It’s been seven years since I first interviewed the 2000 Olympic alternate Ebo “The X-treme Machine” Elder who finished the no pay ranks at 140-10 to turn professional in June of 2000. Last year I got to meet him at Calvary Chapel’s “Sizzlin Summer” at my current CC church I attend as he was the guest speaker. He returned again this year by popular demand on July 22nd . They are held on Wednesday’s at 7:30pm outdoors. He will be speaking at each three services this Sunday July 26th.

I met Elder in the parking lot prior to the event and asked to have a picture with him. If I hadn’t later discovered I put the battery in backwards I would have gotten that shot. I did half an hour later proving “it pays not to give up!” Elder is as explosive behind a pulpit as he was in the ring going 22-3 (14) before retiring in January 2006 “when the Lord called me out of boxing”, said Elder before several hundred people in the crowd.

Elder had just lost to Mike “No Joke” Stewart, 38-4-2 on the TV series “The Contender” when he was called by God to serve. He is a former WBO NABO lightweight champion who lost in a WBA lightweight elimination bout in September of 2005 forcing the winner and former world champion Lavka Sim into retirement in a brutal fight stopped in the 12th and final round. In his previous fight in December 2004 he stopped Courtney Burton, 21-2 in the 12th and final round on ESPN. Afterwards he knelt next to Burton in the ring as the ring physicians got Burton on a stool and Elder prayed for his recovery. He now serves at the Calvary Chapel church in Knoxville, TN, moving from his home in Newman, GA.

Elder took on a tough subject that night on “the Holy Trinity!” He started in Genesis 1:1 into the book of John 14:8. It seemed every ear was focused on him that night. He explained the Father (God), Jesus (the son) and the Holy Spirit are one! After about an hour of speaking half a dozen people came forth and Elder baptized them in a tank connected to the stage.

If you are interested in hearing Elder this Sunday please come to any of the three services starting at 8:30am, 10:00am and 11:30am at the Calvary Chapel Delaware County church at 500 Brandywine Road off of Route 202 near Route 1. Garnet Motors sets on the corner of Brandywine Road. It’s in PA but 13 miles north of Wilmington, DE. He will be filling in for Pastor Bob Guaglione. Go to the website for directions of call 610-459-8111. You won’t be disappointed!

Please send all questions and comments to Ken Hissner at: Kenhissner@gmail.com