Latest / 307 Faithful / Wrestling Injuries, Depression, and Finding Jesus: One Athlete's Transformation | Gene Montoya

Transcript

Wrestling Injuries, Depression, and Finding Jesus: One Athlete's Transformation | Gene Montoya · 307 Faithful

• Gene Montoya: I'll just, if it falls, I think we're good. Devin Davis: All right, here we go. All right, everyone. Welcome back to the 307 Faithful podcast. This is your host, Devin Davis. And ⁓ as always, it's a pleasure to be with you today. Thank you for tuning in to the 307 Faithful. ⁓ we are a FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athlete podcast where we try to glorify God and and all that we do. And and you know, our our goal is to reach every coach and athlete with the gospel. And Hopefully that's what we're doing ⁓ with the 307 Faithful Podcast. So we appreciate your support and just grateful that you are listening today. And today is another special day. I s I say that ⁓ frequently. ⁓ but you know, we a couple of always firsts, even though I think this is our twenty-fourth guest, ⁓ but but we have some firsts here is we have our first athlete from Rock Springs. ⁓ But we have our first I I don't know ⁓ for this sport. And this is not a high school sport, but we have a judo athlete today, believe it or not. So ⁓ yeah, welcome into the three ⁓ seven Faithful podcast. ⁓ this is Gene Montoya. Gene just graduated from Rock Springs High School. Welcome today. Thanks for taking the time out today, Gene. How's your day going? Gene Montoya: Okay. My day is going wonderful. Just finished church. I cannot be more grateful. This day is beautiful. It's hot in Rock Springs, but man, I can't, I can't complain because in a few months we're gonna be freezing. Devin Davis: Amen. We were we were just talking before we started this podcast. It's pretty cool that Gene ⁓ attends church in Rock Springs, ⁓ pastored by ⁓ Nate Purvis, ⁓ who is on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and ⁓ just talking about worship today and yeah, it kind of gets you ⁓ pumped up, doesn't it? Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm, I love worship because it's not only The spirit gets moving but just the praises that you get to give to God It's something that you can't do with any other type of thing Just it just that's so great. That's so great. It never does Devin Davis: That's yeah. And we talked about like it yeah, it never gets old, right? It was we it's funny, we got the same songs on repeat over and over and over again and they just don't ever get get old because ⁓ giving glory to God, praising God, worship never gets old. Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. Yes. It's so great. Just makes you think about. Devin Davis: Sa says the guy who has Michael Jackson in the background. Gene Montoya: Yeah, I know. I have a bunch of old records. like just whenever you hear like the glory of God with like worship, it just makes me think about heaven's going to be like because angels just say, holy, holy, holy, because I have to say that's the only thing I pictured whenever you're listening to music. was like, oh, my goodness gracious Lord, you are so worth the worth the worship, especially in my life. Oh, he's so much worth the worship. Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: That's just what I think about all the time at FCA and just with worshipping. Devin Davis: That it you know, that's kind of like ⁓ o off tangent a little bit here, but isn't it crazy where people are like, I don't really want I don't really I struggle to think about heaven or about eternity because what are we gonna do for eternity? ⁓ what are we gonna do in heaven? And it's like, what are we gonna do? What do we get to do? Gene Montoya: Exactly. He's like, that's the thing. I most people just think, ⁓ we're just going to be with God. Yeah, man. We're going to be with God. See, that's the thing. We're going to be with him. Like, what else do we need? He is supplying us with if we get a wake up in the morning, he supplies us with like the food, the clothes on our back, like the roof over our head. If God willing, you have a roof over your head and you have food. What else do you need? Other things are just gifts. Other things are just things that he will give you. Devin Davis: Ha ha ha. Yeah. Yeah. What you know, and that and it yeah, and it talks about in the Bible. I mean, that is that that is increasing, right? I mean, can you imagine f forever and ever and ever worship just gets better and and glorifying God just gets better? I I mean, you know, it's it's it's it's just crazy to I mean, I think the people the reason why we have a hard time thinking about that is cause we're limited to Gene Montoya: But that's just what the beauty is. Devin Davis: right now, right? And in on this in this life that will end and and we're bound by time, and and we're bound by our flesh, but to worship at the feet of Jesus Christ forever and ever and ever. Gene Montoya: That's gonna be so great. It's like the song, What a God, if the highest place I reach is just your feet, then I've done it all. That is literally the best thing that you can receive. Devin Davis: Just hard to believe. Yeah. Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere, right? I mean, that's what the Bible also says. So Yep. That's why I like, nah, nah nah. No, I mean it is kind of crazy because we think of eternity, but something that is is better than we can imagine, that continues to get better than we can imagine. and we don't want to be there. It's like nah, like count me in, right? Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. That is what it's so wonderful. So wonderful. Yeah, I'm like, I don't know what everyone else is smoking in their boat, but have me on that. want to be like when I especially like off tangent, but like when I first started surrounding myself by coaches and like athletes of Christ. Before I was be like down in the dumps and like, what are these guys on about? They're so happy. Like, that's the biggest thing part of my testimony. That then I finally got to taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, my goodness. I was sold. I was sold. Devin Davis: Ha ha Just yeah, that's what I'm like. It's like you know, his word is sweeter than honey, you know, and and it's like selling a field, giving away everything you have just because you found treasure in that field. and and like once you get just a whiff of that, right? Like just a whisper of it, it's like holy s holy smoke, man, where Gene Montoya: I was for sure sold. Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: What have I been missing out on my whole life, right? Gene Montoya: Literally, it's like what what have I been doing? I can't believe I'm doing this like now like ⁓ Devin Davis: ⁓ so this is this is great great conversation to start this off. And and I knew Gene would be a a great guest for everybody there, not just because he's obviously on fire for Jesus, and just loves him and just is filled with the spirit for sure. But I know Gene likes to talk, so I I don't think that would be it would be a hard ⁓ it might be hard to keep the podcast to just one hour with Gene Montoya: That's it. We'll probably go a little over. You're gonna have to some stuff. You'll be like, which one's the good stuff? Sometimes I can't be quiet. Devin Davis: With Gene on the other end. So I I knew I knew all that, but ⁓ yeah. So here we are just rambling. But I just wondered, you know, I this is kinda off off topic too. Does anybody ever call you Gene the mean machine? Gene Montoya: They saw me, Coach Young calls me Gene. Yeah, Gene. Geno, Gene, Gene. Gene the green bean mean machine. That's sometimes what he says. ⁓ My old nickname was Gene Plus because I was a bigger fella. Big, big Gene. Like Coach K would say, Big Gene. And then when I slimmed down, he's like, now I have to call you Medium Gene. Small Gene. like I used to get called Mean Gene. Devin Davis: Ha ha. Gene Montoya: That was my nickname when I was a young kid. Gino Dimeen Jean, that was my nickname. Devin Davis: And you know, for ⁓ here we are talking about worship music and and this is how I always tell everybody that I I met Gene. I've actually only known Jean ⁓ since probably February. And I feel like I've known Jean my whole life. isn't that funny? But when I I I you know, I I tell everybody and you probably remember this, the re w the way I met Jean is y you know, I ⁓ was at regional wrestling tournament and Gene Montoya: Yeah, since the regionals or... No. I have to remember. Devin Davis: ⁓ I was the you know, the announcer, the PA guy, and I look over in jeans walking up and down getting ready for his ⁓ high school wrestling match and ⁓ li hands lifted in the air, singing along with whatever he was listening to. And I went over and ⁓ asked him what he was do you remember this? I I went over and asked him what he was listening to. And he looked at me, he's like, ⁓ I'm listening to worship music. And I'm like, Yeah, I figured that. What are you listening to? I meant like who what song? Who are you? Gene Montoya: I remember like yesterday. Devin Davis: Who are you listening to? And so that's we we hit it off right away. So Gene Montoya: It was, I know the exact song I was listening to. I was listening to God I'm Just Grateful For You, like the one that Josh walked out to. That's why I love that song, like when he walked out to it, I was like, this is what my walkout song would be. This is, he already beat me to it. I was like, that song gets me going, gets the nerves off. I'm like, win or lose, man. God's gonna get the glory. Why am I gonna be worried about this? I was already battling injuries, you know, like why should I be so worried about winning? Devin Davis: No No way. Huh. Yeah. Gene Montoya: I should be worried about glorified God even with a term in this case, you know? Like that's... Devin Davis: Right, right. I mean, and that's ⁓ God, I'm grateful for you, but I love but when you look listen to the words other than that is like, Who am I that you keep me on your mind? God, I'm just gr you know, who am I? Gene Montoya: All my life, you keep me on my back. God, I'm just grateful for ya. Yes. Devin Davis: That the creator of the universe, the sustainer of everything, the giver of life has me on his mind. That yeah. Yeah, that's that's worship music. So yeah, so we just hit it off great and ⁓ and so I've gotten to know Gene. ⁓ he also was a huddle leader at FCA camp this summer in Laramie, which is a a a ⁓ blast as well, and we'll Gene Montoya: cheaps ass. She can't beat that. Can't beat that. