PASTOR'S CORNER

Information

Brandon Beals is the pastor of Canyon Creek Church in Mill Creek, WA (www.canyoncreekonline.com). He is an avid MMA fan & will blog for AFM frequently on MMA. His church sponsors UFC fight nights and trips to events.

Website: http://www.canyoncreekonline.com
Members: 3
Latest Activity: Aug. 5, 2009

'Fight Pastor' still an MMA fan, even after Lesnar's antics - By Steve Cofield - Yahoo Sports

Before UFC 100, we told you about the unique man of the cloth in Lynnwood, Wash., Pastor Brandon (far right in photo above). He's a huge MMA fan, who attended UFC 100. His church, Canyon Creek, also threw a big UFC 100 viewing party. The turnout was great:

The week peaked on July 11 which was the UFC 100 Fight Night at the church. We had about 80 guys who came to watch the fights at the church. The cool part was about 20 guys from the community came because they read the Yahoo! Sports article and were looking for a "clean" environment to watch the fights. (See, a cool ministry is evolving!) That night the fights were entertaining, the crowd was energized, and everyone left having a blast.

The Pastor also got his pick fix on for UFC 100. He didn't perform too badly going 4-4, missing on the Georges St. Pierre-Thiago Alves and Dan Henderson-Michael Bisping fights. Now we know some people had a conniption over Brock Lesnar's behavior, how did that fly in a house of God?

I like Brock Lesnar but was personally embarrassed by his tirade at the end of his fight. I felt it was completely classless and way too WWE for my taste. I did appreciate Dana White's rabid response against Lesnar's actions and the follow-up Lesnar apology. For all the Dana White opponents out there, you have to admit he is trying everything he can to keep MMA an honorable main stream sport. Great Job Dana!

I can only imagine the gasp in the church when Lesnar said "he might even get on top of his wife" to celebrate the win.

Pastor Brandon is back for UFC 101 and he's gone big time with his own site FightPastor.com. He's got his picks for Philly and a slew of pictures up on the new site. Amongst his winners, he's picking Ricardo Almeida (pictured w/the Pastor):

Grove won Season Three of TUF but has a suspect chin. Almeida is a grappling ace who has only had mediocre success in the octagon. Both of these guys need a win to have any long term future in the UFC. Though I like Kendall Grove, a lot his losses were total destructions, especially his first round TKO loss to Patrick Cote. Almeida also lost to Cote but by a close split decision. I just don't think Grove has the toughness to beat Almeida. I think Almeida wins by decision in a fairly unentertaining 3 round fight.

Come on, Pastor, pick with your head, not your heart! Pastor Brandon also likes Amir Sadollah, Anderson Silva and Kenny Florian. KenFlo? Uh oh, the Pastor is also pictured with Florian. These picks are starting to look shaky.

Discussion Forum

UFC 100 Memories

Started by ANOINTED FIGHTER Magazine Jul. 20, 2009.

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of PASTOR'S CORNER to add comments!

Comment by ANOINTED FIGHTER Magazine on August 5, 2009 at 10:56am: It's so natural to be afraid during the good fight inside the cage of life even though the Bible tells us over 300 times "be not afraid." The following gets to the heart of why Anointed Fighters can fight fearlessly.

He placed his right hand on me as I sit in the corner following a tough first round filled with adversity elbows and despair kicks and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Revelation 1:17-18

An Anointed Fighters Courage Prayer:

Lord Jesus, how timely, powerful and encouraging to know that the most repeated command throughout the whole Bible to Anointed Fighters during the good fight is "Do not be afraid". The angels spoke these words to startled shepherds at your birth, and you repeated the command to a devastated Mary on the morning of your championship resurrection, and now you speak these powerful words to my heart and conscience in between rounds of the toughest fight of my life, "Do not be afraid!"

Because you are the First and the Last, Jesus, I don't have to be afraid of the enemy's punches and kicks in the rounds between. You are God, and I am not. You are in control of every round of my fight. You never "try" to do anything. You are never hit with the punch of confusion. You never have to resort to plan B. You are perfectly executing the kicks of your sovereign will, from naming the stars to numbering my hairs. Praise God through Christ!

Because you are the Eternal Champion the Living One, who was dead and who is now alive forever, I don't have to be afraid of the fight on judgment Day or this day. For your death on the cross is my judgment Day and your resurrection from the dead is my Eternal Championship. Constantly before me are the champion words "There is now and forevermore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ!" Not only is there no condemnation, there is only fullness of Joy forever!

Because you hold the championship keys of death and Hades, Jesus, and to everything else, I don't have to be afraid to die, or to live. You have knocked out the grave, you have removed the sting of death's punches, and you have tapped out the devil and all the powers of darkness! I don't have to be afraid of fighters. I don't have to be afraid of failing during the fight.

Lord in the name of Jesus Christ, please raise my right hand in Christ today in the gospel, that I might knockout my fears and live more fully as a champion Anointed Fighter to the praise of your glorious Name. Amen and Amen forever!

Comment by Brandon Beals on August 4, 2009 at 9:17pm: Article written about me and my church on Yahoo Sports. Check it out.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/-Fight-Pastor-still-an-MMA-fan-even-after-Lesn?urn=mma,180652