Church to host wrestling match to fund repairs - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

In an unusual competition, not typical for a church, a local congregation is trying to pair sport and spectacle with the spiritual.

Emanuel Church in the Fountain Square neighborhood will host a professional wrestling match Saturday night, as a fundraiser.

Emmanuel members will try just about anything to repair their historic house of God. The church, built in 1899, is in very bad shape.

"We've had yard sales, we've had bake sales, we've had car washes," explained church member Rosemary Eads. "Those aren't working and the church needs the money."

"There's so many issues on this church and we love this church," added church member Dawn Robertson.

The congregation of 30 in the heart of Fountain Square is struggling. Bills are adding up, the building is breaking down. It needs major roof repair and right now, the church doesn't even have a working boiler to heat the sanctuary for services during the winter.

"It's very difficult because a lot of the people that are in this church and in a lot of churches don't have money anymore. With the economy the way it is, they have very little to give, financially," Robertson said.

So members came up with an unorthodox decision: help pay for the repairs with a big event right in their back parking lot Saturday night.

"I guess desperate times call for desperate measures," Robertson said.

"We're putting on a wrestling match," Eads said. "Dick the Bruiser, Jr. will be here. Pastor Pain will be here. Bo Bo Brazil, Jr. is coming."

Twenty-four wrestlers will compete in an old school throwdown hosted by the church. There will be multiple matches, music and food.

The church is expecting at least 300 people to attend the event.

"I'm very excited for it, very excited," Eads said.

As you'd imagine, some members were hesitant about a match between spirit and this sport.

"Some members jumped on it right away and were jumping up and down and I kind of took a step back," Robertson said. "I don't know about that. I'll have to think about it, pray about it. Well here we are today, you know, tomorrow we're going to have a wrestling match, so I guess it was God's way and his will."

Now they hope to make a couple thousand dollars in a main event that not only entertains, but also gets Emmanuel off the financial ropes.

"We want to preserve the church so much," Eads said.

"The fundraiser is different, but what we do here and what we desire here is no different than any other church. It's just that the need is so great here," Robertson said.

The wrestling match begins at 7:00pm Saturday at the church at 920 Laurel Street. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children or $25 for a family of five.