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Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is set for one flaw. Introducing first, from Lithuania, who weighs 123 kilos, the Russian nightmare, Nikita Kolov. Welcome to another episode Q&A with Kolov, The Devil's Nightmare. This is such a fun show for me to get to answer all of your questions. And I have someone on the line today. What a fascinating story.
Randy Simpkins, Carrollton, Georgia. Randy, welcome to Q&A with Kolov. Nikita, it's such a huge honor to be here on your show. Since I got to meet you here a little while back, I've enjoyed going to YouTube and watching some real wrestling from back in the day. It's been great.
Some of the classical stuff, could we say? Oh yeah, I was cheering for you when you were winning the US title like it just happened and my wife just looked at me like I was crazy. She's like, are you 12 again? What's the deal here? What's going on, right?
That's right. Well, I'll tell you what's funny about that. Of course, we met up in Sevierville, Tennessee at an autograph signing I was doing up there. I just felt an instant connection with you, Randy. Of course, you shared some of your story with me and felt even more of a connection. I'm like, I got to have him on the shows. I just want to say right on the offset, make sure and go over and listen to Randy's full story on the Man Up show. Because you'll be blown away by this man's story.
We're just going to scratch the surface here on Q&A with Kolov. What's funny is a lot of times I meet people who were old school fans or whatever and I can just tell by the expression on their face, Randy, it's like their mind just went like they're 12 again. Their mind just went there when they were a teenager or whatever and they're just envisioning sitting in front of their tube or sitting in an arena and watching it live. So are you a native, what is it, Georgian? So you're born and raised? Yep. Been in Carrollton, Georgia my whole life except for the years that I was in the military.
Okay. Thank you for serving in the military by the way. I always like to get that out there. And so born and raised Carrollton, Georgia in full circle for you because you're pastoring a church in Carrollton, Georgia, isn't that right?
That's right. I've been here, actually been here for two months, but I was a member here for nine years and this is where I was located in Old Camp when I felt the call into the ministry. So I pastored a different church for eight years and I've recently been called back here to Old Camp as a senior pastor and it is truly a blessing. So full circle, full circle and fascinating story. You've got quite an amazing project you're working on called End the Wait. End the Wait and for those who are like End the Wait for what?
Maybe I just popped that question popped in your head. End the Wait for what? Well Randy is involved in, currently not only pastoring the church there in Carrollton, Old Camp Church, if you're ever in the Carrollton area, stop in and visit some Sunday morning. But he's involved in a project, a movie project, a fundraising project to produce a film around kidney transplants and let me just give you a couple quick stats so if you're wondering why he does this and he'll tell you how he even got involved in this. 100,000 people need a kidney transplant, 3,000 new patients added to the wait list each month, 5,000 will die yearly, every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant list. 1 in 10 people worldwide are affected by chronic kidney disease. I know I personally have known some folks over the years that had to go through kidney dialysis treatment and boy it was by every account it was not fun, not a fun thing to do.
So Randy, why are you involved in this project and you're putting together a movie to create awareness, what brought all this on? Well one of the wonderful ministries I was blessed to be a part of back in 2022, I was appointed as the chaplain of the Appalachian Trail which basically means I was taking a six month sabbatical to hike the trail to minister to folks along the way. And that got cut short unfortunately after about 100 miles due to a blizzard, followed by jury duty, followed by things changing at church and at work that just didn't allow me to go back. And I had an opportunity to serve as I came back to serve at a women's retreat in March of 22 which I wasn't going to be able to serve to start with because I was going to be on the trail and through that retreat I overheard a lady praying, she didn't know I was in the room, praying for her husband to receive a kidney. She prayed, her actual prayer was we've got to pray we can find somebody that's O positive that's willing to give up a body part but how do you ask somebody for a body part? And I immediately felt discernment from the Holy Spirit that that's what I'm supposed to, that was the reason I was there. And that led to a process of me learning about the kidney transplant process, the challenges of it, how it happens and I came to realize that it's really not that difficult of a process.
And if you're healthy enough and they won't let you do it if you're not healthy enough. Unfortunately he and I both had had blood transfusions and so the chances of you matching are almost impossible. But you could do what's called a paired exchange where if I'm willing to donate to whoever I match, I put him down as the potential recipient then he automatically goes to the top of the list. So I agreed to do that yet God had other plans. The chances were one in 10,000 but the doctor said they'd never seen this before but it was as if I've had his kidney in my body the last 54 years. We were a perfect match. So after the procedure went off in September, everything went great.
