The Field is ripe for the harvest!

I "Rob" just got home from Iowa. I had the opportunity to talk with people about AIA Wrestling & our ministry with them! I had so many great conversations & God orchestrated experiences during my time there, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to share them with you!

I recently read an article where Iowa wrestler, Matt McDonough, talks about the wrestling culture in the state of Iowa. He says, “If you grow up in Iowa, you almost certainly know at least something about wrestling. !similar to" how you don't need to have farmed to be familiar with the crop cycles. Wrestling is just part of life around you.”    So as you can probably guess, I was eager to meet with coaches, wrestlers, & anyone who wanted to talk wrestling! What I didn’t know was how God would amaze me with all He had planned.

The University of Iowa is the county’s most storied program. The Iowa Hawkeyes, under Dan Gable’s tenure as coach, won an unprecedented 21 straight Big 10 titles and 15 out of 21 NCAA titles including 9 straight. One surprise God had for me was a ticket to Coach Gable’s retirement banquet !and to think I would have totally missed it had I gone the week earlier, as planned". The opening prayer was lead by former Hawkeye Brooks Simpson now a pastor in the Iowa City Area. I was once again reminded of the amazing number of wrestlers who have a relationship with Jesus & how God is at work in & through wrestling!

While in Iowa, I was also able to take in two practices at UI. The first day Head Coach Tom Brands started the practice telling the wrestlers about a famous old “best seller” !Bible" that he had been reading that day. He included a few of the lessons that he had been
learning from reading it. The second workout I was able to watch, he gathered his wrestlers around him before practice and asked if anyone knew what the “best seller” he was referring to was. One wrestler responded that it sounded like the Bible. “You’re Right!” Coach Brands said. He went on to explain how the Bible talks about “if you have faith as small as mustard seed you can move mountains! Now lets go have a dang good practice!”

After practice, I asked him if I could talk to a few wrestlers and he said, “Talk to all of them if you’d like!” What an open door! I went to dinner with Ryan Morningstar and his girlfriend Sarah. Ryan is currently ranked 4th on the USA Olympic Ladder. In 2010 he helped lead Iowa to the NCAA title. That year he su#ered a devastating knee injury & amazed many by wrestling on a torn MCL and PCL, finishing 7th in the country. Ryan didn’t let his injuries define him or discourage him. In talking with him, he said he knew his faith would carry him through. Not only his faith in his training but his faith in the Lord. Many people would be bitter about being injured & not being able to finish their career on top, but not Ryan. The next year a teammate of his also severely injured his knee. His teammate was given an 8 month recovery. Ryan saw this as a great chance to invite his teammate to church & Iowa’s AIA Bible study. During this time his teammate committed his life to Christ. His recovery time miraculously was cut in half & he openly gives God the credit!

It is exciting to see the next generation of wrestlers strong in their faith and competing for the Lord! Please pray for Ryan and the others as they compete to represent the United States at the World Championships.

On my way out of Iowa I had the chance to stop by WIN Magazine the ‘Sports Illustrated’ of wrestling, to talk with their editor. I found out he is also a believer! Through this trip God has a!rmed, inspired, encouraged, & energized me!

On coming home I have a renewed excitement for completing our support goal. I am so eager to give my full attention to bringing the Story of Christ to wrestlers & people everywhere! Just as Iowa’s welcome sign said, there are “fields of opportunities,” not only in Iowa, but around the World. The harvest is ripe!