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: touch on that a little bit too. But I just kinda wanna know, I I I really tell us about ⁓ are you eighteen now? Is that is that correct? ⁓ So tell us a l about your l life up to ⁓ being eighteen years old. Gene Montoya: Yeah, I'm 18. 18 since September. Okay, so most of my life I was never really in a Christian household. Like I never went to church. Most people were like talking about church. I'm like, my Sundays are just chilling, relaxing, you know, don't doing anything. Maybe cleaning the house, max. But I was always surrounded by Christians, people that knew God. My best friend was a Christian, is still a Christian. He's the one that really got me into church, but. We know each other since kindergarten, best friends since then. And he was always on a jolly mood, even when he was going through the hardest things. But most of my life I was struggling with mental health. So that plays a real big toll later in my, during high school. Because I struggled with weight, I struggled with just what to do with my life. What to give hope into, what is hope? I never really knew what hope was. That was what I... really struggled with. So fast forward all the to my high school career, I was always getting made fun of. I had horrible anxiety, horrible depression, but I had such a severe depression that my parents, no one even close to me knew I had depression. Like I was so good at hiding my feelings. And that is what Satan loved about me because I wouldn't run to anyone. I wouldn't do it. The lies that he would throw on me, I'd be like, yeah, you're right. I had no motivation to do stuff. So that's going on in my sophomore year. having a freshman sophomore year of wrestling. I was also doing a judo alongside that, but it's really I didn't really have coaches that knew God. So they were just really good coaches, but they didn't really have a connection with God. The coach that really helped me was Kara Janis, Coach K, DK All Day. We I would be like it. I just got kicked off the football field. I quit football and he comes running out there. Sprinting out to the football field because he was doing open mats and he's a gene gene and I'm all upset man I'm so tired of this and he said meet me here tomorrow after school with a pair of wrestling shoes I'm like, what's this guy want to do? And then he wouldn't not like he would not be quiet about God We'd be like during drilling and he's like I know a guy at that board cross and I was like who's this guy that board cross like Jesus I hear all the time. I know I know hey, I know was it called hey Zeus that lives down the street. That's how far I was. That's how far I was from God. And he would just poke. He would just slowly peel back those little pieces of fabric until it hit my heart. So my junior year, I was putting all my life into wrestling. Every single thing into wrestling was my identity. Wrestling judo, that's the only sports I was going all out. I would not stop. until I could be a champion, I could be a judoka national champion or a wrestling state champion. But then junior year comes around and I'm just on my game. We go to a first tournament, first tournament. I tear my labrum in my left shoulder. Horrible injury. But then I was like, what am I about the sport? Are you serious? What am I going to be doing with this sport? Because this is all I have. The false. The false rock, the false foundation that wrestlers especially build on ourselves on. And then when that injury comes, what are you gonna do? I fell in the deep depression. I started living my life for what I wanted to do, because what am I gonna be doing without wrestling? Getting relationships that weren't glorifying God, things, going to church on the weekends, like, ⁓ let me hear about this Jesus guy. Because my best friend and his grandparents invited me to church, and I was like, I'll give it a try. or whatever. That's what I have. That's why I walked in there. So then they tell me I need to have surgery. And I'm like, dude, I'm crying out to God. It was I fell in a deep depression for months, like even severe throughout my high school career, so severe that I have thoughts of taking my own life. Very serious. I was it was in I got so bad that it was in ⁓ December 25th, 2024 before 2025. I was gonna, so by Rock Springs there's downtown where the trains roll by. I was gonna jump off and take my own life and hope a train would come run me over. That was my plan. I was there just planning on having all the notes. I burn those notes now, but before I was writing all those things and I'm just, then I was like, I need to pray to something, because if I don't want to go to hell, I don't want to die and go to hell, so I'm praying to Buddha. I'm praying to Muhammad, I'm praying to Joseph Smith, I gave him a try, didn't work. Prayed to all these false idols and the only one that answered that call was Jesus. That's why when I hear trusting God, I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered. It hits my whole soul so bad. Because I was at the bottom of my pit, I called out to the Lord, He answered, and man, I got scared and I ran from Him. I got so scared and timid of that, I turned and I ran away from God. So then I started doing stuff to please my flesh, trying to fill that hole that I could. It was so close to fully accepting God. Then fast forward a few months to June 4th, my old pastor, Pastor Damon Poole, he's from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Rock Springs. He calls me, said, Hey, Gene, I just want to go get some, go get some like coffee or something with you one day. That day I was like, I'm free. I was going to go to a party that night though. So I'm trying everything out of my life, trying to go and not have a conversation with the pastor because he's going to judge me. Because I thought Christians judge. I've had incidents with Christians that judge when I didn't believe. And I was like, I just want to do what I want to do. Then we go get lunch and it's with ⁓ Magic. He's a dean at that church or dean something. I don't remember. But he helps out the church. like helps all he can. And Damon's like gives me the question. So if you would die today, where do you think you're going to go? And on a six out of 10, how much are you gonna go to heaven? Or one out of 10. I already blew the answer. I said six out of 10. But one out 10, how much are you gonna bet you're gonna go to heaven? And we asked all the huddle leaders that, but for me, I said probably like a six to a seven to an eight maybe. Because I'm a good person, I do good things, but I sin still. And he hit me with this. ⁓ so Jesus died for only a part of your sins? Devin Davis: Ha ha. Gene Montoya: I broke down crying. I still remember it. We were in a Starbucks. Starbucks in Rock Springs. If you guys ever be there, just let me know. That's when I stomped the grounds. That's when I gave my life to Christ. But I'm there and he's like, Gene, the only way you can get to heaven is through Jesus. And if you 100 % believe in him in your heart and confess with your mouth, you will be saved. Because you are dead. But God comes and saves you from that death. And I was like, so how do I do that? And he said, believe in your heart. And then I was like, he said, changed, like the shutters went boom. And I started crying. Like I crying my eyes out, the shutters open. Like what happens when you turn your life to Christ? It's like the blinds go bang. And you're like, ⁓ my goodness, what was I doing? And then I was like crying and he's like, do want to pray us out? Completely like optional. And I was like, I've never prayed really before. He's like, all right, are you sure you don't want to pray us out? was like, all right, I'll do it. Then Holy Spirit started nagging me right there. He's like, come on. Let's just go pray this one time. Let's see how it is. And I just started, I went on to like, it was just like supposed to be like a little minute prayer. I went on to like 15 minute prayer in that Starbucks, praying to God, just saying, Lord, thank you for opening my eyes. Lord, I believe in you. Lord, you are the only way to heaven. It was like that warm feeling I got when I ran away from him in that beginning of that year. Holy cow, he changed my life and then following that end of that month the 29th of June I got baptized and Most people were like but can you get saved just from a baptism? No, you don't get saved from baptism. It's just an outward confession of your faith and I was like so I did that cuz I my parents I had my parents show up and I wasn't able wasn't able to get fully into my testimony because I really didn't know my testimony When I got baptized so they I just had like a sum up. ⁓ yeah, I my life in a Starbucks parking lot Not Starbucks. Starbucks, we were just drinking coffee, having a good conversation. That's the only thing I get in my life at. And I felt like, wow, I really didn't. I thought I didn't have a good testimony until God said that. Everyone, it's like a fingerprint. He hit me with this during FCA. Everyone's testimony is like a fingerprint, because we all have different fingerprints. It would be kind of boring if we didn't have the same exact testimony over and over and over again. So then my life changed. Devin Davis: Yeah. ⁓ Gene Montoya: because I was on fire. was like, ⁓ yeah, got out of bad relationships, started glorifying the Lord. I was like, yeah Lord, we're following you. I know what I'm doing now. So then I go into my senior year. I'm just coming battling back from her. I'm doing judo alongside, like I'm senior year wrestling. I'm battling back from a shoulder injury because that's a lot to come back from. And so I'm just scared to be on the mat. I'm terrified to step on the mat. And it really showed in some of my matches. because I was too timid to take shots, was too timid to be the one that goes. And then it comes down to where regionals and state was, where God hit me with, like what you said when we at FCA and the wrestling, shooters shoot and losers lose. Cause that's what he basically said to me. And I was like, dang. So then we go to regionals and he was like, even with a bad knee, Gene, you can still glorify me. Cause I was like, this tournament is kiss. I can't even wrestle on it. that going into regionals, was like, I can't wrestle with the tornadoniscus. And my parents are like, are you sure? And I was like, I don't know. So I talked with Coach Young and he's like, right before we go to regionals, we're in our wrestling room and