TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Words, Deeds Show Speaker's Strong Faith

Photo courtesy Steve Carrier

Power lifter Steve Carrier will appear at Kings Avenue Baptist Church Friday through Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

BRANDON - He can lift hundreds of pounds, break bricks with his bare hands and tear a telephone book into shreds.

However, Dallas strongman Steve Carrier said it doesn't take muscles to break bad habits such as drugs, violence and bowing to peer pressure. It simply takes faith in God and belief in oneself.

That's the message the evangelist and power lifter will bring to Brandon on Friday through Sunday starting at 7 p.m. each evening, when he demonstrates his feats of strength and talks about strength through God at Kings Avenue Baptist Church, 2602 S. Kings Ave., Brandon.

Carrier said the Mega Force program is geared for the family and intended to motivate anyone, no matter what physical condition.

"I talk about goals and dreams, and I share my story of being crippled as a boy and having to wear braces," Carrier said. "I was the original Forrest Gump. But I was able to overcome my disabilities and went on to play college basketball and become a competitive power lifter."

Through faith and determination, Carrier cast off his braces and learned to walk on his own by age 10.

However, he never took his health for granted, always remembering 1 Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."

For 15 years, Carrier has used his 6-foot-4, 290-pound stature and rippling muscles as a tool for evangelism.

He took second place on an ESPN strength competition championship and appeared on the television shows "Walker, Texas Ranger" and on "Ripley's Believe It Or Not."

The Rev. Chuck Richard of Kings Avenue Baptist met Carrier 10 years ago when he came to the church touring with the Power Team, a group of 40 gospel-inspired musclemen.

Now Carrier is on his own, visiting churches and public and private schools across the country.

His public school talks emphasize leadership and taking responsibility, he said.

"People respond to power," he said. "Young people especially are amazed, and when something interests them, they listen."

Carrier said he will present a different program each night at Kings Avenue Baptist, each of which will include feats of strength.

The programs are free, though donations will be accepted.

For information, contact the church at (813) 685-3095.

POWERFUL MESSAGE

WHAT: Steve Carrier, an evangelist and power lifter, brings his Mega Force program and motivational message.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday

WHERE: Kings Avenue Baptist Church, 2602 S. Kings Ave., Brandon

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT