| Mitch Hodge |
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Mitch Hodge My name is Mitch Hodge and I've been a bodybuilder from about the age of three! I know that sounds weird but I have pictures of me flexing at three years old. My father was a major influence, he had huge arms and people were always asking him to flex. I wanted so bad to lift weights but because of a near fatal lifting accident that occurred when he was in the air force my father was totally against it. Hey when the desire is birth in you it does not die easy At ten years old I drug an old car axle home and began to attempt to build a lifting program around it. (hey it looked like a barbell to me)!! Anyway my father spotted that and soon after told my mother to get me some weights before I killed myself. And I have always been involved in bodybuilding from then on! At eighteen I entered teen Idaho and took fourth, for twenty years I competed and lifted, never quite reaching my goal of pro, but very happy with the journey. I had my ups and downs, struggled with life, relationships and addictions and finally realized all my strength, all my muscle was useless in defeating my demons. Enter Christ. When I surrendered my life to Christ I had just suffered a major bicep tear and thought lifting was over, But "with Christ all things are possible", I returned to the gym a changed man, I wanted to give instead of take. I contacted The Power team (a group of christian athletes that use feats of strength to spread the Gospel), and was soon traveling America with my story of hope and redemption through Jesus. I currently own my own gym in Idaho and still travel and use the gift of bodybuilding to spread the message. At 42 I have benched over 500, squatted 600 for reps and it is definitely the favor of the Lord!! |
1. What is your favorite scripture? Rom:8:28 is a scripture that I stand on as well as give to many who are hurting or feeling that life has left them by. (Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.) 2. Who were your childhood heros? I loved comic books and the Hulk was definitly my guy. Later Burt Reynolds and Arnold. I loved Starskey and Hutch, and in school my best friend and I always wanted to be them. 3. If you could meet anyone from the bible, other than Jesus, who would it be? Definitly David. He had so many promises and potential and every thing that could have gone wrong did. He had so many turn on him and even made huge mistakes but he never ran from God, he knew that his only hope was in the Lord and he never quite believing that God could deliever him from all his trials. Wow what faith!! David is a true man of God! 4. What is a typical day in your life like? If I'm on the road with the Power Team, we do school assemblies in the day, telling kids to stay away from drugs and alcohol, gangs and premarital sex. We workout, eat and get ready for the night show where we do amazing feats of strength and lead hundreds to the saving grace of Christ. If I'm home, I always study, pray and worship in the morning. Then I do freelance work at a screen printing Co. where I do graphic design. I also own a gym so I'm there alot also. I love to hang out with my son and watch his football games,(He's 11). 5. What biblical figure do you most identify with? Samson. He got to use the gift of strength in his ministry. And he also had to come to terms with the reality of serving God with less than your best can cost you what you love the most. 6. What trait do you like most about yourself? I am always ready to admit my faults and ask for help in becoming a better Christian. 7. What trait do you like least about yourself? Some times when I know what not to do I do it anyway. 8. How have you been able to represent God in your sport? We reach thousands in the Power Team ministry, but even before when I became a Christian I would use worship music to pose by, and I was always witnessing back stage to the other bodybuilders. 9. If you could change one thing about your sport, what would it be? I wish steroids would just go away. 10. If you were to die today and go to heaven, what would you like to hear God say? Well done, my son. |
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