World Championship
Wrestling star Steve Borden, aka Sting, discussed his spiritual awakening
with several dozen people, many of whom came out for a chance to see the professional
wrestler in person, in the parking lot of Family Christian Stores in Canyon
County Saturday afternoon.
Borden,
who became a born-again Christian less than a year ago, arrived by motorcycle
to speak to the crowd about how his spiritual renewal.
Steve Borden, aka "Sting" had affected him and why he believes
it's important for others to experience a spiritual awakening as well.
'My walk with Christ began only 11 months ago, ' said Borden.
'This has been my first real opportunity for me to speak to the public about
Jesus Christ. '
'I grew up in Santa Clarita, ' Borden told the crowd. 'I can
relate to all you people here. '
Borden, a Canyon Country resident, attended Peachland Elementary
School, Placerita Junior High School, Hart High School and College of the
Canyons.
Tammy Morrell, the manager of the First Christian Stores in
Canyon Country, arranged to have Borden as the featured speaker at the store's
grand opening event Saturday. Other featured events included pony rides for
children, a children's astro jump and music played by Christian music station
96.3 FM, who attended the grand opening. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also
held in which Mayor Jo Anne Darcy attended.
First Christian Stores is a national corporation that sells
Christian-based books, gifts, cards, jewelry and figurines. The store opened
on Soledad Canyon Road about six weeks ago.
Tammy's husband, Mike, is the worship leader of Santa Clarita's
Church On The Rock, where Borden is a member. She said she asked Borden to
attend the event in order to emphasize to others the impact Christianity can
have on their lives.
'I knew he would touch lives, ' she said.
Borden 's brother, Jeff, who is the pastor at the church,
spoke to the crowd about the importance of spiritual renewal, and conducted
a prayer for those seeking spiritual guidance. 
Steve Borden told the crowd that his renewal started as a
result of feeling that something was missing from his life, in spite of having
'it all, ' including fame and material wealth.
He hopes to be able to make more public appearances to discuss
his renewal, and said that he believes that it will help to make him a better
example to the community.
'Yes, wrestlers can be Christians, too, ' Borden told the
applauding audience.
Some members of the audience came out just to see Borden,
while others said they came out strictly to browse through the store.
The Rev. Dave Sanders, an independently ordained minister,
said he came to the event to see Borden and to find out what the store has
to offer.
Sanders, an SCV resident who started the Spiritual World Wrestling
Association, believes that Christianity and wrestling can complement each
other. He said that the physical aspect of wrestling can be compared to wrestling
spiritually.
'We all wrestle, ' Sanders said. 'We all have our personal
demons. ' Many church members are wrestling fans, he said, adding although
many people don 't wrestle physically, all people wrestle through life and
spiritually.
Sanders, who brought his wife and children to see Borden,
has been a wrestling fan for 30 years.
'I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing for my son
to meet him, ' said Sanders.
