Stephanie Brown Trafton Testifies from China as Planned
4 Winds Worker Wins USA Track and Field's First Track and Field Gold Medal
(Madison, Wisconsin)?For two years, 4 Winds Christian Athletics provided Olympic athlete testimonies to the media throughout the world, including the underground Chinese church.
According to a news release from 4 Winds, one of those testimonies has been from Stephanie Brown Trafton. An underdog, Brown Trafton won the first gold medal for the track and field team in Beijing, sparking the team to win more medals throughout Monday evening. (Xinhua Photo)
"I knew the United States didn't come in here as the favorites (in the discus)," Brown Trafton said in a news release. "I knew we hadn't made a final since 1984, and (I) just found out that we hadn't won gold since 1932. I just thank God for giving me the strength to be the one to do it."
Brown Trafton's testimony was one of the testimonies to go into China through underground newspapers and radio stations broadcasting from free countries into China.
The news release reported that she has been one of the leaders to lead Bible studies for American athletes at the Olympic village. They have been so popular that they added another day.
Brown Trafton and her husband are from Galt, California, and she is a 2003 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She was a member of the 2004 United States Olympic team.
4 Winds Christian Athletics' President Steve McConkey said in a news release, "Stephanie has been growing in her faith every year. Her desire to be used by the Lord is tremendous ... (My wife) Liz ... and I have seen her grow into a stronger Christian woman."
Before the Olympics, the 4 Winds website server was damaged by Chinese Denial of Service viruses, and McConkey was told that he should not go to China as he provided testimonies to the underground church.
The news release said that 4 Winds opposed an Olympic boycott from the beginning, but has encouraged athletes to witness to the media after their performances in China.
4 Winds is an evangelistic and teaching ministry working with track and field athletes throughout the world. For more information, go to www.4wca.org
