MO church leader: "Jesus didn't tap out"

ST LOUIS (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Missouri church leader goes to extremes to get people in pews.

He's organized a cage-fighting-themed service for Easter Sunday.

The preacher says he's seen a lot of people, especially young men, become disconnected with their faith.

He came up with the idea to relate the physical strain of the fighters to the strain Jesus went through on the cross.

"In the mixed martial arts arena, in that octagon, there's an expression. And that expression is, don't tap out. And he didn't tap out," said Pastor Thomas Sykes. "He took every blow and he wound up becoming victorious."

There won't actually be a knock-down, drag out brawl during church.  But the pastor did invite a fighter in to show some moves and relate that to Jesus's struggle.