This is the United States Champion. He became my first self. Ladies and gentlemen, the ball is a little bit more. contest is set for one fall. Introducing first from Lithuania, he weighs 123 kilos, the Russian nightmare, the Kita Co.
Now the devil's nightmare. Welcome back to another episode of It's Time to Man Up. Pro Wrestling One of the most watched forms of entertainment in the world today. Believe it or not, that is a fact. It outdraws most, if not all, of the major sports around the world.
Some might argue and say, you know, the professional soccer or what they call football overseas may kind of compete with that. But all that to say, You ever thought how I never thought that you might combine the world of pro wrestling and use that as an outreach. To reach communities, people that might not otherwise maybe go to a church service or even consider. uh having a relationship With Jesus Christ. But this man today has taken the art of pro wrestling and matched that up with an outreach down there in the peach state of Georgia.
You're going to hear all about that today. His brand new book today. You're going to want to stay right here. Don't go anywhere with me today. none other than Marty Miller.
Marty, welcome to The Man Up Show. Hey Nikid, thank you for having me. I'm excited to be on here with you.
Well, and I'm excited to have you, man. Father, minister, pro wrestling promoter, and most importantly, Child of God. Pretty amazing, Marty. That's quite a story there. Thank you, sir.
Well, Marty, and and of course You know, over the years, you know, I've had the good fortune and been blessed to be a part of what you've. Done in terms of combining pro wrestling with ministry and as an outreach. But we're going to dive we'll dive more into that. And then of course, I want to talk about. about your new book uh that I read, by the way, and uh really enjoyed reading it.
But but let's back up just for a moment. You're down there in the Peach State of Georgia. Uh you know, take a moment, j tell us about your family. Tell us what you're doing down there in Georgia in addition to these things. All right.
Well, I I'm born and raised here in Georgia, been here my whole life. Um me and my wife Ashley, we live in about middle middle of Georgia and um We've been married for eight years. We've got four. teenage kids. One of them two of them have already graduated high school.
They're off one's in college, one's working. One will graduate high school this coming weekend. That's my youngest son, and then Our youngest boy, Connor, he's a junior, graduated next year.
So we've got Our hands full in that area for sure, but we're almost empty nesters, which is a weird feeling, weird thing to say as well. Yeah, that I mean, you know, you hear that expression, right? An empty nester, and but yet you, in some cases, or at some point, you like, okay, what's that really look like when it, you know, and then when it really does come, what's that going to be like, right? And uh, but you're, you're, you're on the brink of actually experiencing that, so that that that. Many times, Marty, I've heard like husbands and wives have kind of looked at each other when the reality of that hits and like, who are you?
So, what do we do with all our time? And I say that because a lot of times, you know, you're running around to different sporting events, or maybe one parent's taking one child off this way to that event or, you know, or the other way, or concert, or just a lot of different things, right? That the, you know, how we're pulled in many different directions. And sometimes, you know, sometimes the marriage is not emphasized. And then all of a sudden, you're empty nesters, and now you got to kind of.
Would you say, would it be fair to say, kind of reintroduce yourself all over again? Not in every single case, but in some cases, right? Oh, for sure. And you know, we had our moments where we had kind of figured things out. And like I said, we're not completely empty nested yet, but there are some days where we are where It's been kind of like, wait a minute, what so what do we do here?
W we don't have a game to go to, we don't have anything like this. like you said, and so it's um It's been interesting trying to figure that out at points, but uh We've definitely been able to spend a lot more time together, which is which is fun. And so you emphasize that. You emphasize the need for family and to spend time together as a family. You emphasize that.
Right. You know, because being, you know, being a minister, you see all kinds of stuff, you know, that. And so I've seen it before where, like you said, where. a couple gets to that point and then they have to reintroduce themselves or You know, we've we've seen it where they they split off at this point because they don't know each other and then the they get to know each other, they find out they don't like each other anymore. Yeah, because it's almost like...
In their minds, anyway, the only thing we had in common was our kids.
Now, our kids aren't here no more.
