TOP COACH TELLS MEDAL WINNERS ABOUT "HIGHER PRIZE"...

MEDAL-WINNING INTERNATIONAL athletes were challenged to reach for an even higher prize, by a top coach who uses his sporting skills to tell others about God.

Rowing trainer Kwok Tai Ming was able to talk about his faith in Christ after guiding members of the Hong Kong oar team to medals in the Asian Games held in Thailand, in December.

"He explained that even though they had just won a prestigious medal, there is more to life than being number one and winning prizes," said Merja Ruokonen, director of Sports Services International, a Youth With A Mission ministry in Hong Kong with whom Tai Ming has served since 1997.

"One of the athletes was interested in what he had to say, and asked many questions about God. We are praying that he will continue to seek until he finds that God is the answer to all of his questions."

On another occasion when strong winds threatened the postponement of some of the races at the Games, Tai Ming told a group of competitors the Bible story of Jesus' calming the stormy sea. "Some of the non-Christians asked him to pray. He did, and on the day of the race the weather changed," said Ruokonen.

A former Asian Games competitor himself, Tai Ming - Hong Kong Chinese - also represented Hong Kong in the Asian and World championships, before turning to coaching. He took teams to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 1994 Asian Games, after which he was honored as one of the top coaches of the year.

He left professional coaching in 1995, training with YWAM in the United States before returning to Hong Kong to serve with SSI and the Hong Kong Sports Ministry Coalition. Founded in 1987, SSI shares the gospel through friendships developed through summer sports camps and weekly practices and games.

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