As Christians we also make a commitment to someone we love that is more important to us than any prizes the world could offer. Yet, at the end of this race called life, we will receive a reward we have dreamed of getting, but did not earn.

1. Youth Devotional - Bringing
Home the Gold
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

2. As Christians we also make a commitment to someone
we love that is more important to us than any prizes
the world could offer. Yet, at the end of this race called
life, we will receive a reward we have dreamed of
getting, but did not earn.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

3. The Dream of a Lifetime
Canoe racing was added to the Olympics at the 1924 Olympic
Games in Paris, France.
At that time, ocean going ships were the primary means of
travel between the United States and France. Athletes couldn’t
hop on a jet and be there in a matter of hours like they do today.
This presented a dilemma for one member of the United States
four man canoe team who were expected to win the gold medal.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

4. Bill Havens’ wife was expecting, and if he made the long journey there
was a good chance he wouldn’t make it back in time for the birth of his
first child. While his wife insisted he should compete, he struggled with
the decision. If he stayed, it would mean setting aside his life long
dream he had spent years working towards. If he went, his wife would
give birth without him at her side.
His eventually decided to withdraw from the Olympics and stay behind
with his wife because he considered being with her more important
than pursuing his life-long dream in the Olympics.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

5. The United States four man team won the gold in canoe racing
without him. And Bill’s wife gave birth so late, that had he left
and competed in the Olympics he could have still returned
home without missing the birth of his son. While the world saw
it as a missed opportunity, Bill Havens had no regrets. His
commitment to someone he loved dearly was more important
to him than a Gold medal around his neck.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

6. But this story doesn’t end there…
28 years later, in 1952, Bill Havens received a cablegram from Frank, the
son he stayed behind to seen born. The cablegram was Helsinki, Finland,
the venue for the 1952 Olympic Games:
“Dad, I won. I’m bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for
me to be born.”
Frank Havens won the gold medal for the United States in the canoe-
racing event. He won the Gold medal that his father had sacrificed 28
years earlier to be with his mother while he was born.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

7. As Christians, we also make a commitment to someone we love that
is more important to us than anything the world could offer. And at
the end of this race called life, we also will receive a reward we have
dreamed of getting, but did not earn. This reward was not earned by
our son, as was the case of Bill Havens, but by the Son of God. And he
does not bring it home to us, but brings us home to receive it in
Heaven.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

8. “Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will award to me on that day–and not
only to me, but also to all who have longed for
his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

9. Take It to the Next Level
• What dilemma’s do Christians face as they live out their
commitment to Christ, to the one they love? What struggles do
you face? What struggles have you face?
• Bill Havens sacrificed the Gold, and never expected that his son
would one day receive it. As Christians we know that our sacrifices
here on earth will be honored in heaven. Do we live for the
rewards or do we live the way we do because of our commitment
to the one we love? What’s the difference?
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

10. • How does knowing that God will honor our sacrifices,
give us strength to make the difficult choices in life?
• What is a commitment you need to make out of your
love for Christ this week, knowing that God will
honor that commitment?
• How can you make that commitment a reality?
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

11. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible
Study Series with an Olympic Theme?
What is salvation all about? What does it
mean to be saved? This sports themed
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the
Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of
sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle),
purity (white background), spiritual growth
(green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and
(Baptism) blue circle.
Creative Youth Ideas
Go for the Gold
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/goforthegold.html

12. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series
on ”Running the Christian Race”?
The race as a metaphor for the Christian
life is used in several places in the Bible.
This series is a great follow up for new
Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of
our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a
sports theme and is great for athletes as
well as a tie in to the youth Olympic
Games.
Creative Youth Ideas
Destined to Win
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/destinedtowin.html