So, so we're just going to go our separate ways, unfortunately, right? And too many times we hear that story when the reality is before they ever had kids, something obviously drew them together, right? You know, to where they fell in love with one another. And just it's sometimes it's just the because we get so caught up in life and raising kids and doing all those sorts of things, you know, you forget to foster, you know, that, that, that, love, that love part of it between husband and wife and you know, making sure that you're rekindling, you know, your heart's desire for one another and doing things, you know, focusing on that in the midst of raising kids, right?
Now, you've been married eight years, and of course, I, you know, I know you're a blended family since we're talking about this. There have been some, and that always creates a challenge in itself. I know that myself because my two older are they were six and three when I met their mother, and then we had two together.
So we blended a family together. But you're a blended family. What has been, maybe pick out a challenge you would say for our listeners out there that you've. 'Cause of the good Lord, been able to overcome in being a blended family.
Well, I think the biggest thing that we've dealt with over the years is just different aspects on how we raise how we raise our kids. Uh A male and a female raise mom and dad raise their kids differently anyways, but When you blend in kids that are already Not really grown, but I mean our kids were teenagers when we got married and so a lot of the formation years had already happened.
So Um how I may have dealt with one thing different the way she does and and and vice versa.
So Understanding that we're on the same page was one thing that we had to figure out from the very beginning, that we may not agree. with the method But we're on the same page and so we're going to get to the same result at the end. And so we got to give each other grace in that area. Has been one of the most difficult but also best things that we've done with each other.
Well, and kudos to you, Marty, because I know that can be a real sticking point for many blended families, is because. You know, the the wife, the mom has one idea of, let's just take discipline, right? One idea of how to discipline the child. The dad, you know, the husband has a different idea. And unfortunately, again, like couples just going their separate ways, you know, when they hit the empty nest syndrome, you know, that creates so much tension that they it's just they're they're not willing to to put up, you know, put in the effort, right, and and put up a fight.
And so to speak, and come together. And I found personally that that's the catalyst. That's the real key. That no matter what, that husband and wife, that mom and dad have to stick together. And as you just said, figure it out on how we're going to do this because we have to put forward a united front.
Otherwise, you know, there is a real enemy who likes to destroy families and come in as a wedge and drive a wedge between mom and dad, husband and wife, right? One hundred percent. Yeah, and so that's the real catalyst, the real key. If there was a key to pressing through and making it successful, no matter what, to the husbands and wives out there, the mom and dads, you're in a blended family. Just be determined, no matter what, we're going to present a united front and not give our children an inkling that we're divided on this.
And behind closed doors, we'll talk it through and figure it out like you did.
So you're a testimony of that, Marty. Yeah, I mean, you know, and I'm not trying to make it sound like we had it all figured out. We definitely had our. moments where we were at the edge. of of e of even giving up at times, but Um, we stuck with it and we pushed through, and I think we're seeing the fruits of that now.
That's awesome. We enjoyed. each other during this time of our lives. That's awesome. Well So let me ask let me let me segue to to Because what I wrote down, as you were speaking, I wrote down, you know, and I know this to be true because I know you and I met your lovely bride.
And, you know, part of the key to this, too, is having that foundation in Jesus Christ, right? And him as an anchor. And that's been a real catalyst to your success as well in leaning on Jesus. I know, you know, you're 46 years old. You've been saved.
You give your life to the Lord 22 years ago. Take a minute and tell our listener: what was the catalyst to you surrendering your heart to Christ?
So just to back up even further for a second, I grew up in church. I was one of those kids that was in church every time the doors were open. My parents were really involved growing up, but For me, growing up as a child, I didn't understand the relationship aspect of Jesus. I just knew it as. a bunch of rules, a bunch of stuff you can do and can't do and so When I was about twelve years old, something happened and my parents Quit going to church, and so for me.
It was like a release. It was like, hey, I got freedom now. I can go watch whatever movie I want to, listen to whatever song I want to, all this kind of stuff. And so I spent about eight, nine years running from God. And When When I when I When I gave my life to Christ, though I got invited to church, and it was one of the last places I wanted to go, but I just had this hole in my heart that I didn't understand.
this emptiness. And so I was just kind of searching for what I'll try anything at this point to kind of feel that, so to speak. And uh so I went to church and for the first time in my life I I understood the relationship part of Jesus. And not just you can't do this, you can't do that, and all of the rules and stuff that we think about when it comes to religion. Religion.
