Why I became A Personal Trainer

Department(s): Faith and Fitness Culture

Read time: 4 minutes

Updated: August 13th, 2018

By Pastor Dave Scott

I enjoy working out, feeling healthy, being in the gym environment, helping others move toward greater health, and assisting people to reach their goals.
These may not sound very spiritual. As a pastor I find that what I have been doing for 25 years in the church, I now get to do the same kinds of things outside of the church.

For years I have been encouraging our church family at New Hope Christian Fellowship to figure out how to use their passions and hobbies for influencing others with the grace and goodness of God. I had been working out and training my sons for years. I took my own challenge seriously. How might I use my hobby of health and fitness for the Kingdom of God?
In April 2010 I received my certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I then applied for and started working a part-time position as a personal trainer.

There are no weight benches or cardio equipment in church on Sundays at our church. Instead, Certified Personal Trainer and pastor, Dave Scott, uses his words, knowledge and wit to encourage me to live a healthy lifestyle according to the Bible. I am motivated to strengthen myself beyond my own abilities through Christ’s love. I am challenged to continually seek new opportunities to grow in relationships with others. Pastor Dave Scott is my pastor and my spiritual trainer.
– Kerry

Living in these two worlds has been a blast. Neither world seems to really “get me”. The gym world seems quite surprised that a pastor would venture in to their culture. The church world is not quite sure what to do with me either. My response to both worlds is that God has designed me (really, each of us) to live a holistic life: to work toward wholeness and health in every aspect of my being.

As I live in each context (physical and spiritual), the issues I address are very similar: – The condition of the heart is critical. – Core strength is essential for stability. – The quality of what we consume determines the quality of what we can do. – The discipline of exercising in and of itself is very non-motivating, however, training to accomplish a challenging goal will often keep us moving forward, especially when simple discipline runs out.

As a layman/layleader in the church, I truly appreciate the example of my senior pastor believing in a holistic view of holiness, which encompasses physical, spiritual, and emotional holiness. This belief is made evident in the way he lives his life. As a church member it has always confused me when pastors preach from the Bible about our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit, yet they don’t live this out in their lifestyle. I believe that my pastor’s passionate pursuit of God is what fuels his desire to be wholly set apart in every aspect of his life. To me, this is a testimony that makes sense and inspires many, including myself, to find the passion and energy for fitness in our relationship with God.
– Kyle

I am grateful for the opportunities to speak into the lives of men and women who would never set foot in a church as I encourage those seeking healthy bodies about the benefits of wholeness of life. I am also grateful for the opportunities to speak into the lives of men and women in the church who are seeking healthy souls about the benefits of wholeness of life.
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