{"id":3060,"date":"2024-08-09T16:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T20:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/?p=3060"},"modified":"2024-08-09T16:05:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T20:05:15","slug":"french-group-sharing-the-gospel-during-olympics-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/2024\/08\/09\/french-group-sharing-the-gospel-during-olympics-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"French Group Sharing the Gospel During Olympics & Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image created in Dall-E for Patheos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two thousand years ago, Christ told His followers, \u201cGo ye therefore and make disciples of all nations\u2026.\u201d Christians did so then, and they do so now. One group of modern disciples is Ensemble 2024.<\/a><\/p>\n

These Christians\u2019 efforts coincide with the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. But the leaders of Ensemble 2024 don\u2019t want the work to end there. They want to create something special that lasts.<\/p>\n

So, what is this group?<\/p>\n

A Collaborative Effort<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ensemble 2024 is a collaborative effort of French evangelical churches, associations, clubs and individual people who are sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.<\/p>\n

The organization\u2019s national coordinator, Matthew Glock, explained that Ensemble 2024 groups are hosting more than 500 gospel-focused events centered on sports, music and arts. They also are helping people through social and outreach campaigns.<\/p>\n

Glock explained that the name Ensemble 2024 refers to the idea of an orchestra, which plays together.<\/p>\n

A long-time missionary, Glock has lived and worked in France for the last 31 years.\u00a0 Consequently, he is aware of public opinions in France.<\/p>\n

He noted that average French citizens feel little excitement about the Olympics, and most evangelical churches in France share their feelings. The games are \u201call passing you by and just an inconvenience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Paris has a population of more than 2.1 million people, but it attracts around 50 million tourists every year, according to Road Genuis and other sources. This crowded situation may contribute to the indifference.<\/p>\n

However, Ensemble 2024 hopes to raise another kind of enthusiasm. The group wants to generate excitement in Christ and His church. It also wants to encourage people worldwide to pray for France, as it is hosting this year\u2019s Olympics, and to send Paris a gift of one million prayers<\/a> from the global Christian church.<\/p>\n

Outreach in Paris & Beyond<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ensemble 2024<\/a> events are or were in nearly a dozen French cities including these locations:<\/p>\n