GET MOVIN’ CHURCH

Growing up in rural Indiana, I spent my childhood riding bikes and climbing trees. It’s not a surprise that I chose a career in corporate wellness. My job was to encourage employees to eat healthy and move more regularly. But after three decades and innumerable fitness campaigns, it became clear I’d been remiss in proffering the most important ingredient: surrender to the Spirit.

After earnestly petitioning God about His plan for my life’s “third 1/3”, I felt Him calling me to bring the message of physical hope and healing to His Church. But how? I wanted to put my faith into action to serve through my corporate talents.

Stirring Words was my first step, a podcast with a sister in Christ. Since the fall of 2019, we’ve recorded our weekly phone conversation discussing the Biblical call to physical self-care. By God’s grace, we regularly receive notes of thanks from women across the country who are breaking physical barriers by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Next came Sprinkled Clean, a small group curriculum designed to move participants from frustration and defeat in their weight loss efforts to surrender and victory. I personally struggle with being judgmental, quick to anger, pounding my fist, demanding my way. My own willfulness gives me empathy for those who clamor for unhelpful foods. Sprinkled Clean reveals God’s gentle yet uncomfortable process of sanctification.

I believe James’ challenge to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22) is a clarion call to Christians, physically as well as spiritually. So in September of 2022, I launched a campaign called Get Movin’, Church! Each week participants are encouraged to pray a Bible passage, accept an active challenge, and support someone else to do the same.

My prayer is hearts will be transformed and habits changed, one small step at a time.

As one wise man once said, “I have a dream.” Though the physical statistics for Christians today mirror the world’s, I believe God can and will bring physical healing. Just like we support unwed mothers, the poor and needy, alcohol and drug addicts, I call on the Church to encourage the flock to tend to their temples. Then when outsiders ask the obvious, “How did you do it?” the bold reply will be, “By surrendering my heart to the resurrection power of Jesus.”

Get Movin’, Church!