Wrestling ministry holds free event in LaFayette

BY JOHN BRICETHE LAFAYETTE SUNLAFAYETTE — Local residents enjoyed a unique opportunity for family-friendly entertainment at a free event courtesy of Hope Wrestling Ministries this past week. Milltown Baptist Church of LaFayette presented the wrestling event at the Chambers County Rodeo Arena on U.S. Highway 77. Operating out of Milner, Georgia as their home base Hope Wrestling Ministries shares the Gospel of Christ in and through the world of professional wrestling through outreach events such as the one held in LaFayette.Event promoter Marty Miller said he wants to help the community understand the mission that his organization has undertaken. “We are a Christian ministry that uses professional wrestling as a platform to share the gospel,” Miller said. “We present a regular wrestling show like you would see at any other event. but then in the middle of it we share the gospel and that is our number one goal. This November it has been four years.” Connecting with people in need of spiritual guidance is a priority according to Miller. “We reach people that maybe wouldn't go to church any other day, but they will come to a wrestling show,” he said. “A lot of people for whatever reason think that they are not good enough to step into church. Maybe they have been hurt or whatever the case may be. But they will come to a wrestling show, so we bring a wrestling show, and present the gospel to them. Hopefully, the next day they will go to church somewhere and get them plugged in.”Miller said aspiring wrestlers and newcomers to the industry are also having their lives impacted through their participation with the show. “There is a lot of wrestlers that are Christians that believe like we do, but there has never really been a platform for them to share that and to grow in that,” he said. “NFL and major league baseball, they have chaplains and stuff. Wrestling doesn't have that. This is opening those opportunities for them, and a lot of guys are attracted to it. We get calls all the time with people wanting to come work for us.”Miller also said another benefit of wrestling events rooted in Christian values is the family-friendly atmosphere. “That is very important to me,” he said. “You see these kids around here. If they can't enjoy it, I don't want to do it. There's no point in it. I have got kids myself. Mine are grown now, but I remember taking my son to shows, and I want my son to enjoy it just as much as I do.”