The Christian Olympics

While we can’t all participate in the 2012 Olympics games, we are able to participate in the Christian Olympics. You’re probably wondering, “what are the Christian Olympics?” Don’t worry. I thought the same thing before I joined in on the fun.

Encourage One Another

The Christian Olympics have been put together as a way for Christians to come together online and fulfilling 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up….” It’s a cross between a game, a study group, and an active encouragement group. Each day, you’re given different tasks to complete that will help you grown physically, spiritually, and/or emotionally. You can go for the bronze, silver, or gold by completing the various levels.

Build Each Other Up

So, you’re probably wondering exactly how all of this works. It’s fairly simple. You’ll head on over to the Christian Olympics page and sign up (just click on the image to be taken to the page). Once you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome packet (via email) that will give you all the information you need to get started.

Have Fun with Friends (old and new) and Family

The game is played in mindbloom and a good bit of the interaction takes place on facebook. Some activities will use facebook apps while others don’t require anything except you and maybe a friend/family member. The schedule of events will help you find your way around. The great thing is that you don’t need to be online at a specific time, but there will be special incentives for those who are able to be online during the live events.

Grow Physically, Spiritually, and Mentally

Each day, you’ll view an email from Coach Liz. Oh, wait! I forgot to tell you about Coach Liz. Coach Liz (aka Elizabeth Avelar) is a Christian health and wellness trainer. She has a beautiful smile and personality to go with it. Coach Liz has a passion for Christ and for making the whole person healthy from the inside out. She wants you to triumph at your goals, so don’t hesitate to reach out to her if you need help or encouragement.

Okay, now that you know a little more about Coach Liz, I can get back to how the game works…. In that email that you receive, you’ll get a link to a video explaining the event(s) for the day as well as a link to the task(s) in mindbloom. (Mindbloom is where you keep track of all of your events and where you can interact with other participants outside of facebook. You’ll want to make sure you watch the tutorial video in mindbloom to maximize your experience.) You’ll also be checking out the events on facebook and attending live sessions at specified times during the day (if possible). There are a few surprises in store for participants. 😉

Run the Race

The Christian Olympics will begin July 26, 2012. It’s a free special event for anyone who wants to join. Prizes? Yep, there will be prizes involved in the form of giveaways and contests.

Finish Well

I had a lot of fun testing out the beta version of the Christian Olympics with the ladies from the CWA review team. Programs like this a definitely more fun when you have a group of people doing it together whether online or in person. Overall, the format was easy to understand and use. Coach Liz is a blast to work with as her enthusiasm is infectious. It’s a great way to start and end the day on a good note.