The Minneapolis paper Star Tribune has a new story on the CWF…
Preaching doesn’t have to come from a pulpit, and pro wrestling doesn’t have to glorify a life of excess and drugs. Using those two wildly disparate notions, Rob Vaughn founded the suburban Dallas-based Christian Wrestling Federation.
Just got an e-mail from the author of The Devil is a Gentleman.
He basically said “A lot of folks like what I did about the CWF. I hope you do too.”
Hopefully Hastings or our other bookstore (wait nevermind on that last part) will have a copy in the next day or so.
There’s still a chance I’ll be going to Nigeria in October.
One of the guys who were planning to go in October to do logistics for our trip in March may not be able to make it, so I was asked if I could.
Of course I said, “Yes.” So now the trip is a possibility again.
I should know by Friday. So please pray that the best people will be on the trip to prepare for the rest of the team.
A book comes out tomorrow that is supposed to have a chapter dedicated to the CWF. The author followed the guys around about three years ago for his book. I’m interested to see what he says.
A hundred years ago, the writer and philosopher William James wrote The Varieties of Religious Experience, a seminal work that has inspired generations of scholars and eccentrics alike. James’s book argues that the religious spirit in man is best understood through the study of its most extreme forms. Varieties was a watershed effort: a bestselling portrait of history’s pluralism and a defense of the spiritual quest, in all its guises, against the era’s increasingly secular sentiments.
Today, with all the old tensions between skeptics and believers still in place, J. C. Hallman pays homage to James’s exploration of offbeat religious movements. But where James relied on the testimony and biographies of prophets and mystics, Hallman travels directly to some of America’s newest and most unusual religions, trekking from Druid circles in the mossy hills of northern California to the gleaming mother church of Scientology, from lurid satanic cellars in undisclosed locations to a professional-wrestling ministry in the fundamentalist heart of Texas. Along the way, he participates in a variety of rites and reports on a broad spectrum of beliefs. Eventually Hallman adopts James as his patron saint, spiritual adviser, and intellectual companion on the journey that will culminate in the creation of this book, a compelling combination of adventure and biography, spotted with hair-raising predicaments and rife with poignant portraits of unforgettable characters, including William James himself.
The Devil Is a Gentleman maps the spiritual contours of modern American pluralism and examines the life and legacy of one of its most profound architects.
About the Author
J. C. Hallman, a graduate of the Iowa and Johns Hopkins writing programs, has published fiction and nonfiction in GQ and other national magazines. His first book, The Chess Artist, was published to wide acclaim. Hallman is currently a writer in residence at Sweet Briar College.
I know many of you have not received this letter in the mail yet. Maybe its because I haven’t gotten to your part of my list yet, or maybe I don’t have your address, but I wanted to post this and share it with everyone interested in helping the CWF go to Nigeria. We’re looking for financial and prayer sponsors. If you’d like to make a donation to our trip, you can do so on this page. Just click on the Paypal (“Make a donation”) button on the right hand side. Also any and all money raised from advertising on the same site goes directly to the Nigeria fund.
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February 7, 2006
Dear Friends and Family,
As I start to type this letter, I look over a letter my sister Kara wrote exactly one year ago today, preparing to go to China. To think about the changes in her, myself and our family over the last year is overwhelming. I never would have imagined the struggles our family went through in 2005 and the joys and peace that we found in knowing God and knowing He remains sovereign and in control of our lives.
It was also roughly this time last year that I began working with the Christian Wrestling Federation.
As a ring announcer and “Commissioner†for the CWF over the last year, I’ve had the privilege to be part of a ministry that is starting its sixth year of ministry this year and has witnessed over 5,000 people come to know Christ. 2005 proved to be a year of renewal for the ministry as we began to feel God working and possibly leading us to full-time ministry in 2007. The CWF hopes to bring the lost to hear the same Gospel message that’s been repeated for 2000 years, in a very unlikely setting – a wrestling ring.
It’s a message of love for all mankind and a message that we as Christians have been asked to share to our Jerusalem, our Judea and the rest of the world.
I’m excited to say that this year the CWF has been invited to take that message outside of our comfort zone and into to Jos, Nigeria. We are planning to spend the first two weeks of October in the most populous country in Africa and one of the poorest countries in the world.
We are excited to spend time ministering to the predominantly Muslim population with our CWF shows across Nigeria, as well as working with a team from Lake Point Church in Rockwall, who will lead our visits to orphanages where we will help with sports camps and medical missions.
I ask that you will join us in urgent prayer this year as we prepare for our journey. Pray that logistically things will be taken care of. I can’t begin to imagine the work that will go into securing soccer stadiums and arrangements to bring a wrestling show to Nigeria. Please pray that the people of Nigeria will see that we are just ordinary men, but that we’ve been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Pray that they will see the difference in our lives, which only Christ can bring about. Pray that God will begin to work now in the lives of those we will meet as well as our own individual lives. Pray that each of us will be prepared to share the hope we have whenever we are called upon.
I would also ask that you pray about giving financially to our trip. You can contribute directly to my account, or make a donation to the entire group.
If you feel led to support us financially, you may give a one-time gift or make monthly payments between now and October. A small thank you reminder and a self-addressed stamped envelope will be sent monthly, if you so choose.
Thank you for your time and may God continue to shine His face upon you.
In Christ,
Jonathan Blundell
Sorry I haven’t had a chance to post this earlier, I’ve been in court all morning (I’ve always wanted to say that – as long as I wasn’t the defendant). I was covering a number of cases for the paper.
Anyways – the rundown of the matches is very irrelevant this morning. We had over 1250 kids last night at Sachse Assemblies of God and there were 169 decision cards filled out and 105 agreed to a discipleship program the church offers.
WOW. It was an amazing night. It almost felt like a ECW show (not that I’ve ever been to one), without the blood and guts ;-).
There were kids everywhere, including the balcony and crowding around the ring on the floor. I had to almost push my way from the ring and back to the sound booth between matches.
Anways, it was exciting. Thanks for all who prayed. Don’t forget we have another show Saturday in the Balch Springs area – come and support us if you can.
And now for the rundown of the matches:
Chris Idol v Apoc – no contest due to interferance
Tim Storm def. The Bishop
CWF Champion “Jesus Freak” Rob Vaughn def. Son of Thunder in title match
Apoc & The Bishop def. Chris Idol and Tim Storm in a tag match
See that wasn’t near as exciting as the first few paragraphs.