ST. PETERSBURG -- Leroy Burrell, the world's fastest man, has set world records and racked up medals, but competition has not been the high point of his visit to St. Petersburg for the 1994 Goodwill Games.


Far more exhilarating, Burrell said, was getting to meet devout Russian Christians who held firmly to their faith even in the darkest days of Soviet-sponsored atheism.


"We just stood up and sang, 'How Great Thou Art,'" Burrell said to a crowd of about 1,000 ecstatic Russians on Wednesday evening at the Planeta Cinema, pointing to the choir of 50 young Russians in white T-shirts standing behind him on stage. "This has to be the greatest moment of my life."


Burrell was joined by his U.S. teammates for Friday's 1994 Goodwill Games 400-meter relay -- Carl Lewis, Mike Marsh and Sam Jefferson -- at an evening of religious celebration sponsored by Lay Witnesses for Christ, a Texas-based ministry of born-again Christians.


"We have some world-class athletes here, but it's Jesus who gives them their abilities," Lay Witnesses Pastor Terry Henshaw told the crowd, waving at Lewis, Burrell and Co., who sat behind him dressed in jeans and blue polo shirts with the Lay Witnesses logo.


All four sprinters took the podium to tell how religion helped them keep competition in perspective and steadied them in times of trouble, and to congratulate the Russians on enjoying a freedom of worship denied in Soviet days. The sprinters told the audience they hold a private, 90-minute prayer session every morning at the five-star Nevsky Palace Hotel.


Burrell and Lewis both talked about the importance of religion in their lives.


"Medals will tarnish, but the Lord will be there forever," Lewis told the audience.


Burrell, in an interview after his speech, repeated that preaching the Gospel in Russia was a greater thrill than winning races and breaking world records, including the world record held by Lewis in the 100 meters that Burrell broke two weeks ago in Switzerland, finishing in 9.85 seconds.


"I'm overjoyed for the Russian people," Burrell said, noting that this was his first time in Russia. "People concentrate on the negative -- the crime, the inflation -- but that doesn't matter for me, because now you can praise the Lord! No matter how bad it is, He can fix it.


"It's all going to come true, and with enough prayer, you won't even remember how bad it was."


Lewis, 33, and on his third trip to Russia since 1976, also urged listeners to be patient with the difficulties of life in Russia.


"The Lord gives you good times, and tough times to make you stronger, but he always picks the right path," he said.


As the athletes left, to roaring applause, a young German journalist stopped Burrell to ask whether, as the world's fastest man, he thought he could take Jesus Christ in a 100-meter race.


"No way," Burrell said. "Jesus would make me look like I was standing still."