I had a new brother for life. As I shared that story and how much it changed me and impacted me as a donor and I would do it again tomorrow if I could, recovered so quickly. As I shared that story with other people, the response was well I could do that. Why can't I?
How do I do that? And so as people started responding that way, I realized I know there's 100,000 people in this country that would do the same thing I did if they knew how great the need was. 38 million people in this country with chronic kidney disease and how relatively easy the process was. Truth of it is Nikita, I went to sleep, I woke up and it was done. That hurt a little bit when I woke up for a few days but no big deal. I gave up a few weeks for my friend to have the rest of his life. But I thought how do you get word out in a way that inspires people all across the country and then it hit me. 15 years ago, Lionsgate released a movie about my two-year-old son who had disappeared.
The name of the movie is The Way Home. It's a true story about how our community came together and helped find my son who was missing for eight hours and was found in the swamp about a mile and a half away. And I was a workaholic father and that moment in my life completely transformed my understanding of priorities and what was important. And as a result of that movie, tens of millions of people have watched that movie and we still to this day, 15 years later, have people that reach out and say, hey, I appreciate you sharing your story.
It's really made me think about what's important in life. And so as I thought about the impact that that movie had had, what about sharing this story and opening up a nonprofit organization which I knew nothing about at that point and make a movie that will then turn around and put funds back into the nonprofit to go out, boots on the ground and make it create an awareness across the country and in theaters and also boots on the ground, go out and find and support those who are willing to donate. If we put it in theaters across the country, 100 million people will see the movie. And if 100 million people see it and one out of every thousand says, well, I can do what he did, then we will effectively eliminate the kidney transplant waitlist, saving 100,000 lives, impacting millions and future generations. If my three year old granddaughter ever needs a kidney and there's no longer a wait, it's going to impact. It could truly change the culture of this country. And we're already seeing the fruit of that now.
We've had three people that have already received kidneys and dozens just from word of mouth of us doing our fundraisers and getting started that have stepped forward. And the goal being the goal being, I mean, ideally in a perfect world, 100,000 lives are saved through kidney donation. Right. So. Right. So let me just. So let me just summarize by by for our listeners out there. So. So.
Two year old son disappears and gone for eight hours. It eventually inspires the movie The Way Home. True story of the way home. It shifts all of Randy Simpkins priorities in life and you get get your priorities in order. And and this story comes along about somebody needing a kidney replacement. And you're like, wait a minute, let's let's make a movie on this. Bring awareness to this and and and experience it for yourself firsthand. Literally donate one of your own.
So you see it work firsthand. And now, you know, as part as part of the project, it's it's to raise these these funds. And Dean Cain. Right. After Dean Cain was a part of the way home movie and is a big part of and the wait. Right. So we reached out and this was only 15 months ago when I had this crazy idea.
You know, and my view is a God vision that God laid on my heart. And so someone sent me an email of a producer that does a lot of movies with Dean Cain and I haven't talked to him in over a decade. So I reached out and he called me back. The producer called me back in a couple hours. He flew to Atlanta three days later. He had already talked with Dean.
And Dean said, let me get this straight. You're wanting to make a movie whose purpose is to save one hundred thousand lives. No one has ever done anything like this. It's brilliant.
I want not only star and I want to help cope reduce it. We want to do a bigger budget so it can be in theaters across the country. And he's actually on our board of directors as well as Laurie Beth Sykes, who played my wife in the first movie. They're both starring in this movie and they're also on our board of directors for our foundation. And so I'm so thankful for people like them and people like yourself who have heard what we're doing and saying, you know, I want to be a part of this. We really do believe this is going to change the culture of our country. Yeah. We want to get the message out.
And, you know, as we've already given out numbers, how many people suffer, you know, with kidney issues. And so EndTheWeight.net, there's a lot of different ways you can get involved. You can go on into their store, purchase things off their store to help fund the movie. If there's ever a fundraiser, if you'd like to have a fundraiser, I guess they can just go right to EndTheWeight.net and contact you, Randy, if they'd like to have a fundraiser in their community. That's right. There's an email address on there, info at EndTheWeight.
