Tommy Sirotnak, Deron McBee and Gary Kasper at the United Martial Artists for Christ annual Youth and Family outreach event at Bolsa Grande High School March 2012
Bob Mitchell, Tommy Sirotnak, Gary Kasper, and Deron McBee (often misspelled as Darren)—are prominent members and supporters of the United Martial Artists for Christ (UMAFC), an organization that integrates martial arts training with Christian ministry. They are often associated with Pastor Raul Ries, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and a 10th-degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo, who uses martial arts as a platform for evangelism [1, 2, 3].
Key Figures and Roles
- Bob Mitchell: A “Pastor Sensei” and leader within United Martial Artists for Christ South Bay [1]. He hosts annual karate tournaments and oversees training that blends “Bushido” (the way of the warrior) with biblical teachings [1].
- Tommy Sirotnak: Often referred to as “Tommy S.,” he is a former professional athlete and strongman who serves as a pastor and evangelist. He is a frequent speaker at events alongside Bob Mitchell and Raul Ries, sharing his testimony of transformation through faith.
- Gary Kasper: An actor and former professional wrestler/strongman known for his work in “The Power Team.” He is a dedicated believer who participates in UMAFC events to demonstrate physical strength as a metaphor for spiritual strength [1, 2].
- Deron “Malibu” McBee: A former professional athlete and actor (notably “Malibu” on American Gladiators). Like Kasper, he was a member of “The Power Team” and is actively involved in UMAFC, often appearing at UMAFC South Bay events and hosting his own Issues of Life Podcast [1, 2].
Connection to Raul Ries
These men are part of a broader network of “Warriors for Christ” that grew out of the ministry of Raul Ries. Ries’s own story—from a violent youth to a world-renowned pastor—is documented in the film Fury to Freedom [1]. He began his ministry in his own Kung Fu studio, which eventually evolved into the massive Calvary Chapel Golden Springs congregation [1, 2]