Wrestling With God [Paperback]

Chad Bonham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2001

Thanks to a growing and devoted following, professional wrestling is quickly becoming the most popular sports and entertainment attraction in America. More than 20 million U.S. viewers watch professional wrestling every week on national cable networks.<br><br>Professional wrestlers can be found starring in movies and television, writing best-selling books, running for office, and endorsing mainstream products. Wrestling with God tells the stories of ten of these modern day warriors whose lives were dramatically changed by a face-to-face encounter with God - the one and only Master of the Universe. The book features wrestling greats both past and present, including Tatanka, Ted DiBiase (The Million Dollar Man), and Sting.<br><br>The very first book written about Christian professional wrestlers, each story is a stark portrayal of how empty life without God is-and how these men achieved true happiness only after turning their lives over to Him.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chad Bonham has been working in various divisions of the multi-media industry for the past 14 years. From print to the Internet, radio to television, he's done it all in a relatively short period of time. His most recent endeavor was the founding of Catalyst Media Group and the non-profit organization Global Action Media. This action came from his desire to instigate positive change in Christian and mainstream media. Here's a look at Chad's experience in these different fields:

JOURNALISM: Chad began his foray into the world of media while at the University of Tulsa where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1993. At TU, he began his career in print journalism serving on the editorial staff of the Collegian and also writing for the Tulsa Tribune. Since then, he has written hundreds of articles for such publications as CCM, 7 Ball, Release, Profile, Christian Retailing, Charisma, Relevant Magazine and Urban Tulsa. He has also written two cover stories for New Man including a piece on professional wrestler Sting (May/June 2000) and Houston Astros outfielder Lance Berkman (July/August 2003).

AUTHORING: In October 2001, River Oak Publishing released Chad's first book "Wrestling with God." He is co-authoring a second book set to release in June of 2003 through Relevant Publishing. Chad is also currently working on a fiction novel, a series of children's books (with professional wrestler Lash Leroux) and a series of sports devotional books.

TELEVISION: From 1998-99, Chad worked with All-American Syndication as the lead Account Executive for the Dove Award-Winning music video program "24 Seven." Chad was largely responsible for the show's high coverage rate of 250 million potential households. He was also the force behind its creative marketing and planned the show's most memorable on-location shoots in Orlando, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn. Chad is currently producing a nationally-syndicated sports program to begin airing across the United States in June of 2003.

RADIO: In 2001, Chad began an 18-month stint as the program director, music director and on-air personality for Live 101.5 (KMRX-FM), Tulsa's first-ever progressive Christian radio station. The station was ranked fifth among teenagers before a format change in July of 2002. During that time, he was featured twice in "Radio and Records" magazine. Previously, he created and produced Name Brand Radio, a weekly radio program that started in October of 1996 and continued through January of 2001. He was a guest speaker at the annual GMA convention in 2002 and will make a return visit in April 2003. As a college student, Chad spent four semesters as a DJ for the TU campus station.

MUSIC: Chad's early days were shaped by his upbringing in a solid Christian home. His mother was a pastor and evangelist while his father was a recording artist and studio musician. He has been involved with Christian music for the past 23 years. Starting as a drummer at the age of eight, he has also been a singer, published songwriter and member of various worship teams and performance bands. Chad was the executive producer of two recording projects, The Secret Recordings, Volume One, and The Spotniks 2000 CD. He has also lent his drumming skills to multiple projects.

PERSONAL: In 2001, Chad was elected as a lifetime member to the Kingston's National Registry of Who's Who. He resides in Broken Arrow, Okla., with his wife Amy. The two traveled to Nairobi, Kenya in March 2002 with LifeAids International. Chad is currently exploring the creation of a Christian youth radio station in Nairobi. His long-term goal is build an entire network of stations throughout Africa.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589199359
• ISBN-13: 978-1589199354
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,293,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chad Bonham is a full-time journalist, author and broadcast producer. He is currently the coordinating producer for a pair of Brightbulb Entertainment documentaries titled "Life Happens" and "Choosing Life."

Chad has been working in mass media for the past 20 years. Chad's professional journey began at the University of Tulsa where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (1993) while working extensively in athletic media relations and serving as a sports editor for The Collegian.

Since then, he has written extensively for such publications as Relevant, CCM, Christian Retailing, Charisma, Today's Christian, Ministries Today, Breakaway, Brio, Sports Spectrum, Christian Single and Gospel Today. Chad also served as the contributing editor for New Man for three years.

He has authored nine books including Wrestling with God (River Oak) and the co-authored Spiritual Journeys (Relevant) and The Starting Line (Serendipity House). Chad was the general editor for a four-book series that chronicled FCA's core values (Regal Books).

Chad's was the contributing editor for the book Greatest Coach Ever (Regal Books). It is a tribute to legendary UCLA coach John Wooden for his 100th birthday and features 40 chapters with contributors such as Tom Osborne, Joe Girardi, Bobby Bowden, Mike Singletary, David Robinson, Jim Tressel and Sherri Coale.

Chad co-authored devotionals for the second and third editions of the FCA Athletes Bible (Serendipity House) and helped develop and write the 2008, 2009 and 2010 FCA summer camp curriculums. He is also a board member for the FCA Surfing and Skateboarding ministry. Chad is a primary contributor to the FCA Baseball New Testament (IBS) that released in March 2010.

Chad and his wife Amy live in Broken Arrow, Okla., with sons Lance (September 2003) and Cole (February 2008). They are active members at Hope Church where Chad serves as Youth Pastor for R.U.S.H. Student Ministries. Chad is also a drummer and songwriter for the worship team and has over 30 years experience traveling and recording traveled with several music groups.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Decent, July 8, 2004

By 

C. Daniel "momtotwogirlz" (SE Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wrestling With God (Paperback)

This is a good fluff piece for Christians who are not serious wrestling fans. Unfortunatly if you are like me; a Christian who is a serious wrestling fan, it is lacking.

There are numerous mistakes in dates, opponents, matches, locations and other things, that about 10 minutes of research could have resolved. While it is great to focus on these men finding Salvation through our Lord, if you are going to document their career's you could at least make an attempt to be accurate! Also, to write a book on the premise of it being a preaching tool a bit more research should have been done on each wrestler!

The main problem with the inaccuracies is they will cause a hard core wrestling fan to lose interest in the deeper meaning behind the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian Wrestlers, June 15, 2007

By 

Susie Garriott "San Fran" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wrestling With God (Paperback)

This book is an excellent tool to reach the world through sports (wrestling). I met three of the wrestlers recently that were mentioned in this book and talked to them personally and they are so committed to the Lord at all costs. Their humility was so inspiring to the crowd of young and old that surrounded them. These men are a great example of a true Christian.
Susie Garriott
San Anselmo, Ca.