At siHi Image Is Everything

By Ericka Goodrich, Director, stepping into His image (siHi)

When I first met Selene Ramirez she had a magnetic smile, but what she was experiencing on the inside was hidden behind her mask of happiness. Selene’s mother practiced Santeria while she was growing up, which led to Selene being sexually assaulted at eleven years old. She often experienced spiritual darkness in her home. As she hit adulthood, her confidence was very low and she tried to find her identity by pleasing others.

In the summer of 2013, Selene and I connected at church. I sensed that going through the stepping into His image experience would be very impactful for her. Selene like many had a love for God but was lacking a daily personal relationship with Him.

WORKOUT AND MORE

The fitness ministry of stepping into His image (siHi) exists to empower women of all ages to have a Christ-like image of themselves both inside and out. We do this by helping them focus on becoming spiritually, physically, and emotionally fit. Our format starts with a workout, and moves into group discussion with a Biblically centered curriculum. We also enjoy a healthy snack together. Through siHi we invite participants to look at themselves through the eyes of God. The girls and women discover their real worth and identity in Jesus Christ.

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SHARED VISION AND THE START OF siHi

In 2012, God brought Stacey Williams and me, Ericka Goodrich, together in a way that only He can. I was born and raised in the church, but after my parent’s divorce and never feeling like I had a voice, I began experiencing sexual trauma during and directly after high school. As my self-value began to diminish, the lies that I believed about me and my sense of unworthiness took root in my heart. I walked into a dark world of manipulation and coercion where women are treated very poorly.

Looking back, God saved me on countless occasions and was speaking to me, even though I didn’t recognize His voice. When I came back to the Lord, He clearly asked me to make Him the number one man in my life.

During those years I also developed a passion for fitness. As a fitness instructor I saw how many gals found significance for one hour while working out. Despite this one hour of happiness, they went straight back into lives that were hopeless and lacking purpose.

I began thinking about what would it look like if these women could find lasting joy, freedom and restoration. How could the desire to become physically fit, be integrated with growing spiritually and emotionally? During a workout in 2011, I had a vision of women of various ages exercising together, having a healthy snack, and finding identity through God’s word. Then I met Stacey.

Stacey was raised in a strong South Carolina family, yet she felt insecure. Her struggle for perfection led to anxiety, depression, and the feeling of worthlessness. As an adult, she became a personal trainer and realized she wasn’t alone in her search for perfection.  She found no matter what physical goal her clients achieved they continued to feel as though they were not enough. Becoming aware of this, Stacey knew that unless her clients changed their mindset, they were not going to make true and lasting changes.

Personally, Stacey realized no matter what the scale said, she is made in the Image of God. Believing this truth brought her freedom, peace and joy. During this season, she had a dream of helping other women find the same freedom. It wasn’t until five years later, when she and I met in California, that this dream became a reality.

Watch Michelle’s video to see how siHi helped her find freedom.

Stacey and her family moved to California in 2011. We met, and soon discovered we both had a passion for fitness. I shared my vision of having a group of ladies’ workout, eat a healthy snack and then have a Bible study. This study would be focused on finding our worth and identity in Jesus Christ, rather than in outward appearance. At that moment, Stacey exclaimed, “Wow! I’ve had that dream for over five years.” At that point we knew God was up to something special.

We worked together and prayed over how this ministry would look. We outlined the primary areas and topics of focus. I put a business plan together for this dream and vision. When it came time to think of a name for this experience, Stacey and I chose stepping into His image, because the journey of transformation with the Lord is constantly moving. We will never just STEP in, and remain stagnant.

Our desire is for participants to take hold of the understanding that He designed everyone for a purpose. In January 2013, we launched our first test group of siHi.

Amazing transformations took hold in the first group. This was indeed God’s ministry, laid on our hearts to make a difference in the world.

 

GOD AT WORK

What a difference God has made and continues to make. Remember Selene? God turned her life around profoundly! Today she is sold out for Jesus, and has gone through deliverance and restoration from her childhood traumas. Selene brought her family members to the Lord, and is now leading a siHi group for the first time!

The ministry of stepping into His image has impacted over 300 girls and women to date. siHi has taken place in churches, two Orange County YMCA’s, a Christian school and a recovery home for girls coming out of sex-trafficking. Each group of siHi ladies serve together in the community once during their ten-week session. Every time we serve, our ladies walk away changed, and are open to helping others realize their value in Christ.

Watch this video to see how Cecilia has been changed.

 

Our message is simple: The siHi program is about God revealing himself to each girl or woman who commits to the journey.

We have seen God work as women have started and committed to their fitness routines. Many find community. Lives have been dedicated or re-dedicated to Jesus Christ. Dreams of stepping out in faith in one’s purpose have been realized, and put into action. Insecurities with body image and self-worth have been recognized and healed. Testimonies of healing have been boldly shared for the first time. They understand the power of prayer and applying it to daily life. Most significantly, the darkness in these women’s lives has been turned to light.

NEXT STEPS

We believe that this is God’s ministry and that the sky is the limit.The programs of stepping into His image can be held at any organization, in gyms, churches and businesses. The siHi journey can be launched with friends in your neighborhood, or even in a small group setting.

The RESTORE section of siHi launched in 2018. RESTORE will benefit women coming out of desperate circumstances, including sex-trafficking. Our goal is to assist recovery homes in supporting survivors’ restoration. We do this by addressing the lies that have held women back from believing the truth about who God created them to be.

We know that God will continue to use this experience to set many women free around the world. Is this a journey that could benefit you, your daughter, mother or a friend? Are you passionate about obtaining health from the inside out? Is God putting it on your heart to start your own stepping into His image group? If so, contact us. We are here to help you launch your own siHi journey!

 

The following pages include stories of participants to help you better understand the impact that this ministry is making in the lives of women.

 

Popular culture tells us, “Image is everything”. These women have found that when they step into God’s image of who He created them to be, that is very true.

Select the page numbers below to continue reading the personal stories of Eileen McNeese, Barbara Berg, Jaynee and Chris Chaires, and Keziah Kantoik.