Champions for Christ

The Incredible True-Life Story of Jim and Dave Hazewinkel

As we stood in line with thirty other American teammates, the Bulgarian soldier diligently searched everyone’s luggage for illegal contents. He dug his hands deep into each suitcase, leaving a mess behind, in the hopes of discovering contraband or irritating our US Team. My twin brother and I stood just a few feet away, awaiting our turn. We were on the United States World Wrestling Team and were headed into Bulgaria for the 1971 World Games. We heard there was a great need for Bibles in this communist country, so each of us had packed 20 Bulgarian Bibles in our suitcases.

While inching closer to the guards, we asked the Lord to help us. I stepped to the counter and presented my luggage to be searched. When the guard opened my suitcase, he froze. He then took his index finger and lifted the top corner about half an inch. It was almost as if he knew what was there but could do nothing about it. When searching Dave’s luggage, he stood and stared at the contents with his arms at his side. It seemed he was unable to respond in the presence of the Word of God. The Bibles could have been confiscated; we could have been sent home or arrested or worse. Why were we willing to take such a risk? Because our lives had be changed by the message of the Bible!

Dave and I were born in 1944 and grew up in Anoka, Minnesota. All through school we were very shy and rarely spoke to anyone. We were so small, weighing just 95 pounds in high school, that we never saw a future in sports for ourselves. However, we joined the wrestling team during our junior year in high school, and from that day, we fell in love with the sport.

When we knew we could succeed, we continued wrestling in high school and college. In college, I became a 4-time NAIA National Champion, and Dave took second place twice in the national tournament. In 1966, a year before graduating from college, we were drafted into the Army, with the assignment of being deployed to Asia to fight in the Vietnam War. We thought our wrestling careers were over. In fact, more than that was at stake. The average soldier’s life expectancy in the war was only three weeks. 

I was not afraid of death, and neither was my brother. When we were 8 years old, our family visited our aunt in Chicago, Illinois. While attending church one Sunday with her, Dave and I were sitting by ourselves toward the front of the building, when the pastor preached a salvation message right from the Bible. He shared that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This made plain we were guilty of breaking God’s law. He continued, declaring “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). This described sin’s penalty and spoke of the physical consequence and eternal suffering in Hell. As he kept preaching, he reminded us that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sin and to provide a way for our pardon. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

As I sat there listening, I realized the pastor was talking about me. No matter how good I was, or how much I tried, I could not earn or work my way into heaven. I did not know it, but God was speaking to Dave at the same time. When the Pastor invited people to pray and accept Christ as their Savior, Dave and I looked at each other and said, ” Hey, we’ve never done that.” So right there in our seats, we each bowed our heads and asked Jesus to forgive our sins, come into our lives, and be our Lord and Savior. At that very moment, our home in Heaven was secured; thus, the reality of death did not terrify us. We knew our names were written in the book of life, and because of Jesus, we would never experience the fires of Hell.

One day before we were to go to AIT (Advanced Infantry Training), in preparation for Vietnam, we received new orders. We were assigned to West Point Military Academy to help coach the West Point wrestling team. Dave and I could hardly believe it! We were amazed to see how God had just intervened in our lives. It was obvious He had another plan for us. 

Following our new orders, we flew to New York and West Point. Upon arrival, an officer took us to the barracks to show us our sleeping quarters. As we stood there, Dave and I realized how God had directed us. It was the afternoon, and the barracks were empty. All the cadets were at their posts. We got down on our knees and thanked the Lord for what He had just done for us.

We had never shared the salvation message with others. We seldom talked to anyone about the Lord. Because we were so shy, we rarely spoke to anyone at all. We decided from this point on, we would start telling the story of salvation. We prayed, “Lord, we can’t begin to imagine how You could ever use us, but we want You to know, we are willing to be used for You.”

We began coaching the West Point Cadets and continued our own wrestling careers, as we qualified for the All-Army Wrestling Team. We were also on the United States Greco-Roman World Teams during that time.

In 1968, Dave and I tried out for the Olympics to be held in Mexico City, Mexico. We qualified for the team and were amazed that we both, as twin brothers, made it to the Olympics together. Again, in 1972, we both tried out for the US Olympic Team and qualified for the second time.

The Olympic Games is one of the most exciting events for an athlete to experience. Athletes come from nearly every country in the world. The feeling that comes is one of wonder and awe, a realization of “finally being here!” The hours of practice and sacrifice have paid off! It’s not the TV cameras, the crowds, or even the flags flying; it is that the athletes have reached their dream of becoming Olympians. 

Along with being on the ’68 and ’72 Olympic teams, the Lord allowed me and Dave to be on five US World Teams as well. We have been inducted into nine Wrestling Halls of Fame and were named “Outstanding Wrestlers of the Nation.” These were great honors, but none of these can compare with the blessing of knowing our sins are forgiven and our home is Heaven. The achievements of trying out, making the team, winning a medal are all earned. Forgiveness of sin and eternal life cannot be earned. It can only be received, by placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your only Savior!

A wise man once said, “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.” Following the ’72 Olympic games, we retired from athletic competition. We both felt called by the Lord to begin coaching the sport. Throughout our 48-year coaching career, we coached in five states, three colleges, and two military academies. Our aim was always to build the character of our wrestlers and to encourage them to witness for Christ. We trained hundreds of wrestlers and won many championships together, but all this pales to the joy that has come from receiving Christ!

Second to this, our greatest honor has been the privilege of sharing the gospel with other wrestlers and coaches and seeing them come to Jesus. Dave and I didn’t think we had any talents, but we were willing to be used for His glory. God honored our prayer, and over three hundred wrestlers, athletes, young people, and coaches have come to Jesus through our witness. My greatest desire for my wrestlers, as well as the person reading this tract, is that each one would receive Jesus Christ as Savior! Remember, a medal is earned. Salvation is free and can only be received by faith!

Is there any reason why you won’t receive Jesus right now? He waits with outstretched arms and nail-pierced hands to save you. Please don’t feel you are unworthy of his love and forgiveness. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

I pray you will stop right now and ask God to save you! You can pray this simple prayer in faith and call upon the Lord: “Dear Jesus, You loved me so much that You shed your blood for me on the cross. I repent of my sins and believe in You alone to save me. Come into my heart, wash away my sin, and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you!”

Welcome to God’s family! Just as Dave and I discovered, God can save anyone and do great things in their life that would seem impossible. God took two extremely shy and unqualified young men who seemingly had no future in sports, saved us, and made us a witness for Him through wrestling. Dave and I want you to know that God loves you very much and desires to use you for his honor and glory!

View Sample

Ordering Information

QTY	PRICE	ORDER
100	$25
500	$125
1,000	$250
1,500	$315
2,500	$485
5,000	$785
10,000	$1085

Please Note:
You can have your church’s information included on the back panel for any order of 1,000+ of the same title. There is a one-time imprint fee of $20.00.

Make checks payable to:
Evangelist Dwight Smith
532 Forest Ridge Drive
Shelby, NC 28152