|
|
 |
Monday
March 15, 2010 Since 1922 |
Team Impact brings crowd to its feet
By Barrett Goldsmith
Baytown Sun Published June 25, 2007 Members of Team Impact have performed mind-boggling feats of strength at coliseums and sports arenas around the world, in front of crowds as big 175,000.
But it’s hard to imagine the excitement reaching a higher pitch than it did with about 200 people at First Assembly of God in Highlands on Sunday night, as Crosby resident Keenan Smith and a pair of teammates blew the lid off the church with might and a message — salvation through Jesus Christ.
Team Impact has gained international fame for its combination of brute strength and Christian ministry. On Sunday, Highlands treated Smith and his fellows like rock stars. The team ran up the aisle to a pounding Christian rock beat, with children holding glowing tubes and wearing Team Impact T-shirts, and adults screaming and whooping.
The show started with a bang, or more accurately a blast, as the team members smashed six concrete slabs placed atop cinder blocks. Smith used only his elbows to bring the pile crumbling to the floor of the stage.
Smith tore a hefty phone book in half as though it were merely a few sheets of loose leaf, and snapped a regulation wooden baseball bat in two pieces, which he held together in the shape of a cross. Matt Warner bent a steel rod in half, then twisted around like a pretzel with his bare hands. Earlier, Smith had used the rod to lift two teenage boys in the air and spin them around as they held onto either end.
But the show was just getting started. Smith completed perhaps the most dangerous task of the night when he blew up a hot water bottle like a balloon, huffing and puffing until the bottle exploded.
“If you have a little hiccup or a lose your breath for a moment, that air could rush back into your lungs, and you’d be in big trouble,” Smith said.
Another team member, in a feat he had never attempted, picked up a huge log weighing more than 300 pounds, first lifting it up to his waist, then curling it to his chest before lifting it into the air above his head.
More than just logs were lifted Sunday night, however. Warner told the story of a youth off the path of God, who lead a lifestyle filled with sin. But one night, after a night of partying, Warner saw himself at the wrong end of a gun. He found a church in Oklahoma, and dedicated his life to Christ.
“I got out of the darkness and began to walk the path of the light,” Warner said. “When God comes into your heart, he throws your sins away, he throws them into the bottom of the ocean.”
Smith told a similar story of a family and a life in turmoil. His father was an alcoholic, but one night after a bout of drinking, he turned to his friends and said “I’m going to church.” He never took another drink in his life. Smith told the story of his father in the hospital. He took his father’s hand, and the two prayed. Then his father closed his eyes, took a breath, and left the world.
“But I know I’ll see him again in that place called Heaven,” Smith said. “You don’t have to walk around with that ball and chain of sin dragging your life. My God is more than able to set you free.”
Smith earned some good laughs telling the tell of shadowing his pastor in a small town in Illinois, until he began paying a little too much attention to the pastor’s daughter, Lorei.
“I showed him – I married her,” Smith said. “We’ve been married for 26 years,”Smith said.
Team Impact, through its ministry, brought more than 50,000 people to Christianity last year. He said the team converted 17,000 during five days in Africa, and 7,500 in the Amazon River valley. The group plans to visit between 750 and 1,000 public schools in the coming year.
The group doesn’t charge for any of its shows, but it relies heavily on donations for its ministry. Team Impact also shells its official shirts and an impressive DVD showing part of its show. To donate or purchase merchandise, visit www.team-impact.com.
Baytown Sun Published June 25, 2007 Members of Team Impact have performed mind-boggling feats of strength at coliseums and sports arenas around the world, in front of crowds as big 175,000.
But it’s hard to imagine the excitement reaching a higher pitch than it did with about 200 people at First Assembly of God in Highlands on Sunday night, as Crosby resident Keenan Smith and a pair of teammates blew the lid off the church with might and a message — salvation through Jesus Christ.
Team Impact has gained international fame for its combination of brute strength and Christian ministry. On Sunday, Highlands treated Smith and his fellows like rock stars. The team ran up the aisle to a pounding Christian rock beat, with children holding glowing tubes and wearing Team Impact T-shirts, and adults screaming and whooping.
The show started with a bang, or more accurately a blast, as the team members smashed six concrete slabs placed atop cinder blocks. Smith used only his elbows to bring the pile crumbling to the floor of the stage.
Smith tore a hefty phone book in half as though it were merely a few sheets of loose leaf, and snapped a regulation wooden baseball bat in two pieces, which he held together in the shape of a cross. Matt Warner bent a steel rod in half, then twisted around like a pretzel with his bare hands. Earlier, Smith had used the rod to lift two teenage boys in the air and spin them around as they held onto either end.
But the show was just getting started. Smith completed perhaps the most dangerous task of the night when he blew up a hot water bottle like a balloon, huffing and puffing until the bottle exploded.
“If you have a little hiccup or a lose your breath for a moment, that air could rush back into your lungs, and you’d be in big trouble,” Smith said.
Another team member, in a feat he had never attempted, picked up a huge log weighing more than 300 pounds, first lifting it up to his waist, then curling it to his chest before lifting it into the air above his head.
More than just logs were lifted Sunday night, however. Warner told the story of a youth off the path of God, who lead a lifestyle filled with sin. But one night, after a night of partying, Warner saw himself at the wrong end of a gun. He found a church in Oklahoma, and dedicated his life to Christ.
“I got out of the darkness and began to walk the path of the light,” Warner said. “When God comes into your heart, he throws your sins away, he throws them into the bottom of the ocean.”
Smith told a similar story of a family and a life in turmoil. His father was an alcoholic, but one night after a bout of drinking, he turned to his friends and said “I’m going to church.” He never took another drink in his life. Smith told the story of his father in the hospital. He took his father’s hand, and the two prayed. Then his father closed his eyes, took a breath, and left the world.
“But I know I’ll see him again in that place called Heaven,” Smith said. “You don’t have to walk around with that ball and chain of sin dragging your life. My God is more than able to set you free.”
Smith earned some good laughs telling the tell of shadowing his pastor in a small town in Illinois, until he began paying a little too much attention to the pastor’s daughter, Lorei.
“I showed him – I married her,” Smith said. “We’ve been married for 26 years,”Smith said.
Team Impact, through its ministry, brought more than 50,000 people to Christianity last year. He said the team converted 17,000 during five days in Africa, and 7,500 in the Amazon River valley. The group plans to visit between 750 and 1,000 public schools in the coming year.
The group doesn’t charge for any of its shows, but it relies heavily on donations for its ministry. Team Impact also shells its official shirts and an impressive DVD showing part of its show. To donate or purchase merchandise, visit www.team-impact.com.