Identity Defined At Cedar Pointe Fitness

Read time: 5 minutes

Updated: September 3rd, 2019

It is often difficult to know how to define our personal identity. We often walk through life being defined by others or based on our past mistakes. We search for purpose and fulfillment, looking for answers in our profession, hobbies, habits, and relationships, but are left unfulfilled. There is an answer. Here is how one man, Brian Minor, discovered his identity through his faith and fitness.

Brian grew up in Burlington, North Carolina in a traditional Christian home. In his youth, Brian found his identity in playing baseball and chose to study exercise science in college. After an injury and experiencing sports medicine on a personal level, Brian fell in love with all aspects of fitness.

After college he moved away from his friends, family and teammates and lost his identity as a baseball player. After marrying his wife, Meredith, and moving to Matthews, North Carolina, he began his career as a personal trainer.

A PRESCRIBED IDENTITY

Brian found a new identity in personal training. He often worked fifteen-hour days. Eventually it became too much. He was prescribed Adderall to help manage his life and focus. It would eventually become an addiction for him. Later, Brian was invited to church by a friend and through this he accepted Christ as his savior. Immediately Brian was a new person. The Bible says, that every person living in Christ is made new. [LISTEN TO THIS BIBLE ENCOURAGEMENT NOW.]

Immediately the chains of addiction were broken. He began to share Christ with his coworkers and clients. A mission trip opened Brian’s eyes that worship could be done in more than just a church building. As God changed his perspective, a revival broke out at the gym and several people came to Christ.

It was during the revival that Brian began training a local pastor. The pastor invited him to join his staff as the missions pastor. Eager to serve God in a new capacity, Brian accepted the opportunity. A few years into this pastoral role, the workload was heavy, and Brian sought ways to deal with the stress. He found himself getting a new prescription for Adderall.

At first it seemed harmless and a good way to manage it; however, the death of his father-in-law and a major shoulder surgery put Brian at rock bottom and the addiction grew. As his addiction progressed, he went into significant debt, connected with a drug dealer and began to steal to feed his habit. It caught up to him. The Bible says, that you can be certain that your sin will find you out.

His addiction landed him in a meeting with the senior pastor where he confessed. Fortunately, the church helped him, and he went through drug rehab. After Brian’s rehabilitation, he returned home to his family and sought forgiveness and returned to church ministry. He was still searching for his identity but realized being the missions pastor was not the direction God was calling him.

AN IDENTITY SHAPED BY FAITH

In September 2018, Brian and Meredith stepped out in faith and opened a personal training studio called Cedar Pointe Fitness. Though finances were a major concern, God blessed them with donations to get started, a great location and twenty-six clients in the first month.

Cedar Pointe Fitness has become a place of transformation physically and spiritually. Though we don’t think about a gym having similarities to the church, there certainly are some. Like a pastor, Brian allows the Holy Spirit to direct him with his clients.

Additionally, Brian helps his clients create a more complete perspective of their fitness routine by viewing it as an act of worship. As he Bible instructs: present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Through this more direct ‘in the flesh’ approach, he helps his clients get to the root of their issues and create sustainable health. Therefore, Cedar Pointe Fitness has become a place for healing and transformation. It is very much like a church.

Identity is often associated with what we do. In Brian’s case he was “the baseball player”, “the personal trainer”, “the missions’ pastor” and “the addict”. However, God does not associate who we are with what we have done. He sees us through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Brian has found personal training to be his ministry and calling. He can reach people who may never walk into a church. By helping people transform their lives, Brian has been transformed. His identity is not associated with what he has done but rather in what God has done. Brian’s advice is simple. “Surrender your life to God. Check your motive. It should never be about you, what you do or what you can handle. Trust in God and make everything you do an act of worship.”

MAKE YOUR IDENTITY FIT

Have you struggled with your identity? Have you struggled with your fitness routine? You are not alone. Including a lifestyle relationship with Christ as part of your workout is a life changing experience. When you are in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, you are invited to join Brian and Cedar Pointe Fitness members for a workout. Be assured that you will never be the same.