Almighty strength

MUSCLE SHOALS - George Mylam is ready to break barriers.  One barrier will be a test of his physical strength. The others will be barriers in the personal lives of those in his audience - barriers that keep them from knowing the peace of salvation.

Mylam is a member of John Jacobs' Power Team, a Christian ministry based in Texas. Members of the Power Team conduct crusades throughout the country bringing a jaw-dropping display of physical strength.

"That's the bait," Mylam said as he sat in Pastor Brian Culbreath's office at Word Alive! Church on Wilson Dam Road.

Word Alive! is bringing the Power Team to the area Wednesday, Feb. 12, through Sunday, Feb. 16.

"Not everyone is going to listen to the message if it comes from someone in a three-piece suit," Mylam said. "So, we're the bait. We bring something that you don't normally see."

That "something" includes feats like a 400-pound man who breaks stacks of concrete blocks with his forehead, or a man who holds a steel bar between his teeth and bends it with his massive arms.

These strong people - including at least one woman in the group - share stories of their spiritual salvation as they wow audiences with their Samson-like strength.

In an average service, Power Team members may quote 50-100 Bible verses and touch on topics that include true repentance, giving every area of life to Christ and challenges to young people to make a strong stand for Christ in their school.

"We had the Power Team come through (Pratville)," Mylam said, describing his first encounter with the group. "I was 16 or 17 and I thought they were awesome. I asked, "what do I need to do to get involved.' "

Mylam will be among five members of the Power Team who will bring the crusade to Word Alive! Church and will appear in presentations at area schools. The team will not talk about Christianity in the schools, but instead offer motivational talks to young people.

"We can't talk about Jesus in the schools," Mylam said. "But we can talk about suicide, the No. 2 killer of young

people. We can talk about them trying to legalize marijuana and the dangers of it.

"We were at a small school in Oklahoma where 22 or 23 kids there had AIDS."

Mylam said many times, young and old people will be obviously thrilled by the strength demonstrations and will listen to the message. Many people have sought out Power Team members after a presentation.

"When they come one-on-one we talk about Jesus," Mylam said.

Jacobs was a body builder who had a prison ministry before he founded the Power Team 26 years ago. The Power Team concept formed after Jacobs was approached by a prison guard who said he could probably break a pair of handcuffs.

"One thing led to another and before you knew it, he was ripping phone books," Mylam said. "Seven hundred prisoners came out and got to know Jesus."

The Power Team has been so influential in helping steer young people away from bad choices that actor Chuck Norris and the writers of his now-syndicated series, "Walker, Texas Ranger," wrote a script that centered around a Power Team presentation. Jacobs and other members appeared in the episode.

"Every kid can be a dream maker or a dream breaker," Jacobs said. "I challenge every young person . to be a dream maker.

"Power is a young person who doesn't have to follow the crowd," Jacobs said after snapping apart two pairs of handcuffs . "You may not have the power to be a world-class athlete, but you have the power to be a world-class person."

The team's message didn't just influence the young. Norris accepted Christ five years ago after a Power Team crusade, Mylam said.

The Power Team has visited more than 10,000 schools in 20 years. Culbreath said schools interested in having the team visit during the week members are here may call the church office at 383-1036 for details.

And when the Power Team members move on to the next stop, they will leave a bonus behind at Word Alive.

Mylam, who is married and the father of a son and two daughters, has just accepted the job of youth minister at the 3-year-old church.

"He has a real love for young people," Culbreath said. "We're fortunate to have him."

Night Editor Sherhonda Allen can be reached at 740-5732 or sherhonda.allen@timesdaily.com.