The lights dimmed, and the crowd grew louder. Amid the chaos of preparation in the locker room, a small voice said, “Pray for them.” The group huddled together, sharing a prayer for the first time as teammates – and some as first-time professional wrestlers. The prayer ended, and the men took one last look around before climbing into the ring.

Benjamin Goodwin was enthralled with professional wrestling as a child, from the memorabilia lining his walls to the countless matches he watched on TV. But his first love was Jesus and serving him. That passion for Jesus developed into a calling, leading Goodwin to become the pastor at Cramlington Church of the Nazarene in England in 2017. But shortly after accepting the role, he felt a call to revive his childhood dream. Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32, but God called Goodwin to wrestle for him.

Goodwin’s desire to combine his love of wrestling with ministry began years ago while listening to a sermon asking, “Where is your front line?” Later, as he sat in his church office writing a sermon, he audibly heard the question again from God: “Where is your front line?” As a pastor, Goodwin had assumed that his church was his front line. But after several days of feeling uneasy about the question, he realized where his front line needed to be.

When he approached his wife, Sophie, about the decision he felt God was calling him to make, Goodwin was confident that God was calling him to step back from being a full-time pastor to pursue wrestling. Although her initial response was skeptical, they knew it was the right step. Sophie was the one who created a plan to prepare him for this next step.

Soon, Goodwin found a nearby wrestling school and began attending. He quickly gained a reputation due to his vocational calling and became widely known on the wrestling circuit as “Rev”—now his professional wrestling name. Goodwin and his wife received the keys to their first home on the day of his first match, reassuring the couple that this calling was God-given. Goodwin heard God calling him to be brave and courageous during that event and pray for the other wrestlers before the show. He stepped out in faith, asking them to huddle for a prayer, and everyone readily agreed. Two wrestlers approached him after the show for personal prayer that same night. Since then, he has earned a reputation as someone other wrestlers can turn to for prayer or to share their troubles.

Goodwin says his motivation for merging discipleship with wrestling comes from simply wanting to be salt and light for Jesus. He seeks to emulate Jesus by living in a community with those he wants to serve and disciple. Goodwin now helps out the local wrestling circuit as a fitness instructor at his academy. He’s all-in with the wrestling community and wants to prove to fellow wrestlers that he’s committed just like they are to gain their trust and respect.

Recently, Goodwin was appointed as the first United Kingdom ambassador for the Christian outreach group “I am Second,” which partners with coaches and athletes passionate about sharing the gospel.

What started as a young boy collecting wrestling action figures turned into a man with a heart for discipleship and a passion for leading others to Christ.

“God has instilled passions in all of us that He wants to use to build his Kingdom,” Goodwin says. “If we give them into God’s hands, he can use them.”

– article by Emily Zamora