On the True Life episode ‘I’m in a Fight Church,’ a young man named Magdiel tells his story about how he got into boxing. Growing up, his mother thought he was too small to play contact sports like football. So his father got Magdiel into boxing at the age of 6 or 7. Magdiel continued to box off and on during his teenage years and later boxed in the Marine Corps. After the Marines, Magdiel said he was looking for answers. Now, with practicing mixed martial arts, Magdiel says, “I know God has a purpose for me.”
Magdiel’s fight church pastor is Paul Burress who is featured in the 2014 film documentary Fight Church (see trailer below). According to the documentary there are more than 700 Fight Churches in the country including Burress’ Victory Church in Rochester, New York. Not all Christians are for cage fighting. As one Catholic priest says in the film, “Jesus taught us to love one another, and this ain’t love.” True Life airs Thursdays at 10pm on MTV.
