His achievement was immortalised in the movie Chariots of Fire. He was also a Rugby winger, representing Scotland. But the greatest and largely unknown story is what happened after the Olympics in returning to the country of his birth, China, to serve as a science teaching missionary.
Eric once said something fascinating to his sister:
“God made me for China (for mission). But he also made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure.”
God gave Eric special athletic gifts, and as he expressed these, it was an act of worship – of gratitude and deep enjoyment. His sister couldn’t quite appreciate this at the time. As God has made each of us with special talents and gifts, we are encouraged to likewise use them for God’s glory.
In China, Eric would ride his bike from village to village across rural China, preaching and teaching about Jesus. Many became Christians through his ministry. He had to persevere through exhausting country rides. But things got worse when the Japanese invaded China. It became extremely dangerous, in fact it was forbidden for foreigners to share about Jesus. It became so dangerous that Eric’s wife and family returned to Britain on the last ship that left China. Eric was rounded up and put into an Internment Camp for foreigners. While he was there, he taught science, ran athletic carnivals and continued to teach about Jesus. He could not, he would not be shut up.
