ONE WOMAN IS CHANGING LIVES BY BRINGING HEALTH AND FITNESS TO CHURCH
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Around 2009 Stephaine Hale Walker M.D. and her husband Joseph Warren Walker, started The ChurchFIT program at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Nashville. It is a comprehensive healthy living, healthy lifestyle wellness initiative designed to help individuals and families improve their health in a holistic manner — believing that the body, mind and spirit should all three be strengthened. More than 6000 people have participated in it.
Brad’s commentary:
I’m familiar with ChurchFIT through the one being operated in a church near Washington D.C. There are several things I like about this program:
- As the photo shows, they don’t limit where they do the fitness programming — even in a sanctuary.
- It has a nutrition component. This quite honestly is typically the missing piece for most traditional gym memberships.
- They encourage the use of an ‘extended team’ — professionals who are in the community but not necessarily a member of the specific church and not on payroll. People like local professional athletes, celebrity chefs, and nutritionists. This promotes stronger collaboration within a city, engages members better and demonstrates how Christianity should be done.
- The program is specially designed to “help communities thrive — specifically those of color”. Faith & Fitness Magazine’s enliven Department exists because we are keenly aware that there are unique needs and opportunities among multi-ethnic communities. All fitness facilities and business have the potential to make a stronger impact in their city when they identify and meet the specific needs of diverse populations.
- They offer a very nicely developed program making it easier for churches to start a fitness ministry and execute it well.