And to be honest with you, don't tell anybody this, Nikita, but my cell phone is on that, too. Uh-oh. That may change soon. Wow, yeah, you're putting that out there. And you can go on the website and sign up to stay updated on EndTheWeight. And an incredible project that you could be a part of, whether it's just praying for this project, financially investing in this project, being led of the Lord to be a kidney, you know, donate a kidney and help save a life.
And yeah, I mean, you get to be a part of the story in many different ways. And so EndTheWeight.net, go check it out, Pastor Randy Simpkins, Old Camp Church, Carrollton, Georgia. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. If you are a business owner and would like to advertise your company or product on the Man Up Show and or Q&A with Koloff, contact me directly, nikitakoloff.net. The Man Up Show is honored to have Dr. Johnny Gaten as one of our longest running supportive sponsors. Dr. Gaten is regarded as one of the world's leading elite eye surgeons. He is motivated by his faith in doing all things heartily as unto the Lord. His desire to do his best has contributed to success in his eye care practice, performing over 70,000 eye surgeries. In addition, he's a world renowned speaker, writer and author.
Go to eyeassociates.com for more information. Nikita Koloff here, and I am excited. Did you hear the huge announcement, the big announcement? Well, maybe it's a minor announcement.
Anyway, Facebook, go look up my new fan page, Nikita Koloff Fans, and like it and follow today. Well, let's let's, Randy, on that note, segue. I have no idea. I know you said you had some questions for me, so I'm curious to see what you got. So let's let's let's roll with your first question. OK, so I've been I have I've been listening to your book. And by the way, if your listeners have not purchased your book, I've got the hard copy. But also, I've been listening to it on Audible and typical book is, you know, four or five hours.
Yours is 12. I don't know if you know that or not, but but it's given me so many things to think about. So thank you for putting that out there and for narrating it yourself. But one of the things that that I was curious about as I've been listening to it. What type of experiences did you encounter either in wrestling or before that? Because if I understand, if I remember correctly, it was after you retired when you found the Lord.
Were there things, experiences that you encountered during or before wrestling that in hindsight were ways that God was preparing you for the ministry that you do now? It's a great question. And let me just say thank you for getting having both a hard copy and the audio Audible book, the audio book. That was a fun project. It was a lot of hours right here sitting in the studio. I'm sitting in right now putting that project together. But I wanted people to be able to hear my story and in my own voice and be able to, you know, just kind of garner the voice inflections and the moments that I was experiencing, you know, reflecting back in those very moments. And so I appreciate you supporting in that regard.
And great question. And, you know, you know, the old expression comes to mind as hindsight is 20 20, right? So so they say anyway, but all that to say there are what I guess how I would how I would define, I would call defining moments. Randy is how I would, I guess, phrase it in answering your question, defining moments, things that happen in our life that can lead up to a moment. An encounter like I had 17 October 1993, which you are correct, was about 11 months after I left pro wrestling that I came to the saving grace and knowledge. I had the knowledge. I just didn't have the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was on that day that I opened up my heart and surrendered my life to him and turned it over. And boy, who life has just never been the same since it's been an absolute whirlwind of a journey. But all that to say, looking back, yeah, I actually even kind of chuckle, Randy, when I think about it, because I think I'll just highlight a couple of my go back to my high school days and Greg Sutton. It's kind of funny how certain names you remember. But Greg Sutton was was the captain. I was a sophomore. I was one of only three sophomores to address. And I actually played on the varsity as a sophomore. And Greg Sutton was the senior. He was the captain, but he had these these FCA meetings once a week at his house. And I'm like, oh, FCA. You know, and so I learned I learned that meant fellowship of Christian athletes. I'm like, well, I'm an athlete and I want a fellowship. And but the motives, the motives, Randy, I didn't go to learn about Jesus.
I went because I went I went because I thought if I show up in his meetings, maybe I'll put a good word in with the head coach and coach and I'll get more play time with the varsity. Right. Talk about wrong motives. Oh, my gosh. I think back on it now. And I laugh at myself.
I can imagine God laughing. Right. But so so that would have been a defining moment, you know. But I'm sitting through these FCA meetings, you know, week in and week out with with the football captain, Greg Sutton.
So that's one thing that that that comes to mind. I fast forward to my college days. I end up going to a Bible college out of high school, a junior college.
