In God's Grip

Carl Dambman

Description

An Olympic wrestler and his wife leave America to help pioneer international sports ministry behind the Iron Curtain, sharing the Gospel with thousands.

“Olympian Carl and the Athletes in Action wrestling team helped change the world through competitive events and the Gospel!”

—Josh D. McDowell, Author

“In God’s Grip is the thrilling account of a quiet, gentle giant who, like Jacob, wrestled with God. And they both won.”

—George Toles, Former NBA Stadium Announcer.

“In God’s Grip shares the true story of Christian wrestlers bringing the Good News into countries behind the Iron Curtain.”

—Tony Dungy, Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach

In 1979, four U.S. wrestlers stood with their families in the dark shadows of the Iron Curtain, lifting their eyes to the east and seeing a vast field of harvest. In God’s Grip presents the story of how God led this group of Christian athletes, committed to the mission fields in once-forbidden lands, and how the sports ministries they helped to pioneer grew into a global network. You will also read of Carl’s personal growth, as he shares his struggles in this riveting account of a new movement in church history—the use of sports for full-time mission work on a worldwide scale.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Missions
• Christian Living
• Personal Growth
• Sports
• Philosophie et théologie
• Iron Curtain
• Soviet Union
• Christianity
• Union des républiques socialistes soviétiques
• Sport

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 07 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664273375
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

IN GOD’S GRIP
 
CARL DAMBMAN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2022 Carl Dambman.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
 
