Most of us never get the chance to meet an Olympic athlete, and even rarer, a Christian Olympian. On a recent Wednesday evening, Alliance Greenhouse students met Emily Froehlich, who participated on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Rowing Team, and heard about her inspirational journey.

Emily’s story resonated with the students on a few levels. When one of her family members attempted suicide, Emily felt despair and found that no one could comfort her in a way that she could receive the comfort. When she asked her atheist roommate to pray for her, the prayer began, “Dear God, if you exist...” It was at that moment Emily felt God’s presence and peace in a way she never had before, which led to her decision to end her rowing career and pursue God.

After winning silver at the World Rowing Championships, Emily went on an 11-month mission trip with World Race. Five months into the adventure, God made it clear to her that He wanted her to represent Him at the 2024 Olympics. How could that be? She had given up rowing for God. Now, He wanted her to return to competing.

It was when Emily gave God a YES answer that He began to open doors for her. Shortly after finishing her mission trip, she found herself on the U.S. Olympic team. A feat that she says could only have been God intervening since she hadn’t trained for over 11 months. Emily felt then, and even more strongly now, that God wants to be glorified at the Olympics – where athletes come from all over the world to compete for a medal. She has a God-given inspiration to seek unity among believers in the world athletic arena.

Emily answered many of our student’s questions, including that her atheist roommate is now a believer. Praise God! Her challenge to the Greenhouse students is to look for opportunities to serve others because, in doing so, you step outside your comfort zone. She has learned that when she has followed God in serving others, her faith has grown in a big way.

To help our students grow and learn, Alliance Global Connections is working with Student Ministries on a joint venture called GLO: Global and Local Outreach Ministry. Each month, students have the opportunity to participate in a GLO activity serving our community or learning about people from other nations who live in our community and around the world. GLO has several adult volunteers who work with student leaders to plan and participate in the events. Participants have found that they are blessed when serving others, and as Emily Froehlich suggested, God has grown their faith as they step out of their comfort zones.

GLO opportunities are posted at Greenhouse near the merch store with a QR code for registering. If you would like to be involved with the GLO ministry or know of a student who may be interested, contact [email protected]. We would love to get you connected.

Note: Emily Froehlich’s story was captured in video by Mally McLoughlin, one of Alliance Church’s International Workers in France. If you would like to view that video, email us at [email protected] and request the link.