And um and so God just he met me there and, um, I knew. Right. I mean within moments, I knew it was october fifth um two thousand and two and um The math from Rwanda Three. And uh God met me there and He just wrecked me, absolutely wrecked me and um I just knew right then that that's what I was missing in life. And so it's been it's been a journey ever since.
You're listening to The Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. If you would like to support Koloffer Christ Ministries, for a gift of $25, Nikita will send you his two CDs. adoration and declaration. for a gift of $50. Nikita will include his book, Wrestling with Success.
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Well, you bring up a couple valid points. I'm listening to your story. You know, you talk about having a hole in your heart and growing up in church, which you're not an isolated case. I can't tell you how many times, you know, whether talking, you know, just talking to people in general, hearing some of their stories, or many times at our camps that we do, our man camps, you know, I've heard a lot of up close and personal stories. In fact, at our very last camp, You wouldn't even know this, Marty, but we had an 18-year-old who gave his life to Christ, but we had a 65-year-old man.
Who gave his life to Christ? And what God revealed to him one morning when he was out on his devotional is what you just said. He said, You. God said to him, you have religion. But you have no relationship.
The stories never made the 18-inch trip from your head down to your heart. And so that hole in your heart that you feel. That's me. You're missing me. You're missing that relationship with me.
And so that's a powerful story, October 5th. 2003, that that then became what you'd always heard about growing up in church. For the first time, it became a reality. And that's a pretty amazing story. And there may be others out there, Marty, that are listening to your story right now and going, you know what, man, that's me.
I grew up in church, but man, I've never surrendered my heart to Jesus. And which that leads me right into your vision for hope championship wrestling that you do these events down there in Georgia. And I know in the four years you've been doing these, I've been a part of some of them. I know you've witnessed over 400 that have come to Christ through these events. What inspired you to do hope championship wrestling, Marty?
So I I've been a professional wrestling fan my entire life. I fell in love with it at about four or five years old. you know watching Saturday night uh wrestling on T B S and um They're your good friends, the Roadwears, are what hooked me. Seeing those monsters with that painted face and just beating the snot out of some guys, it just hooked me. And it's been a huge part of my life ever since.
And so When I when I got saved, um, God took me completely out of wrestling. Um, because it has become Kind of an idol maybe? Yeah, so exactly. It was it was it was everything to me. And so He took me completely away and then A few years later, my son, Caleb, who who graduates this weekend, he I come home from work and he was watching it and, um, My first Instinct was to cut it off.
I was like, We're done with that. We're not going to have that. We're not going through that again. I started to, and then I felt it was like I felt God telling me, Well, just wait, just just see what happens here. I let him watch it and I started watching it with him and we became it became really and even today it's a it's a um an opportunity for us to to to get together and to build our relationship with each other.
But Through that, Um God began to open doors for me back into the world of wrestling. And I just was in prayer one day and I said, God, look, if I'm going to be involved with wrestling in any kind of way, That I need you to Show me how to do it that glorifies you because I don't I don't want to do it any other way. And um A few years later, he gave me this idea for Christian Wrestling. Told me I got some guys in Texas who I know you worked with before, the Christian Wrestling Federation, they were doing it out there. Yeah.
And I said, man, there's got to be a way we can do that here in the southeast in Georgia. And Then years ago, well, this November will be four years, but uh we d did our first event. Um And I hope I hope you haven't wrestled. And the doors that God has opened for us, the things that He's been allowed us to do has been just simply amazing. Um through this It's a crazy world of wrestling.
Yeah, and of course, I know you've done them indoors, outdoors. You've done them in church sanctuaries, church parking lots, and even festivals and a variety of different.
So, if you're a pastor out there or just in lay ministry or just a part of a church, and you're like, wow, I love wrestling. If we can reach our lost community with the gospel message, maybe that's something you might want to consider. I'll be sure and give you Marty's website before we wrap up the show. But that leads me into this book, Marty, that I've read, that you authored. I'm believing, I'm thinking, the inspiration.
Behind that, it's quite interesting: a 21-day journey of faith where you take some of the biggest curves. Craziest moments in the history of pro wrestling and relate them. to the time-honored truth Of God's word. Man, tell. Tell me about that.
