Whether or not they are viewed as winners, each Olympian experiences struggle and triumph.

At a time when each athlete’s personal story is under the spotlight, this web site features a few competitors who have experienced ultimate victory.

I particularly point your attention to Rwandan distance runner Dieudonne Disi. He has experienced horror and tragedy. Yet, Christ has changed his life with powerful comfort and forgiveness.

The Struggle and Triumph web site and corresponding DVD are works of Campus Crusade for Christ’s sports ministry - Athletes in Action. This is an incredible tool which you can use to introduce sports minded friends to the message of the gospel.

You can view video clips, read the personal stories and see the contextualized gospel presentation online or on the DVD. We highly recommend the DVD.

Tags: athletesolympics struggle triumph aia video story

1. Take a look at our previous posts with all of the details on ordering a copy.

2. Need more info or want to order by phone? Call 1-800-432-1997

Want to use the Magdalena DVD as an outreach? Get a copy and give it to a friend for her birthday or on any occasion.

See some cool stories about how the Lord is using the Magdalena movie.

Addison lost her first tooth just a couple weeks before her birthday. She lost her second tooth while we were at Sea World on her birthday celebrating:

After returning home from a day at Sea World, we had cake! Have you ever seen a Shamoo cake before?

Toby had his party at home with many good friends. Games, pinata, presents . . . good times!

Of course Toby got a custom cake, too:

Life sometimes seems like a blur. Much of this blur is normal life - especially with kids - and we enjoy normal. Yet, there are days we just need a break!

Pray for Shannon and I to be refreshed and get some rest from the previous few months. This current season has been quite busy - almost overwhelming - with family and ministry going full speed ahead. Part of it is just the phase of life we are in with three young kids and home school. Children and life bring surprises - like trips to the ER with a broken arm. Also, we’ve done some extended traveling the past six months with family and ministry.

Another side is just finding balance to all of the great opportunities around us to serve the Lord - parts of our ministry are exploding in growth and we literally can’t keep up. Pray that Shannon and I would spend adequate time together and that the Lord would supply down time as well.

We continue to need your prayers for the Lord to deeply sustain and guide us.

Jerry Lee is Shannon’s Mom. Here she is with Toby at Christmas.

Back in October we spent several weeks in Virginia with Shannon’s family. Her mom spent 27 days in the hospital undergoing two major surgeries and other procedures to repair a failing lung. We can’t thank you enough for all your prayers - a real lifeline - during that time.

Her recovery has been slow but thankfully she is steadily regaining more respiratory capacity! Shannon’s parents were even able to come spend a week with us in February.

During Jerry Lee’s hospital stay, Shannon’s grandmother was also temporarily hospitalized with congestive heart failure. She was able to return home living with Shannon’s mom and dad. Last month she celebrated her 80th birthday. Please continue to lift up Shannon’s mom and grandmother. Thank you!

About 9 months ago I had a near collision with another neighborhood gator. (Read here) But this fellow had reportedly been reclusive but entrenched in our neighborhood ponds for over two years. He was finally spotted again on Monday in plain view in the parking lot at CCCI Headquarters where we work. Shannon and the kids had even walked through this parking lot an hour or so before he was sighted.

As you can see from the photos below, this gator was big enough to consume my family for breakfast. Emphasize was. He’s no longer with us:

Click and follow the link below to view the photos taken of the eliminated neighbor.

http://picasaweb.google.com/tom.yohe/LakeHartAlligator

A purple cast hasn’t slowed her down too much!

Addison, who is now six, broke her arm while playing at the playground. Shannon was there when it happened but did not see her fall. Addison reportedly was sliding down a handrail and fell backwards - landing on her hand. It cleanly broke one of the bones in her right forearm just below the wrist - confirmed a few hours later at the doctors office by this x-ray:

Getting the bone reset was no fun but Addison has handled it like a trooper. Thankfully she is left handed so her schoolwork and other activities were minimally impacted.

Her cast is off now and she has full use of her arm. We’re grateful she’s experienced little pain since the first couple of days after the break.

Praise the Lord for her follow up appointment with the orthopedic pediatric doctor last week. There was a hairline fracture in the bone adjacent to the one she broke cleanly. This small “crack” needed to heal properly since it was very close to a growth plate at the base of her wrist. The doctor said it could sometimes cause problems for growing children. As the doctor looked over the x-rays this time, the hairline crack clearly was not there. He had forgotten about it and when I pointed out where it was last time he said, “well there’s no sign of it now!” He said he does not need to see Addison again. Thank the Good Physician.

Learn more about “Magdalena - Released from Shame.” This is a new version of the Jesus Film.

Great Report from the Field See video footage from a film team in South America who captured women’s responses after watching Magdalena.

Stories of how the Lord is using the Magdalena Movie:

• Nearly 350 inmates gathered to watch the movie in a women’s prison in Central Asia. After watching the film, nearly 60 percent of these female inmates raised their hands, indicating decisions to accept Christ! One Central Asian ministry worker shared the story of a prisoner: “There was a woman who killed 42 people. And then she watched the film and she cried. God opened her heart. There are a thousand like her, millions like her, waiting for Jesus.”

• The Magdalena movie made its U.S. debut at the United Nations! It was an invitation only event for UN Ambassadors and their immediate family. Among those in attendance (actually they were the first couple to arrive at the UN Theater) were the Iraqi Ambassador and his wife! Many ambassadors were deeply moved.

• After watching the movie premiere for the in his country, one well known Muslim journalist commented, “I know now that Jesus is my Savior. He set me free. Thank you that you saved me from suicide.”

• The Lord has opened doors to allow the movie to be shown in public theaters in several Islamic dominant countries. The movie is shown in Arabic. During almost every showing, tickets are sold out and ever theater is packed!

• Read how one woman was touched when she watched Magdalena in our neighborhood. (see Hands Headlines print edition for April ‘08)

** To read many more incredible stories from the field, download this story sheet. It gives brief praise updates from 12 different countries where the movie has premeried. Each one tells of an incredible work of God and will deeply encourage you!

Magdalena - Released from Shame . . . is a new rendering of the Jesus Film from the perspective of Mary Magdalene.

- How to order a copy of Magdalena?

Order any quantity of DVDs from the Jesus Film Store. The best deal is to order a 2-pack DVD set for $19.98. The 2-pack actually includes a Magdalena Resource CD-ROM with materials to help advertise, promote and follow-up from presenting the film. Also here is the direct link to the single DVD ($12.95) in the Jesus Film Store. Or call to order at 1-800-432-1997.

- Which languages are available?

Currently 8 languages: English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese and Russian. Many other languages are currently in process. Call the Jesus Film at the number above to learn when new languages will be released.

- Watch movie trailers

You can watch some of the best scenes from the movie - in multiple languages no less - at www.MagdalenaMovie.com

- Discussion Questions

Let a friend or family member watch Magdalena. Afterwards, these non-confrontational questions will help your friend articulate his or her response to the film. You could help guide your friend to receive Christ, following the same conversational steps Mary Magdalene used with her friend Rivka! Download and print the Magdalena Discussion Questions.

See More Magdalena Resources and Testimonies at www.MagdalenaToday.com

Coming soon…
Cool stories about how the Lord is using Magdalena in some amazing locations, including right here at home. Check back to Hands Headlines soon!!