MADISON, WISCONSIN (ANS) -- 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.

“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.”

Stephanie Brown Trafton Celebrates (Xinhua Photo)

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.”

The news release stated that after the qualifying round, McConkey e-mailed Brown Trafton and told her that he thought she could win it all in the final. More Christian Olympians will perform this week.

The news release said that McConkey is asking Christians everywhere to pray for all the athletes in China.

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

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "The Face of Homelessness." Additional details are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com. Reynalds' upcoming book is "We All Need a Little Help." It will be released on October 3 2008. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.