That's interesting. I don't want to give it away for the listener.
So I I've always been I've always looked at things um a little bit more deeply than most people do. Like When I watch a movie or listen to a song or watch a television show or read a book or whatever it may be, I always try to find elements of scripture in it. Like I'm a I love the Marvel movies and every time I watch them I I look for little things and they're And if you What I've learned over the years is that if you want to find Jesus in everything, You can. if you're willing to look for it. I was actually I used to be a school teacher and I was actually doing a message in a class about that.
And I showed some kids from a Superman movie elements of faith that are in there that they had never noticed before. And I got to thinking about that. I was preparing that and I said, Man, There's it's the same thing in wrestling. There's scripture all through this. And so I began to just go back my childhood looking at events in wrestling that I loved and It was amazing to me that God would show me: hey, look, that's out of the book of Mark.
That's exactly what I said there. And he just began to show me these things, and I was like, This is awesome.
So I just began to put it together. It took me. Gosh, it took About five years to finish that daggone book. Um but uh when it was when I first got the first copy, I I let my my wife record me opening it. I just couldn't believe that God allowed me to write a book.
Um about this and uh but it's been it's been a pretty awesome experience.
Well, I certainly can relate to that, Marty. I've written three so far and working on some others. But yeah, never in a million years would I have ever thought myself, you know, would have ever would write a book. I mean, English was not my strong suit in school. In fact, most subjects were not my strong suit in school.
Recess. Straight A's. Yeah, you were a teacher, straight A's and recess. I got straight A's there. But, you know, you and I have that in common.
Well, I guess you would probably know that because I think you've read my life story is, you know, I graduated from college with a teaching degree, although I never went into formal teaching like you, but I feel like I've been teaching my whole life. And Zipstein, what you write here, you can find God everywhere, even in a pro-wrestling ring. And that is so true. I've thought the same thing about movies, you know, going to movie and walking away, you know, as a Christ follower, walking away, going, man, that one scene right there. Was just total, you know, especially the good versus evil side of it, right?
Like the depiction of good and evil, and how clearly, whether it's a movie, a show, a book, how you can differentiate the two. All right, well, take, take, now, just give us a quick. Story, give our listeners a little tease to why they'd want to get this book. And what's one quick story that you would exert from the book?
So uh We'll just since we're talking to you, we'll use the one that I wrote about your uh the the time that you turn from the the evil Russian to the the good guy, the American Dream tag team partner.
Okay. To me, when I watched that, when I began to put this together and I I went back and watched that um whole incident happen, You went from one of the the biggest bad guys in the whole industry. to an amazing um Fan favorite in just in a matter of minutes. Yeah, just in a second. In order now.
Yeah. the fans, but also Dusty Roads had to extend forgiveness to you for all the vile things you've said and done over in your career over to the to the Americans. And For me, that was in a picture of Yeah. Forgiveness that God gives us, that no matter what we've done, no matter what we've said, no matter what. Yeah.
what we where we've been that God is willing to look past all that and accept us. As a new creation, just like the Russian Nightmare became a new creation as a member of the the the dream the dream team with the the American dream there. Um the superpowers. Wow. You know, and I'm just visualizing as you're say you know, thinking about 'cause I joke and say how I, you know, I saw the light, so to speak, you know, and becoming a a good guy, you know, and and uh from from villain to hero, right.
And right. And really, yeah, you You bring up a great illustration. You know, everyone is a born sinner, born into iniquity. And so, what transforms and changes the life? Only by coming into the light, only by surrendering your heart to Jesus Christ, and then being forgiven by Almighty God when we ask, right?
He's willing to forgive us. And wow, so that's one of what, 21 stories? Yes, sir. We got twenty-one stories. You can divide them up to twenty-one days or however you want to do it, it's fine.
But We laid them out 21 devotions that that take they each of them take a different story in in professional wrestling. and tie them into scripture. That's pretty amazing. And let me just say to you and to all of our listeners out there, as you're listening to Marty's story and utilizing wrestling and now writing this book as inspiration for all of us, five years to do the book. You know what I'm saying?
It took him five years. You know what? I wonder how many books ended up in the graveyard. Meaning, that person who said, oh, I should really write a book. Or somebody said, I told somebody the other day, you need to write a book.