But as I tell people, it wasn't to again, it wasn't to learn about Jesus or grow a relationship with Jesus. I went because I knew four out of the five coaches, they were all from Robinsdale, Robinsdale, Minnesota. And I knew them all some better than others.
But but all that to say they were the number one football team rated in the nation that year in junior college football. And so I went for that reason. And yes, I had to. It was mandatory to take a Bible class every quarter. And honestly, Randy, I tried my best to sleep through every class like for like for.
I can remember I had my ball cap on my baseball cap and I'd have my hand. I don't I don't know how the I'm sure the professor probably did know I was trying to sleep. But anyway. But the point being, I had to sit through all those Bible classes.
Right. And so and then I go on to a four year school and Mickey Buesen, the fullback. I mean, he was as straight laced as you could get in. And everyone knew, you know, he was a Jesus lover, you know, and we didn't necessarily poke fun at that, but we just knew he was right. And and and so I remember Mickey, you know, and just how he lived his life back in those college days. And and so little by little by little, I can look at incidences like that.
Little things like that where where you might say that maybe the Lord was nudging me along, or at least I was put in a setting where, you know, where where the the word that it was being sown, the seed was being sown into my life, all leading up to that that decision on the 17th of October, 1993. So that's just a few highlights. There's there's more there's there's a few more.
But I'll just I'll just stop right there so you can get so we can get a couple more your questions in. So that's awesome. You know, John Wesley would call that proving your grace, that grace that comes before. Yes, that's good.
That's good. So that when you were wrestling, I mean, your book really makes it clear what the culture was like. And, you know, the camaraderie was certainly there. But was there was there any during the time that you were wrestling?
Did you did you have any I know there were good people, but did you have any I just I'm just curious as to whether or not there was a culture or any believers that really stood out or were bold enough in that kind of environment to to to reach out to you in any sort of way. Yeah, another another great question. And so the short answer short answer.
Yes. One, there was one and old timer still around bit of all the wrestling for 50 plus years. Name's George South still wrestles as number one. Mr. Number one, George South. He was an undercut what we called an undercard. OK, so he wasn't you know, it was a main event, but he was a great, great hand.
I mean, a great worker. And you always knew when George was on on the card or in the building because he left these. What I come to know now is as tracks. Right. The plan of salvation track that little pamphlet. You know, we see these pamphlets in the bathroom stall or whatever, like George is here again, you know, kind of thing.
Right. So so that was his form of witnessing, you know, so he wasn't in your face about it. He wasn't, you know, wasn't standing out on on, you know, on the soapbox with his Bible in the dressing room, you know, and preaching the gospel to us. But, you know, he just lived his own clean life. And his way of evangelizing was was to leave those tracks laying around everywhere, hoping, you know, one of us would pick it up and read it and give our life to Jesus. And so here here again. Yeah. So that would be another another part of my my journey to to the foot of the cross, you know, that would be that memory of George South leaving those tracks laying around. But that but that was yet like there was nobody else that I knew of at all that had any conversations about about Jesus.
And if his name came up, you use your imagination. It was probably not in a good light, you know, or or used in a sentence in a good way. Let me just say that. Right.
So well, I was in the Navy and there's a reason they say cuss like a sailor. So I write right. Exactly.
Okay. So one last question. You if I am forgive me if I if I got this wrong, but if I remember right from the book Uncle Ivan, Ivan Koloff, you had the opportunity to before he passed to share the Lord with him. And that is that correct? And what was that like? So how what happened was so I give my life to Jesus, right?
October 93. And, you know, and I'm just anyone who knows me or knows if you ever read my story, buy the book or listen to my download it and listen to the story, you're going to find that I'm an all in guy. Like, I don't know any any other way to be like, I mean, when I picked up a bodybuilder bodybuilding magazine, I was all in, you know, and 53 years later, I'm still lifting weights five days a week or in the gym five days a week. Right. I'm an all in guy. When I started playing football, you know, I lived, eat and breathe. I knew the playbook inside out, upside down in my sleep.
Right. But I'm an all in guy. When I got into wrestling, I'm like, I'm going to be a world champion. I'm not just going to be a wrestler.
I'm going to be a world champion. I'm an all in guy. So I had to give my life to Christ. I'm an all in guy. That's just all I know. I'm not going to sit on my blessed assurance and warm up pews Sunday, you know, for for an hour.