he's just talking to me because I was upset and I was wrestling like horrible that practice. Couldn't drill to save my life. I was taking horrible singles. I was taking horrible doubles, horrible crotch, high crotches. And I was just wrestling bad, angry, he could tell. So he talks me off and he said, let's talk. He's like, unless you don't want to talk because coach young's very straightforward. He'll hit you like a truck. Like, all right, you're to talk to me or you're to just keep being a little wuss. That's what he said. So I break down crying and he's like, you're knee, what's up with it? And I was like, it's torn coach. And he's like, so bad that you can't wrestle these last two tournaments of your whole high school career. This last tournament, if you don't even make it to state. Because I don't care if you I don't care if you don't even make it or place that state. And I was like, but I do. And he's like, Gene, you lost. 140 something pounds. I used to be 325 pounds. And I got down to 190, 185. I'm currently 192, but just fluctuating from those weight classes. But I got down, the lowest I've gotten down to was like 179 with wrestling. Devin Davis: ⁓ yeah. Gene Montoya: And just he said, you've accomplished more things in this sport than most people do their whole high school career. That's more worthy. You got yourself out of being obese. You got yourself out of certain situations most people won't even dream of. And in my opinion, God wanted me to do that because I guarantee not winning a state title proved more to myself than winning a state title because I went into the regionals and I was like, all right, we this is the last run. or lose, dude. What does a I had those knee braces on the oblivion. These knees were not healthy. Shots killed me. Taking shots like one shot. I had to be smart with taking my setups and my shots. So God was I being strong. So I just prayed like all the time before the tournament. Every like that. Those tournaments. God, or lose, Lord. If I blow out this knee, Lord, I know where I'm going. And it's all the glory to you. I'll have a working knee in heaven. Devin Davis: So then Gene Montoya: And God really, really changed that because at regionals I I kind of like, I wrestled really good. I wrestled the best I ever did, but I didn't get to be on the podium, which I wasn't upset about. Then I make it to state and I was ecstatic because I was like, last time I made it to state was like junior year or my sophomore year. Junior year, I got to miss that. So it was like the, it was tasted so good. And all through all that, God had the glory. Every loss I took, God got the glory. And then first match at state, my knee completely gives out. and I just collapsed on a shot. The guy shot at the single leg and I just collapsed on the shot. And I got pinned because I, it went locked out. I couldn't do anything. Then I got carried over to the trainers. And then coach Young said, either can rest up now and then we wrestle these next matches tomorrow or it's your choice, Gene. You either call it or you can wrestle these last two matches and prove to yourself if you want it that bad. Cause it's completely your shot. So then I go back, rest of the last two matches, win them, then I win the last third one, the last one before wrestling someone else. And then my knee blows out again. Like it just locks out again on a shot and I couldn't do anything. But then going back to the match, going back off the mat, I was crying because it was done, but I wasn't crying because I lost. Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: I was crying happy tears and everyone was looking around me like this guy just lost, how is he happy? Because God proved to me when you put your faith on the sturdy foundation, the losses don't matter. Those losses you take that are unbearable, that to the normal person don't even matter because you went on the mat or you went out on the field with an injury and you gave God the glory because you showed that even through the big bad losses people are terrified to do. because of the injury, you still stepped on the mat and gave God the glory. That's what it really, having that foundation on God was. And then that following year I went to NCJA, National Collegiate Judo Association. They ran high school judo. It wasn't the national judos, because we were in wrestling this season, but it was like second regionals. But I was graduating and Dr. Libby, our superintendent, is one of my senseis and my coaches. He told me, Gene, just go to it. It's going to be a big tournament, a decent sized tournament. You can just go get some matches coming back after injury. Win or lose. He said, who cares, dude? You win or lose. Who cares? So I went out there and I gave God the glory with my matches and I was able to win an NCAA national title for Tuto because I had him on the rock because I let my knee heal. I let all that happen and God let me. glorify him. And the best part, most of the people that were like Muslim, but it wasn't trying to batter their religion or anything like that. Cause that's not what we're called to do as Christians. was just their faces because I was wearing an I love Jesus hat. I wear it all the time. I was wearing that. I just went to Bryce Crawford. I'm rocking that hat on the podium like this, like with my fingers up, praising God. And I got the people who were judging me, but I was like, some people probably hated that. But I hope and pray that those people know, can see that the Lord is good and the Lord taste and see that the Lord is good. That's what all I pray every single time with those people. Devin Davis: It ⁓ so that that's awesome, man. W what a great story and just thinking of where you've been and the the testimony that you have and just your heart and your passion for Jesus and I mean one of the questions we'll we'll talk plenty about faith, but how in the world did you get involved and when was it that you got involved with the sport of judo? 'Cause that's not something that most kids around the state of Wyoming r Gene Montoya: But yeah. Devin Davis: have ever had the chance to participate in. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Gene Montoya: Yeah, most people are like, what is judo? They think it's karate. It makes me laugh. But judo, I used to do Brazilian jiu jitsu at a young age since I was like five. I did Brazilian jiu jitsu at a young age because my dad did it because my dad needed to lose weight. The doctor told him that. So my dad got jiu jitsu and then I tagged along because there was like a few kids there in the professor's basement. But then judo came around because I got tired of losing in junior high. I was like, dude, I keep losing. I was a big kid, kids were headlocking me and my dad was like, about to get his blue belt in judo. So my dad knew what he was talking about. People were thinking blue belts are beginner. No, like blue belts are the step below brown in judo. But he was like, dude, you need to bump your hips back and like make sure they can't come across for that throw. And I'm like, how do you know this? And he was like, show up this Saturday. It's going be seven o'clock. It's going be like wrestling practice. Six o'clock, you're going to be rolling at 630. Then it's seven. You're going to be there. I'm gonna drag you out of bed and you're going to train. And I was like, I don't want to, I want to just be sitting on my butt, do nothing. So then he dragged me to judo and I was like, I have to wear pajamas? That's what I thought it was. They're like, so the gi, the uniform are judo gis that they're just the uniform that we wear. It's like the singlet for wrestlers. But people think it's pajamas and I was one of them. So then I got into that and then immediately I got to be learning throws. So you go for your basic, like yellow belt, orange belt, green belt, blue belt, and now I'm brown. So you go through all those belt ranks and you learn the basic combination throws, foot sweeps, and then you learn your ground game. So the ground game is just, you have to pin a guy, so the rules of judo is that you can either win by e-pon, which is the knockout of judo, is where you throw a guy straight on his back, and you roll across both shoulder points, and that's a win. You automatically win, and it's done. or there's bazari and it's if they land on one side of the shoulder. And yuko, but yuko doesn't really matter. That's another thing. But then you can win by e-pawn by pinning or arm bars and jokes. That's higher belt ranks. So that's what I have to worry about. But with the lower belt ranks, like juniors, you can do pinning. So the pinning has to be for 20 seconds. And it's like normal wrestling pins you can do. Like you can hit a guy in a cradle. You can hit a guy in a bar. You can hit a guy in a... It's a lot tighter on the person. You can empower a lot half. You can do a butcher or it's called the corkscrew. But Judo, I got hooked on it because it was helping my ground game and wrestling. I helped my hip help me where the guy's hips are going. Like if they bump into me trying to get me onto a shot, I know where my hips are and I know where their hips are just from like hand placement, collar ties, just from ⁓ wrist. Just Judo taught me that because in Judo you Devin Davis: Mm-hmm. Gene Montoya: You have to learn how to walk basically again. Cause when you go against a higher belt rank, they're going to be catching, kicking your feet out the way and you're to be learning how like a kid baby again. Well, I almost fell, I almost fell, but I got hooked on judo cause the adrenaline you get when you throw a guy straight on his back and you win by a E pawn. That is way better than pinning a guy in wrestling. And I will put hands down as a wrestler or like if you're a football player or soccer taking goals like that, like that one goal where it just goes in. or that touchdown where it's just like a perfect pass, that is the adrenaline you get from judo. Because it's just, You see it the air, in the air, and then you're down. It was just what I loved. It just got me hooked. Devin Davis: So I I mean, so it just happens that you your dad ⁓ had been in in judo, you kinda fell in love with that and that's is that a sport that you plan on continuing on with now? Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. Yes, that's what me and this Libby are trying to say start is at Western Wyoming Community College. We're trying to start a club there because at the gym that we go to, they don't really care too much about judo guys. This is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms, right? I don't care for that. I'm going to just be, we call it, the judo guys call it butt scooting because they scoot their butts over to each other. But that's just funny jokes for judo guys. But. We want to have a math space and because sometimes it's expensive to own a gym and sometimes it's expensive to run a gym just to be able to teach people the fundamentals of self-defense really because if I've had many predicaments like where I see all over social media where it's like a girl that's untrained going against a guy that's untrained that's going to be a bloodbath but I've seen times with like judoka women they've tossed grown men Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: that have no training but they have enough training to do that. And I've seen people that got in situations like men getting street fights with other guys and they both have no training. It's like wrestlers. You're like, I wish that I don't want to see people getting hurt. Like that's the part of me like as a Christian, I'm like, I want to teach people able so that they can defend themselves with, cause in a jacket like situation, if a guy's wearing a big car heart, I can be able to control their body because they're wearing so much clothing in it. It's going to be a lot easier than trying to get an underhook in wrestling. And that's just what I learned because you don't know what the guy might have a knife and he's you got him in their underhook and he pulls the knife out. That's just like. But in judo, you can watch where their hands are going. And I would love to teach people that in like a club situation, because Iowa State, where I was thinking about going to college, they have a club where they go all over the country. The school pays for it. And it's like you could do that if you go to community college. That would be cool to start a community college judo. Devin Davis: That'd be awesome. So then you're at what level belt right now? Gene Montoya: Brown belt. So I'm first showed on, no not showed on. I don't remember the exact term, but I'm a first level brown belt. I just got it this past. I think, don't know, May, late May, early June. Devin Davis: When what levels what belts are above you? Gene Montoya: So the belt, so it's second degree brown, third degree brown, and then there's black. And then black belt has, I think, four degrees. it's, yeah, four or three degrees for black belt. So there's a lot more than just getting your brown belt. And then you go to black. There's not, no, you have to get your stripe, two stripes on brown, and then you get your black belt. Devin Davis: Wow. Yeah, that So you talked about like karate, the people thinking it's karate. What's for people that are out there, what what would be the main difference between karate and judo for for guys that Gene Montoya: Karate is a lot about kicking and punching. call it American karate, like kicky punchy. But my one sensei is a black belt in Japanese karate. That stuff's where you learn how to hit a guy directly. You're trying to aim for their temples. And judo is the art of minimum effort, maximum efficiency. I had a shirt where I wore to FCA with that. were like, what is that little symbol? It's minimum effort, maximum efficiency for judo. because you don't want to blow through all your effort just to try and throw a guy on his back. You're going to do it with the most efficiency of throwing a guy in the air. Another body that's the same weight, same size as you, even bigger sometimes, and you want to throw them straight on their back because it shows that in a real life situation, I could have harmed you and you may have been in the hospital because that's just what the concept of judo is. Devin Davis: Yeah, yeah. And did you see a bit of it? ⁓ did it translate into your wrestling? Do you feel like? Gene Montoya: Oh yeah, it really did because when I just started, I quit trying to get scared that last regionals and state, I quit being scared and I started giving it to God. My judo started shining through because I started getting knee picks a lot more on kids and I started getting my hips, bumping them out, foot sweeping them a lot more when I gave all my words to God. That was one thing like I should have done at the beginning of the season. I was upset about, but God was like, then you would have not learned that if you don't rely on me. None of that's going to happen. So Judo really helped my not only like my stand up, but my ground game. like wrestling, wrestling Judo go hand in hand because they're similar. They're aggressive in their own manner. Like Judo is very aggressive. You're hand fighting, you're grip fighting and you're trying to throw each other. And then if you guys, if you guys, one of you guys snaps down and you have about five seconds to get a choke on or like to flip them over to a pin, you get stood back up immediately. So judo is like constant pressure, constant moving, grip fighting, and wrestling is constant for a whole six minutes. Because a judo match is five minutes and if no one gets a score, it goes into golden score. Golden score is where it like counts up. So you can go on to 30 minutes, 30 minute match if no one is able to score. Yeah. Devin Davis: ⁓ wow. Do they ever just call it a draw? You have to wait till somebody scores. Gene Montoya: No, they go until someone wins. You have to wait until someone wins. That's why they brought back yuko. So yuko is like a quarter point. So if I'm able to throw you on one, on like your side of your body, so not your full one shoulder, like if I'm able to just snap you down and get you to one side of your body, that helps like eliminate the golden scores. Cause golden scores in the Olympics were going to like to almost an hour, an hour match, hardcore. And that is a long, that's like, imagine it's like wrestling, but you're wearing a big thick cotton jacket, thick cotton pants, and you're just dying. But it's, that's the fun part. Cause after, yeah, you're wearing your thick pajamas for an hour and you're just like, ⁓ what am I doing? It's like wrestling when you're wearing, like, I know the wrestlers are going to get this, but when you're wearing your, all your layers, doing conditioning picture that in the same exact hot room, but you can't take the layers off. You have to continue where that exact uniform. Devin Davis: You're wearing your pajamas for an hour. Gene Montoya: But that's just what I love because it just went hand in hand because I would hear the wrestlers like Lincoln can even say that Lincoln be complaining. ⁓ it's so hot Jean and I'm just laughing. Because I'm like, dude, this is hot. Because I'm used to dying wearing a gi. Because those things are like double-weed, so they're sewn in like a normal, thin jujitsu gi. And then they're sewn in again. So it's like this thick. Sleeves. And then, So that's what I just, I grew up just trying to learn. Because my dad was like, he grew up in areas where harm was very common. Devin Davis: There we go Yeah. ⁓ huh. Yeah. Gene Montoya: people getting harmed are very common. So he just wanted to be able to have his kids have understanding that you could, your hands could do damage. And that's like with rest, like that's the one thing I noticed with wrestlers that most of them like that's like wrestling in judo tournaments. That's the scary place in that city, right? That in there, because those, most of those people can harm someone if they really needed to, especially judo guys. They're the nerdiest looking guys. Devin Davis: Right, to be able to stand up for yourself, man. Gene Montoya: have a hunchback and they're like walking around, gimping around and you're like, all right, this guy can maybe mess someone up. And then most of the time the high level guys like drain their cauliflower here because they don't want to be known as a judo guy. Like in Japan, like our, one of our sensei's was telling them that the Japanese judokas will be like, will drain their ears because they don't want to be known as a judo guy. Cause that just puts our target on your back. They would just rather knock you out with the cement than just being known as a judo guy. Because a lot of people are scared of him. It just makes me laugh. I was like, it just made me laugh one day. But like, that's one thing like I would want my kids to know to like be able to defend themselves in situations like that. Devin Davis: ⁓ yeah, man, that w I should have learned that a long time ago. Everybody So yeah, as I you know, talking about thinking about your s your sports and then your faith and kind of I mean the last couple of years of of really being a a a a Christ follower, ⁓ what I I I mean, and maybe I don't know if this is a good or bad question, but what has been the hardest part about being a Christian. ⁓ you know, you like you said, you you started, you know, you started weeping and realizing that you needed Jesus and ⁓ that that that he's our our only hope and everything and and like that hit you like a ton of bricks. But now you here you are a a couple of years after that decision. What's the battle been like for you or has there been a battle ⁓ as far as being a Christian? Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. I'll say there is definitely a battle with especially like your flesh and Then trying to serve God because there are a lot of people. Oh, yeah, I I asked a lot of people all right I was like, oh you what's your opinion on Jesus Christ? Oh, yeah I believe in him and then you meet the guys that are actually are like girls that are followers of Christ. Oh, I follow Christ Because even the demons believe but they shudder at the name of Jesus. That's the one thing, like, as Christian, it's hard to not fall into your flesh. I will say that. And then the worst part, living in a household that don't believe in God is just the weeping that comes whenever you see people that die and they didn't know Jesus. That is, that's the hardest things with being a Christian. Cause when you fully give your life to God, seeing the people that don't follow God around you, it just tears at your soul. But Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. Well, and like you said though, I mean, you know, what I was thinking, this kind of going back, y like, you know, you had been told about Jesus. ⁓ you'd gone to church, ⁓ and then but never really it it finally you never really got it. I mean, and and that's that's a crazy thing to think about. Like, do you ever think about that? You go to church and you look around and you know, all these people are at church and you're going, I wonder how many of these people really truly Gene Montoya: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Believe. Devin Davis: Are trusting Christ as their Lord and Savior. Do you I mean, cause that was you, right? Yeah. Gene Montoya: That is so true. That was me. I can see it because following God, that was in my FCA when I gave my testimony in the wrestling. Following God is scary. You don't even know what's gonna be at the end of the tunnel, but if you trust in the guy that has the plans, the architect that I say is Jesus, ⁓ those plans are gonna be so worth it. Because when the first step is the most terrifying, and I was with that, I was terrified to follow Jesus. I was like, Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ my goodness gracious. What am I doing? Jesus, what? Devin Davis: Yeah. And that's why I mean, and that's why like I I understand the word Christian, but Christian to me is such an easy label to use, ⁓ to t call yourself a Christian. And but to to to be able to say, I'm a follower of Jesus or I'm a follower of Christ, ⁓ that's that that to me is a whole different level, right? Because that means you've surrendered to him and and you're following him. You're Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. ⁓ huh. Devin Davis: denying your flesh, and you're seeking his his will for your life and that's a whole different level than just going to church and and it's a Christian church, so that means you're a Christian. ⁓ but I I I mean I at it's it's crazy. I had someone at church, ⁓ I I I filled in at a at another church here in Riverton the last couple of weeks and had a really good discussion with a a kid and ⁓ Gene Montoya: Yep. Yep, something good. Devin Davis: young guy. I I don't know exactly how old he is, but young, probably nineteen, twenty-ish or so. and he he said, ⁓ I think we need to have a discussion. What does it mean to be what does it mean to be saved? What does it mean to be born again? And and in my head I'm going like, how long have you been going to church? You know, isn't it funny that we can go to church but but not not be able to get that? ⁓ Gene Montoya: Yeah, not to be understanding what it is to be saved. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. I mean it and it's and it's crazy. ⁓ because and then like if you hear my sermons, man, I I I preach the gospel, you know, and and every sir, you know, sermon. I I feel like a preacher doesn't preach Christ, Christ crucified, Christ resurrected in every sermon, he's not really doing his job, right? ⁓ Gene Montoya: because then that's the whole gospel gone. Yep, that's the whole thing. That's the gospel, like with our bracelets, that's the whole gospel. Because to be saved, and Pastor Purvis tells us all the time, it's when you deny the sin and you choose to pick up your cross and prove to be a disciple of Christ and to prove that you're saved, that you believe with your whole heart that Jesus died and defeated death three days later. That is the whole gospel. Devin Davis: Yeah. Amen. Yeah. Amen. And that's Gene Montoya: And you can't do that with any other religion. Devin Davis: No, no. And that, you know, and that's I I read a good a good kind of explanation of I mean the heart, they talk about the heart, and we've talked about the heart over and over and over again. But the the heart is the center of your whole being. Right? I mean, and so that's I mean, that hit me hard because it talks about, you know, you having a changed heart. ⁓ and and it's like, okay, I get it. Like it that that has completely Gene Montoya: Hmm. Devin Davis: changed what what you seek after. You know, you're not seeking after recognition of men or popularity or ⁓ instant gratification. You know, you're not seeking any of those things. and so that's I mean, that's that's the thing. That's I don't know. It's it's a little bit sad to me. And I know in God's time, ⁓ just like in it with you, ⁓ that all that all kind of Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. Audience of one. Yes. Devin Davis: Like when it ki it clicked, right? It's like, wow. Yeah, I get it now. Yeah. I know, I know, right? And that and I praise God and thank him all the time for finally helping me to to figure that that out. ⁓ I was trying to just live in the world and still consider myself a Christian because of what the things I did. You know, I going to church, reading my Bible. Gene Montoya: I just went boom. What was I doing? What was I doing? Devin Davis: But living like everybody else d the rest of the time and that's not a good place to be either. I mean, and 'cause it y you're not fully in, right? And and and it God wants you to be all in, basically. That's it it's all in or nothing, really. Gene Montoya: Yep, that's the beauty of it. Yeah, all your chips are going right into Jesus, because you know you're going to win. Devin Davis: Yep. Yeah. Cause that's that's what we have to remind ourselves is, right? Is is that's the ultimate reward. ⁓ and so it we yeah, it's it's temporary. This this life is temporary and the struggles and the challenges we have in this life as Christ followers are temporary. ⁓ but but our hope is eternal. And so that's that's a good good reminder. ⁓ yeah, that that's a just a good conversation. 'Cause I We're always gonna have battles, but how do you how do you handle I I mean, in your life, what are some of the things that have helped you since you made that that confession of faith? What have what have you done to to help you to continue to get to where you are today? How how strong your faith is? Gene Montoya: The biggest thing that I have that has helped my faith is community. Can't do this Christian walk alone because your flames gonna burn out. Devin Davis: Yep. Yeah. Gene Montoya: You have to have community. You have to have someone that's a leader that walks the path that can be a mentor and that for me that's Pastor Purvis. Because he is so strong in his faith and he's so good at guiding the sheep towards Jesus. Because he's not the shepherd Jesus is. He's the one that's just like the gate he says all the time. He's not the one, you're not gonna get saved off of my clothes. You're gonna be saved from Jesus. So having community and another one that helped me. Devin Davis: Mm. Yeah. Amen. Gene Montoya: is constantly talking with God. Continuous prayer. I don't ever stop sometimes Like I'll be like in situations around my house because I'm good at zoning out But now I zone out and I'm just having conversation to God So I'll just imagine like talking with him just all the time and then the word you got to be in the word You can't supply you got to supply your spirit because if you don't supply your spirit your Your emotions are gonna be leading you if you're not spiritually fed. You're gonna be emotionally lead Devin Davis: Yeah, that's great. And our emotions always let us down, right? I I mean that's that's the thing about it is like, yeah, we we a lot of times put way too much trust in our emotions. ⁓ when they're they're gonna yeah, you're gonna burn out big time and and then you're gonna go like, Why did I allow myself to get caught up in my anger or you know, what whatever that that might be. So Gene Montoya: That is a- Mm-hmm. Mm hmm. ⁓ Devin Davis: I like your comment though about always thinking, you know, and I was about always having your mind on Christ and like, you know, we all zone out. ⁓ but it's it's like what are you thinking about when you're not thinking about something? Does that make sense? 'Cause like Gene Montoya: Yeah, for me it's always like, sometimes I fall short. Like I remember I missed doing our one thing like this past few days ago. I fell into like just accidentally cussing and Pastor Purvis is on the phone because I forgot we had a meeting. Oh, and I remember we are in this truck and I was with one of my like buddies, not my buddies. I had to help out. He's a coworker. We were on our way to Utah to go pick up a truck for him. But I was like, I cussed and he was like, he's like, Gene. And I was like, I know, because I completely spaced it. But like for me, after that, I was just on fire. The whole tire ride out, like the guy I was riding down with to Utah. I was like, dude, you're going to hear about Jesus for these whole two and a half hours, even if you like it or not. Devin Davis: Ha ha ha. Gene Montoya: But just to be able to shine that light of Jesus, can't beat it. Can't beat it at all. Can't beat it. Devin Davis: You know, and I I ⁓ I think a lot about like ⁓ before I really surrendered my life to Jesus, like I could go I could go days without thinking about God. Right? And now I I I mean, I'm like, what did I do with all that time that I wasn't thinking about God or or you know, thinking about like praying, you know, quietly or thinking about like ⁓ how are you gonna use me, God? ⁓ Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. I know, it's weird. Devin Davis: You know, listening to the spirit and like, man, I I sure wasted a lot of time. ⁓ and and now like if if I've gone by a morning and I haven't thought about God, you know, how he can glorify him or, you know, or him convicting me of man, you shouldn't have talked that way or whatever it is, it just seems so empty. Yeah. Gene Montoya: Yeah, I got the conviction immediately. I got the conviction immediately because like I dimmed down the light because I was like, he calls me at two o'clock Friday. And I'm like pulling in the front of my eye I'm like whoa pastor's purpose calling me for something and he calls me so gene where are you at? And I was like I got custom he was like ⁓ And I was like no because I'm like two hours away two hours away I was like I can't believe this I left at 12 and I was like completely spaced it cuz that whole morning I was like I have something I have to do today I have something and God was like pulling at me, but God I guarantee the reason why he let me forget that, I know for a fact, is because the guy I was talking with that whole car ride didn't really believe in God. Devin Davis: Yeah. And there was a purpose to this, right? Gene Montoya: So I got a swish. I was sharing the gospel for that. But I was so convicted when I cussed. I was just doing God's work and then 10 seconds later I cuss. And so then I'm over there praying, repenting for it and the guy's like, why are you praying about that? And I was like, once you turn your life to Christ, you're gonna understand. Because we're sinful people and that sometimes slips out because you're chasing a perfect God. Devin Davis: Yeah, right. Yeah. And and you think about it as like, you know, it's it's so it's so easy to to get really caught up when things aren't don't happen like you think they should happen, right? Or or while like you want them to happen. But when God really gets your heart, ⁓ you know that his timing is perfect and no no none of his time is wasted. ⁓ and so that's where really that that that Gene Montoya: and perfect people. Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: peace comes from, right? That ⁓ reasonableness comes from is just knowing that there's no time wasted if you're really truly pursuing Christ. Gene Montoya: Yep. Mm-hmm. There's no time wasted. Yeah, my... I felt terrible. I called Pa... I messaged Pa... I'm like, I am so sorry for getting... I am so sorry for all that. For that last, like, 10 minute call you just had with me. And he said, it's all good. It's all good. And I was like, I can't believe this. Devin Davis: Except for when you say a cuss word. Okay. ⁓ man. Well I'm I'm you know, ⁓ thanks for confessing. I'm not gonna be able to ⁓ publish this podcast because ⁓ Gene Montoya accussed to ⁓ Pastor Purvis and so but ⁓ so Gene Montoya: ⁓ I'm so sorry guys. I can't believe it. This is not a Christian. Just kidding. God's probably like, Gene, man, you were doing good. Why did you have to... It's probably giggling at me. I know for a fact. I was just talking about, was like, yeah, and sinning is common. Like I sin, like I fall so, I fall short so many times with the glory of God. It is stated that we all fall short. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. But you know, God's not surprised at that. I mean I hate to say it got Gene Montoya: And God's just like, God's just like, okay, he knows, he's like, just waiting for them come back, just waiting for them come back. And it's like, one thing I was thinking about is how he would leave the 9.99 for that one. And he would do that for you. He did that for me. And anyone on this podcast that listening, he will do that for you. That's one thing I love. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. Ha ha ha. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. That's I was just listening to a sermon ⁓ on on the prodigal son, right? And the I mean the son takes off and wastes all the money ⁓ that his dad gave him, all of his inheritance on worthless things. And when he finally s you know comes back on his knees to his dad, what does his dad do? Gene Montoya: When he saw his son, when he saw his son, it was like... praises and ⁓ you fell. But yeah, his dad, he was like, my son has returned and that's God with us. ⁓ this is not gonna. Devin Davis: His debt he puts on the biggest Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's like he goes and and and and puts on the this just huge banquet feast and celebration. ⁓ because his son is back and he and that's how Jesus feels every single time when we when we stray, when we fall away and he he's ready, he's he he's never you know, isn't that the crazy thing is we have a hard time going back and saying, Man, God I Gene Montoya: There you go. Come running back to him. Devin Davis: screwed up because we know he's perfect and we know he's holy, but he's not holding that against us. And that's just hard for us, I think, sometimes to understand. Gene Montoya: think that's the beauty of God. Yeah, that's hard. I was like, ⁓ it's so hard because sometimes you're like, God, I really failed. And then he's like, I know. But to recognize and get that conviction, he's like, but I still love you. But God, I did this, but I still love you. God, I cuss this person out. Yeah, but I still love you. And that's the beauty. Like, that's a love known people like when people are like, and you would and if a serial killer kills someone and he gets actually like. Devin Davis: Ha. Yeah, yep, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Gene Montoya: gives his life to God, he's in heaven. I'm like, yeah, because you wanna know why? God loves you. Oh, you lost, I lost the camera. Oh, there you go. You're good. You. Devin Davis: There we go. I had ⁓ phone call in the middle of this, so sorry about that. But yeah, you got it back you got me back now? Okay. But no, I mean that that forgiveness that's unending is hard for us to under understand because we're not really we're not really capable of that, right? We we hold grudges and ⁓ we hold things against other people and it's it's hard for us because if we've been wronged by somebody, ⁓ we want them to feel that, right? That Gene Montoya: No, you're good. Yeah, I got you back. Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: That you hurt me kind of thing. And it's just hard for us to understand that God's not like that at all. Gene Montoya: God's like, yeah, they hurt me, but I still love him. Endless love. that's why people are like, God, I want you to come back now. Like, past purpose touches on that will reveal you because the people in your family aren't saved. They would be in. They'd be in hell. He said, God is patient. God's love is just so much more than what people think. They're like, I want you to come back now, Lord. I don't. I know people that aren't saved down the street. don't. want them to be saved so I can see them in heaven. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yep. Yes. Amen. Amen to that. For sure. So well, I wanted to also just kind of touch on ⁓ i I mean again, it it wor just worked out so awesome that you were able to ⁓ go to FCA sports camp as a as a huddle leader and ⁓ grateful for you to be able to have that opportunity. But tell us kind of how that experience went in Laramie and and what you what you got out of that. Gene Montoya: ⁓ I will happily be a huddle leader next year because the friendships that I made that are Christian friendships are really not common in Rock Springs. But to be able to see that friendships, just to be able to glorify God with people that are right minded also. For Jesus are on the winning side. I'm going to see him in heaven is the thing that I love the most. And not only that, but to see kids give their life to Jesus. is better than any state title, better than any national title imaginable. And I'll mark that on my words. Devin Davis: Amen. Like, you know, when when you are able to play if when when I shouldn't say you, when God allows you to be part of someone's transformation, ⁓ where they where they go from dead to alive, that that like that feeling ⁓ it it is. Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. is so beautiful. It's so beautiful. Can't beat it. Can't beat it. Devin Davis: Man, you're just I mean, talk about gratitude, right? You go to to God and and just like like how did you use me? Why did you use me to to be able to to lead this person to to trust in your son or or to just encourage the person, whatever it is, man, that that feeling is like the best gift times ⁓ infinity that you could ever get, really, isn't it? Gene Montoya: I'm like dude, this is good or even the kids that come in there they don't care for Jesus and You get to see them change a little bit You see them see them get to enjoy a little more because I had one kid who had the mouth on him And he was like, I don't care. He had no self Control and he was just lighting it up on everything and every single thing and then the kids start his own his own Devin Davis: Yeah, yeah. Gene Montoya: like huddle, hudlets, like his own people that he was sharing rooms with were getting on him more than I went before I could. And that's what it just made me think about Iron Sharpens Iron. Cause they were like, we, you gotta do pushups when you cuss. You gotta do pushups when you do this. So then they would come to me, hey, blah, blah, blah has to draw from the Uno deck. And I love the games I had. I had this one game called Uno pushups. So you had the Uno deck and it's like draw 50 cards, but then it was like, do 50 pushups, do this many cards. So then if you got a plus two, you had to grab two more cards. had to time those by two plus four. You got four more cards you had to time those by four. So I would make them draw from the low number deck that I would keep on a certain side. They didn't know which side it was because I was flipping every single time, but I knew which one. And then they would, they think they thought they would get a reverse. I took the reverse out. Only time if I would have to, only time I do pushups if I cussed or if I did six, seven joke or any type of brain rot, anytime I did brain rot or purpleing. or purpleing. Yes, if I had a talk. Yeah, I made it up myself right then and there. I, I, all the other huddle leaders were like, I got this game right here. Like fun hat or draw hat, prize box or something like that. And I like, I need to have a game. And I was like praying to God. was like, what game should I use Lord? Like praying to God about it. Cause I didn't know what to use. Cause I don't want these kids to be like, Oh my goodness, my huddle leader sucks. You know, my huddle leader's jokes were not good. His games sucked. Devin Davis: So did you make this game up yourself? Gene Montoya: because we had no game. So then I'm in our commons and Ryan Nutt says, dude, there's a Uno deck right there, guys, should we play Uno? And I'm like, that's it. Like in the middle of this, when we're talking with Day, and I was like, boom. So I run over there and I'm like going through the cards and they had like draw 50, blah, blah, blah, this, this, this. And I like grab them and I'm like, all right, I know what I'm gonna do with my deck. And then we had one of the HODL leader girls. Devin Davis: No way. That that just popped into your head? Gene Montoya: She was like, I messaged her and I was like, dude, I found a good game. And she's like, what is it? Cause she was going to do prize box. And I was like, I have one better than that. Cause kids who doesn't like Uno draw it from the deck. I don't want to draw from the deck, but then you're going to learn how I shouldn't be cussing or I shouldn't be doing this. I should be glorifying God. So then she was like, I don't know the game. So then we were in the middle of our lunch or breakfast and I run over to her and I was like, dude, grab half of this deck. And it was like a fake deck I had of Uno cards. So I split it with her and she was all like, but then the building and I was like, then I'm next year I'm planning on doing like prize box or like hat, draw from the hat. like you go share the gospel with a kid, like with someone, go say hi to someone every single day. for rest of the week. Because there was other games like that that I had ideas for. But it was at the end of the camp. was like, I should have done that. But the Uno cards were the move. Because you cuss, you tear someone down, you got pushups. And then the kids are like, let's do diamond pushups. And I was like, all right, we're doing diamond pushups. So the diamond pushups for lower numbers, so like five and below, those are diamond pushups with five second holding intervals. So if I draw two, I have two diamond pushups with two second holding interval. And then if six and a Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: six and above, those are normal pushups with the holds. And then if you get like the draw 25, draw 10 or not draw 10, draw 15, draw 20, draw 25, draw 50 I had, you'd have to do 50 pushups and you have to hold the last one for the whole seconds. And my kids were eating it up and I loved it because they were like wrestlers. So, know, wrestlers are gonna be like, all right, let's go. I ain't gonna lose with these pushups. And then you get them to do that. Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: And then I started switching, was like, and you have to find me a verse with this, or like with this number so they get a 12. I was like, find me a verse that has 12. Like Romans 8-12. And you have to explain to what it means. And one of the kids got 11, because I had to draw 11 card. And he's like, have to do 11 pushups. was like, but you get a fine 11, you get a fine 11. So then he went to Romans 8 11 and that was my favorite verse. Don't count these like the things that you're going through right now won't compare to the glory to come. Like the false shorts won't compare to the glory to come. Oh, and I named it off before he could even say it. And he was like, Hey, I wasn't able to say the verse. And I was like, all right, got to change it then. And then he went to so many other ones. It's just like, that was the fun part. So I can tie in Jesus with these fun games. Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: So you still gotta give me a verse. Cause then 50, 50 they went all the way. Devin Davis: Little did No, little did your huddle members know that they actually huddle huddle leader who was crazier and had more energy than they did. Gene Montoya: Oh, they were tired of me. They were tired of me because I would get them up. I'll get them up early in the morning, bang on their doors. I'm like, rise and shine, boys. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And they're like, you know, we got to go to Brit or we I forgot I have this thing right here. have it. I need to look at that. Like our our setup, because I'd wake them up and I'll be quiet time. And then I was like, you got breakfast after that. So by quiet time I would have them run me through a book that they want to know what is it about. So then I would break down the verse, break down like a verse they had. So I got the night, I was like, you guys need to get in your Bibles and find a verse that you're confused with in the book of John. Find a verse you're confused with. I did the gospel, so I did Matthew, Mark, Luke. So was like, find me a verse in Luke that you're confused with. And one of them was when Jesus was calming the storms, when he said, oh, you with little faith. Or I think it was Luke. I think, yeah. Because then he was kind of sassy. He's like, you guys got no faith. Jesus is like, you guys are with the Son of God, God in the flesh, and you guys are scared of some water. And then he calms the storm and goes back to bed. And I was like, that's really like us. And I'm merging it down to these kids and to one of the huddle leaders. I was like, that's like us whenever we have something that goes crazy in our life. Like, ⁓ my goodness, my house burned down. That's extreme. That's extreme. I'm not mean if that happened to you. I'm sorry if it did. But just to know that those things don't matter because God can calm that storm. And if you just trust him, you'll be good. And these kids are like, wow, Gene, that is crazy. Devin Davis: Yeah, I every time I saw ya at at ⁓ camp I always laughed 'cause your kids were you had some some ⁓ hooligans Gene Montoya: And I was praying for patience. Crazy ones, huh? Crazy. They were on each other though. They were like, you cussed. Gene, he cussed. And I'm like, all right. So then we want to do it. We actually did it in the cafeteria because he tore a kid down. He's like, man, you're so blah, blah, blah, stupid. And I was like, my ears perked up. What's up, dad? His ears perked up. And I'm laughing. And he's all like. Devin Davis: Yeah. Gene Montoya: So then we made him do like, he got to draw 50. He was like, no, no, I don't want to, can I redraw? I was like, nope, you know the rules. You didn't let someone else draw when they got to draw 50. So you got 50 pushups. You got 50 second hold. And he was like, gets into 50 pushups and he's like dying. And I had one kid get to like 68, 69, 70 I think, 70 pushups he had to do. Devin Davis: Wow. And then you had to hold it for that long on the last one? ⁓ man. Gene Montoya: Yep, you gotta hold for that long so we put the so we put it in and then the kids are like counting one two three four five It was funny. It was the best Yep cafeteria and then I had them starting doing chance because they were doing like some like secular chance I was like saw that little bird on the thing and then it was like knocked him down and blah blah blah and I was like you guys got to change that and do some gospel ones Devin Davis: Yeah. That was in the calf, right? Yeah, yeah. Gene Montoya: So like, Jesus Christ is really king. And they're like doing chants. Left, left, left. Because the one that came up with it was Stacey's son. He came up, yeah, Cyrus came up with the chants. And I was like, yes, Cyrus. I was like, you way to go, buddy. And he just started cooking with them. Devin Davis: Cyrus. Well, I I wanna know like d that's maybe what did like when you came away from there from camp, is there any like really kind of lesson or d you know, like how did God speak to you during that time? Was there anything you walked away with? Gene Montoya: Cause he would cut... That was the best. God spoke to me patience. Patience was the one I walked away. Because I prayed God. I don't know why I prayed. I was like, Lord, he was pulling on my heart before FCA, like when we're praying every single day, going through John 15, praying every single day about that. I was like, God, why are you wanting me to pay for patience? I think I got more than enough patience in that one of the days I lost patience on a coworker and he hit me with the conviction, that's why I'm praying for, want you to pray for patience. So I pray for patients and then I get to FCA and my kids are not patient. They were making lift the weights for patients. So God let me come back with way bigger patients than I ever thought I would. Devin Davis: That's I just remember years ago that's I I don't remember exactly who it was, but I told I remember somebody telling me, Devin, don't you ever pray for patience. And I had never thought about that before, right? Because you're gonna God God you know teaches you those lessons by making you go through the thing that you're struggling with. And Gene Montoya: I did it. Yeah. Devin Davis: Seeing that you can trust him and he's faithful and all of that. So I have I have learned not to pray for patience. I just endure. I endure patiently without having to ask, right? Gene Montoya: Yeah, for me was like, Lord, I don't want to pay for patients. And he's like, you gotta do it. And then I prayed for patients, first day of FCA. I'm like, dude, I'm scared. I'm going to have zero patients for these kids. then freaking JC was like, Gene, like laughing because he signed my hellelig, they just took off. Right, we got to the cafeteria. But then at the end of it, they would meet at the table first, like our tables, our certain tables we'd meet at. And then we had to pray, then I let him Devin Davis: Well, I would just you know, thinking about ⁓ that and also like here we are in the middle of summer. What what are your plans ⁓ for for next year? ⁓ what what kind of would you like to see yourself doing in, you know, ten years or whatever? Have you thought much about that at all? Do you have plans or or are are you just being patient? Gene Montoya: I wanna, I'm being patient with God. I'm finally listening to whatever he's calling me to do. Because for me, always found out when I'd be like, want to go do this. I would put my whole life into it that I need to reach that goal. And they would fall through because that wasn't God's plan. So for me, my plan is to listen to God wherever he's calling me this following year. And he's been pulling on my heart to like start at FCA for Western with Pastor Purvis. Pastor Purvis would like talk about it. But like it's been on my heart to run a beer running huddle for FCA because then we're going to have the Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah, awesome. Gene Montoya: We're gonna have good old pine-dell boys there and we could chip in with running those huddles. That's what's really been on my mind the most, Devin Davis: Yeah, that's that's good. I never I never think thought about that. Landon and and Wiley will both be down there wrestling for for Western and be that'd be cool to get something planted like that. Gene Montoya: Mm-hmm. That's what I was That's what I was saying. Devin Davis: So do you have any idea like what you would like to do as far as a a profession ⁓ goes, occupation? Gene Montoya: What I've been really felt like when I was praying to God about, because I was going to go into construction management and God was like, why are you going to do that? I was going to go do power line. was like, why? He's like, Gene, no. Then I was praying and then he hit me. I'm going to go to Western, do my pre-engineering and I'm going to transfer to Iowa State because they have a or transfer to U-Dub and then I'm going to do my civil engineering and architectural. Because at Iowa State you can minor in architectural. Devin Davis: Okay. Awesome. Gene Montoya: and you can major in civil engineering. Because I would love to drop something and make it for someone's house. Like if someone wants to have a house, I would like to be the guy that goes surveys it. Because I'm doing survey as like a summer gig right now, working on this engineer. But learning civil engineering alongside, I would like to be able to go get