This past week at the Prayer Wall, we joined together to pray for Christians competing in the 2024 Olympics as they live out their faith before the watching world. Today, we share with you this beautiful story of two judo athletes who faced off for bronze:
Long before believer Larissa Pimenta of Brazil won the women’s 52-kilogram judo bronze medal in a match with Odette Giuffrida of Italy, Larissa won Odette to the Lord.
A few days before the Olympics, the two athletes talked together about how they wanted to glorify God. After winning the bronze, when Larissa’s emotions overwhelmed her such that she couldn’t rise, Odette crouched down on the floor with her, saying, “Get up! Get up. Give Him the glory. Give glory to God.”
“When I pray, I always thank the Lord for every single opportunity. I ask Him to help me be the best me every day as an athlete and as a person. I have many prayers but in the end, in the end there’s always one: that He can use me to witness to the world how His love can change our lives. Because that’s what I have felt since faith came into my life,” Odette wrote to her IG fans.
“The Lord answered my prayers. He used me for something greater. I was able to thank Him in front of the world, not as I imagined but in an even stronger way, together with Larissa, the same person that years ago, after a training, decided to take me and (Elvismar Rodriguez) to (Bola de Neve) Church in Brazil, and let us know what it means to have a deep relationship with God. Since that day, our lives changed. And here we are today, regardless of what happened on that tatami, regardless of victory or defeat, thanking Him in an Olympic final, in front of the world, for everything.
“I thank you Father because you made me win something much more important than a medal, being able to witness how your love can change our lives, how great You are at every moment. Through victories and defeats. I didn’t win the medal today but I think somehow I managed to accomplish my task. Glory to You always. Grazie a tutti di cuore. Ody”
Lord, thank You for the way You used both of these women for Your glory. Thank You for using Larissa to lead Odette and Elvismar to You. Thank You for growing them all strong in their faith and then shining through them during the Olympics, Your glory on display. Please continue to use them for Your glory. As they are interviewed and as others hear their story, bring many more people who are lost to faith. For there is no true Prize but You, Jesus, and no defeat when You have won the victory over sin and death. Use Christian athletes during this Olympics and beyond to bring many more lost to You and strengthen the faith of those who are saved. To You belong all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who served the Lord many years among an unreached people group in a nation where missionaries are not allowed and Christians are persecuted. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
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