Right. I'm going to get engaged and get involved. And so all that to say, Lord had put it on my heart. I'd met this evangelist from South Africa and he was doing revivals around the Carolinas. And he was doing revivals in Concord, the town that I gave my life to Christ in. And so Lord just put it on my heart to invite Ivan.
And so I'm like, all right. So I made a phone call and just basically, you know, just a very soft invitation. Ivan met this guy from South Africa, an incredible speaker. He's speaking at this church all week long in Concord, North Carolina.
Here's the address. Man, I'd love for you to come and be my guest. Love for you to meet him. I think you'd really enjoy him. You know, something to that nature, right?
Just very, very soft. And, you know, he called me Nicky. He always called me Nicky. He said, I'll come one night, Nicky.
I'll come. And I'm like, awesome. Cool. You know, so boom. That was on a Monday. Fast forward to Wednesday night, places packed out and it came time for the what we call an invitation. Right. For salvation. Right. An altar call, some might call it. And I went up the aisle. I was at this point, I'm helping out the evangelist. I'm like his Jonathan. Right. And so I'm helping this 80 something year old man who's coming to the altar to give his life to Christ for the first time.
80 something years old. And when I turn the corner, Randy, there's Ivan standing at the altar. I'm like, wait, what the heck? I didn't even know he was there. You know, there are no cell phones in those days. I didn't even know he was there. And he got there late.
He sat at the very back. But but he the Holy Spirit wooed him to the altar that night. He had a a divine encounter with Jesus at that altar that night. And anyone who knew him after that, you know, part of his story was and he wasn't ashamed to tell it. You know, but he's got, you know, he was bold and sharing his testimony. God delivered him that night at that altar when he surrendered his heart. God delivered him from alcohol, from drug addiction, from tobacco addiction. Like he used to love to chew, put a pinch between his cheek and gum. And as they say, he was he was he and speaking of cussing, I personally anyway, never heard another cuss word come out of his mouth. That was in nineteen ninety five.
And and so just want one small way. I've had opportunities to, you know, be the witness to other wrestlers. And from that point on, anywhere and everywhere I've been went and he did a lot of autograph signings and shows and stuff. He'd have his Bible sitting on his table next to his eight by 10 pictures. And he wouldn't say anything until somebody asked him about it. And the minute they ask him, oh, you got a Bible.
Then he'd start. He'd go into his story and he'd start telling a story. And he went on to become an ordained minister, married a bunch of people. And then his wife, Renee, had asked me if she had a very small private graveside service for him and asked if if I would be the main, you know, main speaker at at his service. And of course, was honored to do that. And and I'll just say this.
Lastly, I'll just say this. He's no longer suffering. I just want people to know, you know, if I've heard wrestling's fake once, I've heard a gazillion times. I want to tell you, the last five or so years of that man's life, it'd take him an hour to get out of bed and get functioning just because of how beat up his body was from all those years in the wrestling ring. Never complained, though.
Never complained, man. Just traveled around and shared his shared his testimony, his story. Just wanted to see everybody come to Jesus and get to know him in a personal way. And that was one of a number of stories of wrestlers. I've had a small part, a small role in in in their walk with Christ.
You know, I am always amazed, but no longer surprised at God's glory. Well, he is good and and and I appreciate you appreciate your heart for for those who are suffering with with kidney issues and and your willingness to donate one of yours, Randy, and to work on this project. End the weight. Go to endtheweight.net to learn more. Sign up for their newsletter. Buy something from the store.
Pray, at very least, pray so financially and into the movie. Be a part of of potentially saving one hundred thousand lives through kidney donation. Endtheweight.net. Pastor Randy Simpkins, Old Camp Church, Carrollton, Georgia. Thank you, Randy, for being on the show today. Thank you so much for having me. And thank all of you week in, week out. You're so faithful to tune in and go over, listen to the Man Up show and get even more of Randy's story over at the Man Up show.
And you go out today and just live a God filled and 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 Q&A with Koloff, would you help us spread the word? Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your neighbors to download, subscribe and leave a comment. Hi, Nikita Koloff. Be sure to check out the Man Up show now available on television, broadcast and podcast. Go to MorningStarTV.com or the Truth Radio Network. Check out your local listings or better yet, download the Truth Network app today. Nikita Koloff here.
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