Christian ministries have traditionally sent representatives to the Olympics to share the gospel, and that mission field has frequently been ripe for harvest.

The field in Beijing, for this summer's Olympic Games, will also be ripe, but evangelistic efforts won't be nearly as overt due to China's official ban on foreign missionaries. Making the field even more challenging is the fact that China recently deported hundreds of foreign nationals for participating in religious activities not permitted under Communist law. Additionally, only Chinese chaplains approved by the Chinese government will be allowed to minister in the Olympic Village.

Attempts to share the good news at these Games will have to be carried out subtly. Still, international evangelist Luis Palau believes Chinese authorities will mostly look the other way. Unless Christians try to assemble a large rally without government permission, Palau doesn't think those sharing their faith will be punished. And he thinks plenty of Chinese seekers will be listening.

"Young people in … Beijing are very open to talking to foreigners," Palau says.

Published reports indicate the Chinese government-approved church plans to distribute 20,000 Bibles in English and Chinese to Olympic athletes and visitors. More than half a million people are expected to attend the Games—including 10,500 athletes representing over 200 nations.

As for the ban on foreign missionaries in the Olympic Village, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes won't be sending chaplains to the Games, but is instead encouraging Christian athletes and coaches to spread the gospel by developing relationships with people. They're also working with current and former Olympic athletes, including retired swimmer Josh Davis (see "More Precious Than Gold" on p. 19 of our print edition), a three-time gold medalist with a long history with FCA and Campus Crusade for Christ's Athletes in Action.

"God's stripped us down, simplified things," said Dan Britton, FCA's senior vice president of ministries. "But the work of the Lord has always been person-to-person, not program-to-person. [China's restrictions] allow us to be creative."

Through this person-to-person outreach, Britton believes God will change lives in ways we might never have imagined.

"Coaches and athletes are going to rise up," Britton said. "God's story is going to be told."

Lisa Parro, a freelance writer, lives in the Chicago suburbs.

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