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"Million Dollar Man" Takes Life Story To Church

Posted: May 20th 2010 By: CMBurnham

A crucifix around your neck or a bumper sticker on your car shouldn?t signify that you?re a Christian, but rather your actions should.

It was this message, among others, that former World Wrestling Federation champion Ted DiBiase, also know as the ?Million Dollar Man,? had to impart to congregants during three Sunday church services at Praise Chapel in Kansas City.

DiBiase, who is retired from wrestling but was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in March, is now a full-time evangelist and minister, using the story of his own life to inspire a renewed faith and belief in God. DiBiase said wrestling still had a place in his current profession, but in a more metaphorical way.

?Although I?m not a wrestler in the physical sense of the word anymore, none of you will see me in spandex again ? nevertheless, I want to wrestle with your hearts this morning,? DiBiase said.

A person?s chosen religion isn?t important, DiBiase said. What?s most important is building a strong and everlasting relationship with God.

?I don?t care what denomination of Christianity you are. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and do you understand that he and he alone is your sole source of salvation? That?s what you gotta know,? DiBiase said.

Though he maintained what he described as a ?strong childlike faith in God? growing up, DiBiase said his real hero was his stepfather, professional wrestler ?Iron? Mike DiBiase, who died after a heart attack when DiBiase was 15.

?My whole life changed that day,? DiBiase said, noting shortly after his stepfather?s death his mother moved him and his younger brother to the small town of Wilcox, Ariz. ?What?s going to happen to me? My dad, my inspiration was gone. I watched my mother sink into full-blown alcoholism over night. I heard her say things like, ?I wish I?d died, I wish I were dead. I?ve got nothing to live for anymore.??

DiBiase earned a full college scholarship to play division I football, and he said it was during college that his relationship with Christ began to falter, coming in second to DiBiase?s ?pride? and ?ego? driven by the success he was seeing as a college athlete. DiBiase says it?s not that God doesn?t want people to be successful, but it?s important to always keep the focus on who gave them that success.

?I?m not telling you guys not to be ambitious,? DiBiase said. ?God wants you to be number one. God wants you to take all the gifts and talents that he has given you and use them to the absolute best of your ability. But here?s the difference: To his glory, not yours, there lies the big difference ? God wants you to have the goal, just don?t touch the glory. He gets the credit.?

DiBiase didn?t graduate from college but became a professional wrestler, making a name for himself as the Million Dollar Man. During his wrestling career, DiBiase said he struggled with an addiction to women that would almost cost him his second marriage.

DiBiase eventually retired from wrestling, entering the ministry 10 years ago. During his wrestling career he found fame and fortune, but DiBiase told worshippers Sunday his current job of spreading the word was infinitely more rewarding.

?I?m happier right now doing what I?m doing than I ever was wrestling in front of 80,000 people,? DiBiase said. ?This is real.?

Tags: Ted DiBiase, WWE, Mike DiBiase