Eric Liddell Centennial

The last times the summer games were in Paris, in 1924, the fastest man on the planet was Eric Liddell, a Scot who was expected to win the gold medal in the 100m. However, the trail for this race fell on a Sunday, and Eric, being a devout Christian, opted to take his Sabbath rather than taking part in the race. Hence, he was disqualified from the 100m. However, God had another plan.

Honoring the Legacy

1 Samuel 2:30
Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

Instead of running in the 100m, Eric Liddell preached at a local church, Scots Kirk, on that Sunday, shocking the world. He later opted to run in the 400m race, and remarkably, he not only won the gold medal, but he also broke the world record. In an instant, Eric Liddell overcame the odds and was cast into the limelight. But rather than taking advantage of his newfound fame, Eric opted to become a missionary, and left Europe for China, where he died on the field during the second world war. His life story is featured in the film Chariots of Fire.

One hundred years later, the games returned to Paris, and Paris Missions served on a collaborative committee dedicated to organizing events to honor the legacy of Eric Liddell. We celebrated his bold stance for Christ in 1924 as a prophetic invitation to the global church, 100 years later, to take a stand for Christ in these dark and uncertain times.

Paris Missions partnered with local and international entities to support Carrying the Fire, a set of celebrations and events honoring the legacy of Eric Liddell. Please check out www.ericliddell2024.com for a list of all the activities and events.