‘United Nations Church of Christ’ worships during London Olympics

This is about as close as one can get to London’s Olympic Park without a ticket for the games. (Photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Blogging live from London
Did you happen to catch Usain Bolt’s record-breaking win in the 100-meter race on Sunday evening?
I saw it live, as it happened — on the BBC, in the living room of a flat some kilometers from the venue.
That’s right, I speak British now. And I’ve learned that you can only get so close to the Olympic Park area of this European capital without actually having  a ticket.
But that didn’t stop me and members of the Tuscumbia Church of Christ in Alabama from having a brilliant time as we walked through the neighborhood near the venues for the 2012 Olympics. The streets are filled with sports fans bearing the flags of the U.S., Great Britain and dozens of other countries. (Needless to say, Bolt’s home nation of Jamaica is well-represented here.)

Sports fans bearing British flags walk toward Olympic Village. (Photo by Erik Tryggestad)

There was an equally diverse mix of nationalities at Sunday worship, hosted by the New Cross Church of Christ. The service included members of the Stratford Church of Christ and the Tuscumbia group, which just arrived after conducting a camp in Ukraine. (See our previous blog post about that.) The Alabama church has supported the New Cross church’s minister, Stephen Eusell, for 14 years.
In all, 151 people gathered on the campus of Bacon’s College for worship. I met church members from the Caribbean locales — including Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago — African nations including Ghana and Nigeria and even a few native Brits.
“Truly, this is the United Nations Church of Christ,” said Jeff Abrams, minister for the Tuscumbia church, during his Sunday morning sermon.
“There are many champions among us,” he said, referencing the number of athletes who have gathered in London, “The most important champions are in this room.” He talked about being “champions for Christ,” referencing Hebrews 12:1-2 (my favorite biblical sports analogy, right after “David served in Saul’s court”).
The Tuscumbia group is conducting a Vacation Bible School Aug. 6-9 at St. Martin’s Community Centre in London. If you’re in town for the games, do pop in and say hi.

Sunday worship at Bacon’s College in London. (Photo by Erik Tryggestad)

London’s signature double-decker buses transport passengers to and from Olympic venues. (Photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Members of the New Cross and Stratford churches enjoy a fellowship meal after Sunday worship. (Photo by Erik Tryggestad)

• Feedback
  Absolutely wonderful. Having been to London and seeing the lack of Bibles even in book stores and lack of attendance in churches, it is wonderful that a few Christians could worship and set this example. May bless each of you. Jo

  jo anders

  August, 7 2012

  Not to mention that the one hotel chain over their threw out the Gideons Bibles and replaced it with those Fifty Shades of Gray books. The church of Christ is a church of all nations.

  Gary Hatmaker

  August, 7 2012

  It is great to hear stories like this – very uplifting.

  dewey leggett

  August, 8 2012

  So good to reads of the great work you saints are doing in South and East London. I remember my years there with great joy. I hope to get to see you sometime. May God bless your efforts, and that there will be a good number of ‘golden crowns’ awarded to add to the medals.

  Pete Hodge

  August, 8 2012

  How blessed we are to be able to worship across countries. God always allows for brothers and sisters to gather in His name to glorify Him. What an experience for those who participated. What a glorious opportunity.

  Marilyn Brewer

  August, 8 2012

  Absolutely amazing,we can learn from them while the earth is still with us, if we wait any longer who knows ? we need to throw off those prejudices racial or otherwise and get those wandering souls into the fold to reap the reward of eternal life not eternal strife,educate people by obeying the command to make disciples of all ETHNOS, racial groups…and this is our chance…We pray that God will bless us with a willing spirit to be demonstrators of God’s will ,and not dictators, spectators or rote learning advocators…AMEN!!

  John Jansen

  August, 8 2012

  Great job, Erik! Looks like it was a lot of fun.

  Barrett V

  August, 14 2012

  What a great article! God I’m sure is pleased.

  Marilyn Brewer

  August, 14 2012