You need to write a book. You know, and I think about Lex Luger when he was approached about doing a book. He's like, oh man, who would want to read my story? And I'm like, Lex, man, if one person read your story and was touched by it, is that not worth it if just one? And so he was inspired by that.
Of course, Wrestling with the Devil. And so the title of the book, Marty. Wrestling with faith. Wrestling with faith. All right.
Wrestling with faith, and where can they find it?
So the easiest way is on Amazon. Amazon will get it to you in just a couple of days. But if you want an autograph copy or if you want to support the ministry a little bit more, you can go to our website, it's hopewrestlingministries.org, and you can contact me through there, and I can get you one. Send out to you as soon as I can. Hope.
wrestling ministries If you want an autographed copy of Wrestling with faith. And of course, you can learn more. I'm guessing on that website, Marty, they can learn a whole lot more if there's a pastor out there listening can contact you about possibly bringing hope championship wrestling to their to their community, right? Yes, sir. Or you can contact me on social media.
We're on all social media. Just look up Hope Wrestling. you'll find us and we'll be glad to w to come out there and help your church reach your community.
Well, that's pretty amazing. And again, I read the book. I enjoyed all the different stories and the parallels, the parallels between, I like how you say, God's, you know, the time-honored truth of God's word and how you connected those to some of the biggest, craziest moments in pro wrestling. And kudos to you, whether it took you five years or five days. Great job, Marty.
Thank you, buddy. Yeah, and with the Hope Championship Wrestling, you know, that's something unique in and of itself, and you're making a difference. Let me ask you, real quick, we've just got a couple minutes left here. I think I brought Luger one time, Lex, down to one of your events. We were this, as I recall, this little tiny box gym packed to the gills.
And if I remember right, no air conditioning. Am I correct? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We've done quite a few like that.
And here's the funniest part of the story. On our way down, you know, Lex is kind of a newer believer, Christ follower. And, you know, I'm mentoring. He's like, now, where are we going? And I told him the name of the town.
I don't know, some little town in Georgia, man. Never even heard of it, right? And we pull up to this building, and he's like, and what are we doing? And I'm like, Lex is going to be wrestling, and then I'm going to share my story, my testimony, and then we're going to give people an opportunity to respond. We're going to turn that wrestling ring into an altar, and you're going to witness people give their life to Christ.
And by his own admission, he didn't say in the moment, but he was so skeptical. And he's like, Yeah, okay, let me see this. And as I recall, you correct me if I'm wrong. I tried never to be evangelistic, Marty, but evangelistic. Over 100 people, I recall, seemed to respond.
respond to the altar on that particular night. Yeah, they do. And you know, that feeling, that thought that Lex had that night was. One that a lot of people have. A lot of they just can't believe that you can connect the two together, but when they see it, and they see the impact that it has on people because Like we were talking at the beginning of the show, people love wrestling.
They're going to come and watch it. And then we give them just a little bit more by sharing the gospel with them. It's It's been amazing response.
Well, we won him over that night. He was on the way home, he was blown away by the response of what he witnessed and what he saw. And yeah, that's why I've always said we give them what they want, which is the wrestling, or as we say here in the South, the wrestling, right? We give them the wrestling, but they leave with what they need, and that's the gospel message. And so, Marty Miller down there in the Peach State of Georgia, hope.
Wrestlingministries.org. If you're interested in bringing in Hope Championship Wrestling to your community, go to that website. Get a copy of his book, Wrestling with Faith. I assure you, it's a very simple, easy read, but an enjoyable read. You don't have to be a wrestling fan.
You can be, but you'll enjoy that as well. Marty, thank you for being a part of the show today. Thank you, buddy. I appreciate you having me. Absolutely.
And thank all of you each and every week.
So faithful to tune in and listen in to the Man Up Show. Continue to help spread the word. And, of course, my challenge to you each and every week is to go out and just live a God-filled day, but also have a God-blessed day. This podcast is made possible by the grace of God. and your faithful prayers support and generous gifts.
May God bless you for your continual contributions. Go to koloff.net. and donate Today. If you are enjoying the Man Up Show, would you help us spread the word? Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your neighbors to download, subscribe, and leave a comment.
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