Family Bonding

Candace and Travis are now blue belts in BJJ. Jedidiah and Candace are yellow belts in TKD

The old saying “you can’t pick your family” may be true, but sometimes you end up part of another family you never expected. That’s what happened to the Bond family when they joined Freedom Martial Arts at Combat Ministries.  

Almost 3 years ago, Travis and Candace Bond made the decision to join a martial arts class.  They have since cycled through various classes to see what they liked. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ), Tae Kwon Do (TKD), Kickboxing, and Wing Chun have all been fun, but BJJ became their main focus.  Even their son Jedidiah has tried his hand at a few classes. His favorite, right now, is TKD.  

To say that Combat Ministries has had a major impact on their life would be quite an understatement. It has given their family a place to connect, grow, learn, and unwind. They said, “God lead us straight to the front door, and there is not a day we haven’t been thankful for just that.” While the quality of martial arts training is top tier, the social element is their favorite part. “The environment is open and inviting. The community and support we have gained is unbelievable”. 

Travis and Candace can often be found at the dojo preparing for their own class or helping train the younger students. They are always in conversation with the coaches and other students, even while they are practicing techniques. The friendship on the mat is palpable. Students, instructors, and senior coaches aren’t just friends, they’re like family. They laugh and cry together. They struggle through life together. That fellowship is why the Bond family can’t imagine life without Combat Ministries. It’s also why they recommend it to people as often as they can.  

Jedidiah smiles for the camera during the Fazolis' Fundraiser

The programs that Combat Ministries offers are so much more than martial arts. There are cooking classes, art programs for all ages, and other events hosted by local partners. The Bond family have benefited from all that Combat Ministries has up its sleeve. The thing that every program has in common is the passion in the staff. The Bond family are amazed with the leadership here. They said “All of the instructors put their heart and soul into what they teach. You can’t find the quality of these instructors anywhere else.” The best part? These programs are adaptable to anyone. Everyone can find their place here.  

The Bonds didn’t stumble on Combat Ministries by accident. They believe they were led to this place. “We walked in as just random people who found faith-based martial arts on a Google search, and we walked out feeling like we belonged.” Their son Jedidiah has grown into a strong, confident, driven young man through his training. He is learning to be a leader and enjoys teaching.  They’ve grown as a whole family as much as they have all grown individually. “God continually shows us why we stay a part of Combat Ministries.” They truly feel that it’s more than a dojo. It’s another family they didn’t know they were missing.  

We don’t know where Combat Ministries will be in 5 or 10 years. The growth this organization has experienced in the last 15 years has been a blessing to say the least. This ministry has helped the 

Bond family thrive so much they can’t imagine going anywhere else. Wherever God leads these amazing people, you can be sure Travis, Candace, and Jedidiah Bond will part of the adventure!

Written by Eric Farrell of TheWordKitchen.com