Fight Pastor
Encyclopedia
Fight Pastor is a Christian
ministry
organization led by Pastor Brandon Beals of Canyon Creek Church in Mill Creek, Washington
. The ministry is based around the mixed martial arts
(MMA) community, and is focused on a wide range of activities including chaplaincy and MMA news from a Christian perspective. Fight Pastor is the first organization of its kind, and has caused significant controversy in both the media and in the Christian community.
on the Canyon Creek Church website. Beals is an avid MMA
fan and decided to start a separate MMA blog at FightPastor.com.
Beals was interviewed at UFC 100
by the Las Vegas Review-Journal
and soon after Yahoo Sports due to the uniqueness of a Pastor being this knowledgeable about MMA. Shortly thereafter, various media outlets took notice and began to cover what both the Christian community and MMA community would see as a controversial concept.
Fight Pastor became nationally known when a reporter for The New York Times
stumbled upon Beals' blog and featured it in an article which appeared on the front page.
As the attention for Fight Pastor grew, Beals saw an opportunity to found a ministry to the MMA community at large.
The ministry of Fight Pastor has been featured on NBC affiliates in Seattle, WA, Montgomery, AL, Fort Meyers, FL and Augusta, GA as well as international television stations Canal+
and ARD
. The Fight Pastor has also been featured in many newspapers nationally from The Herald
(Everett, Washington
) to Seattle Post-Intelligencer
. The May 2011 issue of Ultimate MMA Magazine features an article called "Religious Firestorm" that discusses the Christian faith in mixed martial arts, and Beals' ministry to provide spiritual direction to fighters.
and Demico Rogers who were competitors on the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter
.
In 2010 The Fight Pastor began sponsoring and chaplaining Joe Brammer
who fought Aaron Riley
at UFC 114
. Fight Pastor also chaplains Jeremy Stephens
and Otto Olson.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
organization led by Pastor Brandon Beals of Canyon Creek Church in Mill Creek, Washington
Mill Creek, Washington
Mill Creek is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is located approximately 20 miles north-northeast of downtown Seattle and is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The 2010 census population as of 18,244...
. The ministry is based around the mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
(MMA) community, and is focused on a wide range of activities including chaplaincy and MMA news from a Christian perspective. Fight Pastor is the first organization of its kind, and has caused significant controversy in both the media and in the Christian community.
History
Fight Pastor was started by Beals in 2009 as a blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
on the Canyon Creek Church website. Beals is an avid MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fan and decided to start a separate MMA blog at FightPastor.com.
Beals was interviewed at UFC 100
UFC 100
UFC 100 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
by the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada, and one of two daily newspapers in Las Vegas . It is the flagship publication of Stephens Media LLC...
and soon after Yahoo Sports due to the uniqueness of a Pastor being this knowledgeable about MMA. Shortly thereafter, various media outlets took notice and began to cover what both the Christian community and MMA community would see as a controversial concept.
Fight Pastor became nationally known when a reporter for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
stumbled upon Beals' blog and featured it in an article which appeared on the front page.
As the attention for Fight Pastor grew, Beals saw an opportunity to found a ministry to the MMA community at large.
Ministry Focus
The main focus of the Fight Pastor ministry outlined as:- To be an ambassador for ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
to the MMA community, and, - to be an ambassador for MMA to the Christian culture.
The ministry of Fight Pastor has been featured on NBC affiliates in Seattle, WA, Montgomery, AL, Fort Meyers, FL and Augusta, GA as well as international television stations Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
and ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
. The Fight Pastor has also been featured in many newspapers nationally from The Herald
The Herald (Everett)
The Herald is a newspaper based in Everett, Washington. It is owned by The Washington Post Company. The paper serves as a major news source for residents of Snohomish County.-History:...
(Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
) to Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
. The May 2011 issue of Ultimate MMA Magazine features an article called "Religious Firestorm" that discusses the Christian faith in mixed martial arts, and Beals' ministry to provide spiritual direction to fighters.
Chaplaincy and Fighter Sponsorship
Another purpose of Fight Pastor is to provide a chaplain presence in the MMA community, as well as sponsor fighters. Currently, Fight Pastor sponsors Justin WrenJustin Wren
Justin Christopher Wren is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Amateur wrestling career:...
and Demico Rogers who were competitors on the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
.
In 2010 The Fight Pastor began sponsoring and chaplaining Joe Brammer
Joe Brammer
Joseph Brammer is an American mixed martial artist.-MMA career:He is currently 7-3-1 as a professional and was previously signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championships . He is an accomplished grappler, with five of his wins coming by submission...
who fought Aaron Riley
Aaron Riley
Aaron Matthew Riley is an American mixed martial arts fighter who currently teaches MMA at Warrior Gym in Alexandria, Virginia. He competes in the Lightweight Division.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:...
at UFC 114
UFC 114
UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 29, 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The UFC Fan Expo took place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center....
. Fight Pastor also chaplains Jeremy Stephens
Jeremy Stephens
Jeremy Dean Stephens is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter from Des Moines, Iowa. Stephens is currently signed under the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion, fighting in their lightweight division....
and Otto Olson.