the data, draw it up on CAD, go there, be the architect guy and build it for the person. Because in Rock Springs we have no architectural design people. In Rock Springs it's all paid outside of. Devin Davis: That'd be cool. So be able to see that that project through from beginning to end, pretty much. Gene Montoya: I would love to see a project go through beginning to end. And I felt like God was calling me to do that. Because I was like, I just want to make money. But then God's like, going to be, money isn't the thing you need. You need me. You need me. So then I was like, all right. Yeah, I was like, I don't care. I was like, it's OK. I don't care no more. Devin Davis: Yeah. Exac exactly. That might that might not be his plan for you, right? Well man, like I said, they hadn't no problem in in this conversation at all and we pr we've kinda gone off tangents, but that's that's the best part of this and ⁓ I just was you wanted I kinda every all every podcast I always like to see if our my guests have any final input or ⁓ advice or you know, what God's speaking through them that they wanna share. Is anything specific come to to mind for you? Gene Montoya: Eheheheh. Eheheheheh. One thing that's really been on my mind recently is the trust in God and not lean on your own understanding. because I've had multiple times, even today, I was terrified because I wasn't able to our schedule to go over with worship, like with the teens, to go over these worship songs. Satan was like, you don't need to do it though, Gene. You don't need to do it. Because he's the deceiver. He's like, no, you don't need to praise him. He can just sit in the back and just observe. But then I was like, text pastor in the morning. I was like, I don't even know if I should trust this, but I think I should go and help with worship. He's like, yeah, I already got a plan on you doing that. So then I go into there and the first time he has a sheet music, I would go through it all. And it kind of clicks, I change some of the chords, but then trusting in God, because when we did our worship today, I was saying it and God was shining through, I felt it. Because then I was, I kind of went blank minded, because I was just picturing Jesus like smiling at me the whole entire time when I was worshiping. There was no like looking through the chords, trying to remember what chord to go to. I just basically went blank minded because I trusted in God and did not lean on my own understanding and I was like, okay. Devin Davis: I think we'd all we'd all be wise to to take that advice. I mean Gene Montoya: And I was like, yes. And when I got done with with worship, and we finished with church, there's a lady in the parking lot, I'm like getting my guitar in my truck and she like knocks on my window, and I roll down and I'm like, hey, and she's like, I just want to say thank you so much for what you were singing today. Because we ended with a bide. And it's like when you're resurrected, be raised with Christ, I depend on you. I depend on you. ⁓ that, she said she started crying because her mom, or think her aunt, someone in her family. It's Jen at our church. She is battling cancer, but she's battling it with God. And the cancer is winning, but her faith is so, so inspiring. Because you're struggling with cancer, but you're still... working through and that's because she's leaning on God and not on her own understanding. So trust in God and don't lean on your own understanding because he's going to take you places you've never been before. And that was with FCA for me. Devin Davis: So that I love that song. But so you sing too? Gene Montoya: Yeah, I sing and play guitar. Devin Davis: Well, ⁓ dude, you're a jack of many trades. Gene Montoya: ⁓ I get told that all the time Devin Davis: Do you? I I so wish I could sing. I love to I love praise and worship and I love to sing, but the people who s stand around me don't like it so much. Gene Montoya: They're like. I don't know. But I'm gonna plug my ears. But for me, loved, like at a young age, I would not stop singing around the house. I would always be singing. God gave me the, I guess, for the gift of singing, because I always loved singing. And most people never really heard me sing worship until at church. It was my first time really running a worship. getting to be able to, and Pastor Purvis knew I needed to do it. I was like, I don't Devin Davis: Put put my earphones in here now. That's a gift for sure. Good for you, man. Gene Montoya: And then I woke up in the middle of the night yesterday, or today. I went to bed early and I woke up at like four, maybe three in the morning. Woke up, I jolted away because I woke up in a nightmare. And I immediately got into talking with God because God would just comfort me and I was able go back to sleep. because I trusted in him. Like God is so good. I could talk to him about hours. And I could never be quiet. People are gonna, like passed the purpose of the day in church, and the only time you're gonna see me in jail is if preaching becomes illegal. I'm gonna be right there with him. I'm be right there with him. I guarantee it, we're gonna be yapping. Be like, hey, hey. Yep, we're gonna be sharing the gospel left and right. Devin Davis: Yes. You guys are gonna be cellmates, man. And the whole jail is gonna be saved. Gene Montoya: We're going to be running sermons. He's going to running sermons. I'm just me riding sermons and worship. Make them pans like, you know, like aristocats when they're making instruments out of pans and like the back alleyway. Most people probably know that that's what we're going to be like. We're going to be like that with the trays. Yeah. But that's all I want to like really leave like anyone that's on the listening to the podcast with. Devin Davis: And worship, right? You got it all. ⁓ The junk house dogs, man. Yeah. Awesome. Well, I I always ⁓ finish out ⁓ by praying ⁓ for and with ⁓ my guests. So if you'll join me with prayer, I'm gonna take off my hat here and ⁓ we'll go ahead and and pray. Father, I just ⁓ so blessed by this time that we've had together today to just talk about you and talk about how you're working in in Gene's life and my life. ⁓ Father, how you're leading and guiding us. ⁓ thank you, Father, that Gene Montoya: Lord. Devin Davis: You helped us to see that we needed saved. Help thank you that you showed us that ⁓ it's not about anything we earn or we deserve. It's not about going to church. It's not about reading your word. It's not about praying. Those are all good things. ⁓ but but we can't earn our salvation. Our salvation is a gift that you give us. ⁓ and and once we believe, once we confess Christ. Gene Montoya: . ⁓ Yes, Lord. Devin Davis: The Holy Spirit comes into us and guides us from there on out. So thank you for that gift. Thank you that you led Jesus Gene to that point. Thank you that you are guiding him through the through the hills and the valleys. and that he's just seeing you work mightily in his life. ⁓ so continue to do that, Father, whatever role that is, as he really puts his faith and his trust in you. And I I think there's probably a lot of people who are listening to this. Gene Montoya: you ⁓ Devin Davis: Myself included that need that advice as well. Help help us because that's hard for us to do, right? We're fleshly people and and ⁓ we ⁓ just ask for your help so that we could follow and seek and trust your will for our lives and that we would deny our own desires and and and that you would put your desires in us. So bless Jean from here on out the rest the summer, ⁓ and with school as ⁓ School starts back up and I just pray that you will guide him and bless him and started an FCA on campus at Western. ⁓ thank you that he's taken the time out today to share his faith with others. We love you, we love your son, and it's in your holy name we pray. Amen. Gene Montoya: you Amen. Wonderful. Wonderful. Devin Davis: Awesome. That was that was really really good. I and man, ⁓ I'll I'll probably listen to this episode several times because you had me cracking up d numerous times, which I knew you would, so that's not a surprise, but the joy of the Lord is our strength, right? Amen. All right. Well, thanks, Gene. I sure appreciate it. Thanks for taking the time. Yeah, this is what great. So have a great day. Gene Montoya: Can't the joy of the spirit can't the joy of the spirit well joy the Lord Yeah God bless Thank you so much for having me on this You too. Bye. Devin Davis: Bye. All right. ⁓ man, that was a great episode and I just love Gene. Man, his his spirit and his faith and his love for Jesus are just infectious. And it's so awesome to spend time talking to him and just hear his story, his testimony, how God's working in his life. And I hope you guys were encouraged too. And as I said, you know, it's you know, probably the biggest thing ⁓ i are these stories is that that you know, I just pray that Would people you if you have if you're not saved, if you've never put your faith in Jesus Christ and confessed his name and believed, ⁓ that that's not a you know it's not some special prayer. It's not you don't have to go here or go there. Just ask God. God, I I I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Help me, fill me with your spirit. I trust in you. ⁓ and when you say those words. You're saved. You don't you don't earn it. You don't you don't ⁓ you don't have to go to church a hundred times, although church should be something that you want to go to because you're around other believers and you're with the fellowship of the body and you're learning about his word. But but guys, man, i you know, put your faith in Christ and that's what it takes. Confess with your mouth, tell your friends, tell your family. Baptism comes after that. Baptism does not save as Gene just said, but baptism is a profession that you are showing people that you are no longer living for yourself or for the world, but you're living for Jesus Christ. So if you've been saved, if you've put your trust in Christ, if you've been born again, next step is be baptized. And and you'll never be ⁓ sorry that you did that. If find somebody around you that can help you with that and guide you with that. But ⁓ all good things ⁓ from Gene Montoya and we're grateful that he joined us today. So I just wanted to say thanks again to everybody listening in today. ⁓ love doing this podcast. Sure su ⁓ appreciate the support that I get. ⁓ have a great day, a great week, and and be blessed. This is Devin Davis, three ⁓ seven Faithful Podcast. We'll talk to you later. God bless.