EVANGELISM: Pastor Combines Martial Arts and Ministry

What happens when you combine martial arts with ministry?

At Otterbein Church in Martinsburg, W.V., the answer is evangelism.

Started by the Rev. Ken Fizer, pastor and a third-degree black belt, the South Central Tae Kwon Do Association at Otterbein is a nontouring, noncompetitive club with about 50 youth, from kindergarten and up, and 12 adult women.

Tae means "foot," kwon means "fist," and do means "the way." So tae kwon do literally means "the way of the fist and foot."

Fizer says the classes teach kids self-defense in a safe, Christian environment and instill discipline, self-control, respect and integrity.

He got the idea two years ago at an annual conference meeting when he saw a video on cutting-edge ministries, which showed a karate class being taught in the Virginia Annual Conference.

Any student found guilty of using the self-defense techniques to start a fight is automatically expelled from the class.

Fizer says he uses the classes to get acquainted with students and lead them to the church.