the mindset of locals, whose hearts may be open to different ideas they hear from visitors. The IMB’s goal is to serve and equip the French church through Olympics ministry.
Opportunities still abound
While the deadline to volunteer in an official Olympic capacity passed in May, opportunities still abound to volunteer with IMB teams through short-term trips. Missionaries have capacity to host up to 600 volunteers and are relying on their help to meet the missions tasks of the season.
The Olympics provides opportunities for churches in the U.S. to get involved in missions and for the missionaries in Paris to grow in partnership with Southern Baptist churches. IMB missionaries will also seize the chance to form deeper relationships with French churches. IMB missionaries and French Baptists are building strategies for evangelistic encounters and long-term mission strategies.
In addition to the short-term opportunities for individuals and churches, NextGen students and young adults now have specific opportunities to go through Hands On and internships from June 15–Sept. 8. Other opportunities to volunteer include during the Pre-Olympics from May 19-27, June 16–24, and June 23–July 1; Olympics July 21–Aug. 11; and Paralympics Aug. 25–Sept. 8.
Explore how you can be involved in the IMB’s efforts to reach the nations during the 2024 Paris Olympics at the links above.
For more information, contact Margie Drane, IMB Olympics coordinator, at mdrane@imb.orgor email info@imb.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by IMB staff and originally published by the International Mission Board.
