When Terry Nalian was a child, he was told that he would never amount to anything.
Nalian, a Lake Orion resident and founder of STAND Ministries and the STAND strength team, never accepted the labels placed on him, and said he has succeeded in life because of that.
Now, Nalian uses his life experience to pass along messages of love, hope and self-esteem to children across the country and the world.
STAND Ministries Powerlifting for Christ, an ‘extreme? ministry using powerlifting to grab people’s attention, began in 2000, after Nalian and his wife Cheryl lost their son, who died at six months of age.
Nalian, who was born in Detroit, was at a youth conference in 1990 when he got the idea for the team..
‘I really saw the need to get the attention of young people in a dramatic, dynamic way,? he said. ‘There were about 500 young people at this conference, and they were all passing notes and giggling.?
Nalian, who goes by T.A. ‘Shredder? Nalian in the STAND strength team, was already a powerlifter and thought that might be the answer for getting the attention of people he wanted to reach.
‘I was doing weight lifting demonstrations at the time,? he said. ‘I did all weight lifting movements, using weights and ripping phone books.?
In a 45-minute period, Nalian moved over 5,000 pounds, but said the phone book stunt was what people always talked about.
‘I saw that using athleticism and feats of strength really did hold their attention,? he said. ‘Then ‘Big Buck? came to work with me.?
Tom ‘Big Buck? Balabuch, a powerlifting champion, is still on the STAND team. Some other members include: Bryan ‘Ironman? Dorsey (1997 and 1999 Mr. Michigan bodybuilding champion), Luther ?#94? Elliss (all-pro defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos), and Chris ‘Crush? Rusher (with over 12 years as a professional Highland Games athlete).
Also on the team are: Jack ‘SSW? Faumuina (played in the Samoan Cup soccer championships and known as ‘The Secret Samoan Weapon?), and John ‘The Mountain? Penley (Word’s Strongman Competitor NASS).
‘Big Buck and I started out bending steel bars, breaking baseball bats and lifting logs,? said Nalian. ‘People were more excited about the feats of strength using everyday objects.?
Today, the STAND team still breaks bats and tears phone books; they also bust through walls of ice and concrete, and roll steel frying pans ‘up like burritos.?
‘They are ‘word pictures,?? said Nalian. ‘Each feat correlates with a principle we are trying to teach.?
The STAND team offers both a religious and non-religious program, and Nalian said they are completely aware of the boundaries when they are in the public schools.
‘With the phone books, we explain to young people that sometimes the challenges of life seem tough and difficult,? he said. ‘But you always make the right choices. When you do that, you become unstoppable.?
Nalian’s start in life was not so positive. He said he became a powerlifter ‘out of fear,? after being beat up by other kids in the neighborhood and his father at home.
‘I was brought up in a broken home,’he said. ‘There was lots of violence.?
Nalian’s father was an alcoholic, and as a young boy, he was often the target of his father’s verbal and physical abuse.
‘That’s the kind of chaos I grew up in,’he said. ‘I was the youngest in my family.
‘At 4 and 5 years old, I’d get beaten up by the bigger kids, then I’d go home and my dad would beat me more,? said Nalian. ‘I grew up in fear.?
At school, Nalian was placed in special education and told he would never amount to much.
‘As a child, I felt written off, at home and at school,? he said. ‘I felt like I didn’t have a friend in the world.?
At 12, Nalian began weight lifting so he could get strong and stop people from picking on him. That same year, he went with two friends to Temple Baptist Church in Detroit.
?(The pastor) said Jesus loved me and I didn’t think anyone loved me,? said Nalian. ‘I asked the lord to be my savior and my life’s been completely different every since.?
Nalian went to Midwestern Baptist Bible College and Seminary, has memorized most of the New Testament, and also pastored three churches, two of which he helped start.
‘Failure is not in my vocabulary,? he said. ‘I tell kids if they come to my house and look in my dictionaries, they will see ‘failure? is crossed out.?
Besides churches, and public and private schools, the STAND team also does programs for alternative schools, where Nalian identifies with kids the most.
‘I tell them, ‘I know where you are, I’ve been there,?? he said. ‘But it’s about where you’re going. ‘Right now I’m living a dream. This is my NFL.?.
Nalian credits his wife with being a huge support. He travels with the STAND team two-three weeks out of every month, going across the country.
‘Sometimes we talk to 10,000 kids in a week,’he said. ‘I have the most amazing, supportive wife. I gave up everything for the team, and I couldn’t do it without her.?
Nalian believes the greatest thing a young person can do is help someone else and he carries that message with him everywhere he goes.
‘Decisions shape your destiny,? he said. ‘Besides schools, we also go to the minimum and maximum security prisons. We have a large number of prisons here in Michigan.?
Nalian thinks if STAND can get into every school with their message, they can help change the country for the better.
‘We’ve had kids bring us their weapons,? he said. ‘Their stories keep the wind in my sails.?
All of STAND’s programs are age-appropriate, and school administrators often tell them what issues they’d like addressed in their school.
In their church program, STAND tries to involve the whole family.
‘We don’t charge anyone anything to go somewhere,? Nalian said. ‘We’ll come to a school whether they have money or not.?
STAND is sponsored by individuals and donations from schools and churches. Nalian said he doesn’t recruit members for the strength team, they come to him.
‘The 10 people on the team are from Michigan,? he said. ‘We would like to start a team in the west and one in the south as well.?
Currently, STAND’s schedule is nearly booked through 2006, and they are already scheduling appearances for 2007.
‘We do 15-20 programs a month, sometimes more,? Nalian said.
‘Being on the road that much is the most difficult challenge.?