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
 
Scripture marked (KJV) taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7335-1 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7336-8 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7337-5 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022913700
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 9/1/2022
RECOMMENDATIONS
“As a football coach, I have had tremendous respect for wrestlers since I was a student at the University of Minnesota. My close friend, Tom Lamphere, longtime chaplain for the Vikings, was part of a pioneering team of Christian wrestlers who used their athletic skills as a bridge for ministry into countries behind the Iron Curtain. In God’s Grip shares the true story of that team, and of others, who joined in bringing the Good News to people in the former Soviet Bloc during the hard days of communist rule.” – Tony Dungy , Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach, NBC sports analyst, and New York Times best-selling author.
“While Jacob in the Bible wrestled with God, Carl Dambman wrestled for God!! Olympian Carl and the Athletes in Action wrestling team helped change the world through competitive events and the Gospel! In God’s Grip tells the story of how Carl’s team used sports as a platform for worldwide evangelism, especially in Communist countries.” – Josh D. McDowell , Author.
“As a two-time Super Bowl Champion, I had tremendous opportunity for sharing my faith with sports fans and encouraging other athletes. I have personally witnessed how sports ministry provides an avenue into the hearts of adults and children all over the world. I met Carl Dambman at the 1988 Olympics in Korea, and we began a friendship that has lasted more than three decades. Carl is a pioneer of global sports ministry, who uses his platform as a world class wrestler to proclaim his faith, and to help others find and grow in theirs. Having seen Carl’s influence on young athletes in Russia and other parts of the world, I heartily commend to you In God’s Grip for its inspiration as a true story of God’s power working through athletes to spread the Gospel.” – Norm Evans , former president of Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO), and all-pro offensive lineman.
“In 1972, in a media-hyped Summit Series between Canada and the Soviets in Moscow, I scored the series-winning goal with 34 seconds left to play. That moment was later voted by the Canadian Press as “the sports moment of the century”. Twenty years later, I was invited to speak on a sports-ministry tour organized by AIA in Moscow, with Carl Dambman as the team leader. In that city where my team had won a prize that perishes, I was able to speak to athletes and others of a much greater prize that never perishes. Since that time, I have continued to witness the high-impact results of sports ministry. I commend to you In God’s Grip , which tells not only the exciting story of sports missionaries, but also provides wisdom for how athletes can better negotiate the pressures of championship level sports.” – Paul Henderson , Former NHL and Team Canada hockey player.
“Since I began working with the NBA in 1965, I have seen the Gospel blanket the world of sport. Carl Dambman is one of the earliest pioneers of this initiative, leveraging his platform as a heavyweight Olympic wrestler to mentor and disciple many athletes in Russia and other nations. In God’s Grip is the thrilling account of a quiet, gentle giant who, like Jacob, wrestled with God. And they both won.” – George Toles , Former NBA Stadium Announcer for the Detroit Pistons and Seattle Supersonics, and Founder of His Deal .
“Carl Dambman has been a faithful pioneer of sports ministry outreach, and an inspiration to all who have ever met him. In God’s Grip is a window into how the Lord has empowered Carl and others to use sports as a way to reach many for Jesus in lands once considered “closed”. Reading this book will bring you into the actual history of men and women whose continual Gospel efforts have been blessed by God to enhance and expand the Church. Thank you, Carl, for your faithfulness in the missionary work the Lord has called you to.” – Dr. Greg Linville , Doctorate of Ministry, Director at Church Sports & Recreation Ministry.
“Carl Dambman is a big man with a big heart. God has used his friendly and outgoing nature to open people’s hearts to the Gospel in some of the most difficult places in the world.” – Greg Hicks , Author of In His Grip , Pan American Wrestling Champion, Two time World Championship USA team member, Radio Host and businessman.
“I met and roomed with Carl at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan, and I am familiar with the history of God’s faithfulness toward him and his wife, Noreen, as they ventured by faith into parts of the world where most of us would not choose to go. God has caused His light to shine upon and through them for the increase of the Gospel among many. I am excited about this book, which details their journeys and how Christ has shepherded them through it all.” – Mike Buchanan , AIA staff member since 1990 and author of More Than That .
“ In God’s Grip relates the true story of brave men and women who took up the challenge of sharing their faith in distant lands. In reading these stories, you will walk with the Dambmans and others through times of joy, difficulty, tragedy, and humor. You will read about unique experiences of God’s power working to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through faithful servants across language barriers, cultural and governmental resistance, and through endless days of training, travel, competition, and bearing witness. In 1967, I was the first wrestler to join the newly forming Athletes in Action, and more than a half-century later, I rejoice to look back over what God has done through the faith and sacrifice of AIA missionaries such as Carl and Noreen Dambman.” – John Klein , first AIA wrestler, and staff member since 1967, also a current member of the Global Events Team.
“Having served in Eurasian sports ministry in recent years, my colleagues and I are aware that we stand on the shoulders of ministry pioneers like Carl and his teammates. Having counted the costs, they followed the calling of the Lord Jesus and blazed a trail for the Gospel behind the Iron Curtain. If there are modern-day apostles, Carl Dambman and his pioneering teammates have been exactly that to the sports-ministry world of Eurasia.” – Roger D. Lipe , Fellowship of Christian Athletes Staff for twenty-five years, author, and trainer in character coaching.
“Carl’s reputation in ministry through sport is legendary across the former Soviet Union. When he and I began our ministry in Russia in the early 1990s, there was no manual of strategies on how to bring the Gospel to Russians using sport. We knocked on a lot of doors, prayed about where God was leading us, and through sport brought the Gospel into schools, prisons, sport clubs and orphanages. During Soviet times, most evangelical churches considered taking part in sport to be a sin. By consistently working in partnership with churches across Russia, we helped their leaders understand that sport was not only not sinful, but could be used to reach men and youth.” – Steve Barrett , 1977 NCAA wrestling champion at Oklahoma State University, and Carl’s 20-year ministry partner in the former Soviet Bloc.
“Carl Dambman is the grandfather of sports ministry in the regions of the former Soviet Union. So many people in those areas believed that Christianity was for weak and uneducated people, and many in the churches believed that sport was sinful. God used Athletes in Action to change people’s thinking on both of those points, and to combine sport and faith for an explosive outreach of evangelism and discipleship.” – Tom Merchant , staff member with Missionary Athletes International, and a partner in Eurasian sports ministry since 1991.
“Carl and his AIA Teammates have been an important part of USA Wrestling since the 1970s. They pioneered sports ministry in the Soviet Bloc, as well as many times helping serve the USA teams competing in Europe and beyond. In God’s Grip shares how the Total Athlete provides a strong spiritual foundation for sport and life.” – Rich Bender , Executive Director, USA Wrestling, USA Olympic Committee.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my parents, Walt and J