He's known as "The Preacher" in the athletic world and is pastor of Salt Lake's Back to the Foundation, a nondenominational church at 2801 S. Main. However, any way you look at him he's a sort of modern-day Samson, rippling with muscles, full of enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
Pastor Ron Williams, who by profession is a personal athletic trainer, is also a world champion bodybuilder -- having won some 100 titles. In his most recent competition he was the overall winner -- "Mr. Natural Universe" -- in an international bodybuilding event at Redondo Beach, Calif.He won seven different bodybuilding titles in 1999.
"That's a miracle," he said. "I've continued to get better."
At age 38, weighing 210 pounds and standing 5 feet 6 1/2 inches tall, Williams is a little short on height and hair, but like Samson of the Old Testament, he believes his strength and muscles are a gift from God.
Williams grew up in Indianapolis and played four varsity sports as a teenager. However, his early life was very difficult.
"I used to be a street kid," he said. "I know what it's like to hate and not respect authority . . . I had a 'me against the world' mentality, and it developed a hardness."
His boxing coach encouraged him to try bodybuilding, and he found he had the genetics for the sport.
His goal was then to be the best bodybuilder in the world. He was proficient at the sport, placing second in his first-ever competition even though he had little knowledge about the proper way of posing. After that, he won 13 consecutive titles.
"Bodybuilding is a very prideful sport, " he said, admitting he was attracted to it because it was a place he could hide his shortcomings and insecurities.
However, by 1988 he realized all that success wasn't making him happy, Williams said. He lacked something.
It was a life-or-death situation about 11 years ago that proved to be the turning point in his life, and after a first prayer, Williams said God began to communicate with him, and he became a Christian.
"I had to learn how to trust God. He talked to me and trained me . . . I learned the power of forgiveness."
He began attending various churches but was turned off by what he called "the traditions of men" he found there. A friend told him he believed Williams would end up in Salt Lake City and sure enough, said Williams, that's where God directed him to go.
Ten years ago he came to Utah to train for the ministry. In 1991, he felt God wanted him to retire from bodybuilding to prepare for his ministry. He went on a 40-day fast in 1992 to increase his spirituality. He has been a pastor of the Back to the Foundation Church, which he started, for four years. It now ministers to a congregation of about 80 people.
Williams believes bodybuilding provided a forum where the Lord was able to teach him certain traits that are important in life -- setting goals, developing desire, courage, consistency and a belief in yourself.
About a year ago, he said the Lord "released him" and gave him the approval to go back into bodybuilding competition.
His current theme song for his bodybuilding competitions is "I Saw the Lord," a Gospel song.
"The titles I've won have helped open the door to speaking opportunities," he said, explaining he loves to speak to groups, especially youths, because he knows where they're coming from.
He spends just two hours a day maintaining his physique, puts some time into personal training work with some athletes and a few housewives, and the rest of his time is dedicated to his ministry.
"I get lots of calls at 2 or 3 in the morning," he said of his role as pastor. "If they need me, they know to call me."
His church studies from the Bible, and his main message is for others to find what's in the mind of God for them.
"That's the road to success."
He said it is also important to develop a relationship, a father-son bond with the Lord.
"Our bodies are the temples of the word of God," Williams said. "The better you feel physically, the more you can do for God."
He doesn't expect others to look as muscular as he does.
"Just be healthy. Everyone doesn't have to lift weights, but don't live a sedentary lifestyle."
Regarding the scripture in 1 Timothy 4:8 that appears to discourage bodily exercise, Williams said the passage is not a warning against exercise but simply a reminder to keep priorities straight -- that godliness is what we should seek in life. He said the scriptures contain many references that say bodily exercise can profit a person.
Williams opposes what he calls non-natural bodybuilding competitions. All of his competitions are in the "natural" events, where drug testing is mandatory and drugs, steroids and the like are not allowed.
His competitions are sanctioned by the ABA -- American Bodybuilding Association -- or the INBA -- International Natural Bodybuilding Association.
Williams said competitors in the non-natural events, including some movie stars and professional athletes, have gained more fame and received more publicity, but some have also paid the price later with health problems.
Some bodybuilders look strong but really aren't. Williams, however, considers himself a power lifter as well as a body builder. He has bench-pressed as much as 465 pounds and can perform 50 consecutive repetitions in the squat category while shouldering 350 pounds.
He also watches his diet and advises moderation "since you are what you eat."
"I've learned to eat to live, not live to eat," he said.
Williams is also against what he calls perverted music, pornography and taking anything bad into one's body, whether it be the mental or physical route.
"It's what you do the majority of the time that makes a difference (in life,)" he said.
His church currently meets in the old Hale Center Theater, but he has another goal -- to develop a special youth facility to train young people spiritually, physically and mentally in a more rural area like Herriman. He would like a facility that can house a dozen young people -- he'd take them off the street -- full-time for some spiritual guidance.
Williams has been married to his wife, Glinnea, for 10 years. He describes her as his favorite preacher, someone who is not hypocritical.
He said he loves Utah and has nothing bad to say about the state. He admits he had plenty of misconceptions about Mormons before coming here, but most of his friends are LDS. He plans on staying here until "Jesus returns to the earth."
Back to the Foundation Church, 2801 S. Main, 474-2549, meets Sundays at 1 p.m. for worship service, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. for Bible study and Fridays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for prayer service.