Rockford Pastor Combines Martial Arts Fighting & Charity for Haiti

ROCKFORD - Clergy members tend to preach, "turn the other cheek" when it comes to fighting, but come next month a Rockford pastor is taking his zeal for mixed martial arts to the ring, all fighting for a good cause.  All of the money he makes during his fight will go to helping those less fortunate in Haiti.

Pastor Tim Ramsden is one of the pastors at Community Bible Church in Rockford.  When he isn't busy with scripture or tending to his congregation you can find him in the wrestling ring.

"I've built great relationships with the fighters," said Ramsden. 

"I'd like to say we're like brothers, but I'm so old compared to them it's more like father-son or in some cases grandfather-son."

The 53 year-old took up the pastime about eight years ago while with his two nephews at a sports club in suburban Chicago.  During the time since the beginning of his infatuation with the sport he's taken up another cause; the cause of helping the helpless in Haiti.

"Just before the earthquake, we had traveled down twice that year, just to see what we could be involved in and decided on somethings," Ramsden said.  "Then the earthquake came and that opened the door."

"Just more needs and more opportunity for us to try and help people who needed help."

His congregation has helped to build homes, establish a school, help ministries administer care to those less fortunate.  Some of his congregants are helping to establish an agriculture program down in Haiti.  They've sent a tractor from Illinois down there to help with that.  Another family is helping to establish a program to help bring malnourished children back to health in the ailing country.

Ramsden decided last year to put both fighting and helping those in need together.  He entered a fight where he was fighting for Haiti and raised nearly $1200 for the cause.

"Mixed martial arts is a fun fight for me," said Ramsden.  "The other part is what the bible calls the 'good fight,' and it's the real fight, it's the big fight and it's about people's lives, sometimes it's about food, sometimes just care during a crisis."

Fighting that good fight makes Ramsden and his congregation feel pretty blessed.

"What we give is nothing compared to what we end up getting and that's the big surprise when you go."

If you want to see Pastor Tim Ramsden take on his competitors while giving to a good cause - the event's called Rumble on Elm Street.  Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and at the BMO Harris box office.  The show's on October 6^th.