BLOG

Welcome to the Strong in the Lord Blog!

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” — Psalm 28:7

Discover stories of faith, hope, and transformation from the heart of Lord’s Gym Ministries. Meet real people facing real challenges—and see how God faithfully meets them at every step. Along the way, you’ll find encouragement, inspiration, and practical insights to help you grow strong in your own walk with the Lord.

The Panthers Are Advancing!!!

by | Oct 27, 2022 |

From our Women’s Chaplain Emily in Covington…

“Last week a woman named Tammy came in. It was her first time in the gym.

Right away I knew she was being oppressed by the enemy. I have discernment when it comes to people and the things the enemy is attacking them with. Even though I knew what was going on with her, another girl that has just been coming to women’s hours did not. Her name is Cortney. She has been around for many years with her husband Ricky but has never opened up to me until the last two times she has come to women’s hour.

So…..as we are all sitting there Cortney is wearing her brand-new rain jacket that John Beiry gave her. She was talking about how well it fit her and how much she liked it. Then Tammy chimes in because she has been on the street for three days without food and warm clothes. We all start talking about God and life. Tammy did not have a jacket and me and Cortney couldn’t find her one so.

Cortney leaves for a little while and comes back. She had gone to her cart and changed into a warm hoodie. Then she gave her brand new raincoat that fit her so well to Tammy. God is working all the time in the gym. People are loving and selfless.”

Celebrations in Covington

by | Oct 18, 2022 |

cov 1

cov 2

Cov 3

cov 4

295070410_10210614598957289_6861448776225036501_n

A message from Chaplain James…

Last week was all about recognition, honor, and restoration for our friends.  It started out with the Welcome House honoring three of our gym members and continued on to our friendship connection event at our local church: 

Nick is a long-time gym member and Urban Outreach volunteer.  On the autism spectrum, he puts his unique talents to good use by organizing the food pantry shelves in the gym and helping John Biery with the furniture ministry.  Nick was recognized for keeping his apartment for a year.
 
Joey is a gym member and Urban Outreach contractor.  He was the second ‘patient’ we had in the medical respite shelter we staff, graduated the program, and now has his own apartment.  Joey has an LVAD device implanted in his heart that keeps it pumping.  He was recognized for graduating the program and maintaining his apartment.  He has worked the veterans shelter for us, and now is contracted to run shifts for us in the very medical shelter he graduated from.
 
Jason was homeless and addicted to alcohol and marijuana for the better part of the last two decades.  After finally surrendering his heart to the Lord in October of last year – he got an apartment shortly after.  Jason was recognized for maintaining it for almost a year and always being willing to help.  Jason volunteers in the gym approximately 60 hours/week and has recently started leading some of our devotionals. 
 
Correy has been a gym member/volunteer for years.  In spite of Down syndrome and autism, he always makes sure to wipe down our gym tables and prays for us during our Bible studies.  After 11 months of being homeless, we were able to assist him and his family with furniture for their new apartment last week.  Correy even got to ride a horse at our church friendship event!
 
Brother Kai has been coming to the gym and church with us for months now.  He truly has a heart for the Lord in spite of losing his sight as a result of diabetes three years ago.  Lady, the horse he is riding, only has one eye.  Amazingly – she crossed the field at our church specifically to get to Kai.
God is good! 

What the Lord’s Gym Means to Our Friends

by | Oct 11, 2022 |

A message from the Loechel family…

The Loechel family has been involved at the Lord’s Gym for several years. Their children take part in many of our programs. Here what they have to say in the video above. This vide segment was featured at our Community Awareness Event on Sept. 29. To view the entire recorded event, visit our homepage… LordsGymMinistries.org.

Witness God’s Transformative Power

by | Oct 4, 2022 |

Community Awareness Event…

We hosted our Community Awareness Event last Thursday. The Holy Spirit was among us as staff and our friends shared their stories. It was a blessed gathering. One highlight was hearing from Chaplain Lynn and our friend Jewell. “We serve a lot of people that others have given up on,” Lynn said. “I show up to work everyday because I think to myself if God didn’t give up on me, who am I not to show up for them.” Jewell is one of our friends that Lynn shows up for. His story is quite powerful. As a young man he watched helplessly as his father beat his mother. His father eventually killed her. This weighed heavy on Jewell and he turned to drugs and alcohol for comfort. “I didn’t want to do drugs and drink, but I did it to take the pain away,” Jewell said. One day, several months ago, he decided to end it all. He drinking outside a gas station and saw a bus coming down the road. He prepared himself to step forward, but his legs wouldn’t move. He stepped back from the curb and looked across the street and noticed the Lord’s Gym Family Activity Center. At that time the center was closed for renovations but he found Lord’s Gym staff just a few buildings down serving food. He went in. Sat a bit and then approached Lynn. “I need help,” Jewell told him. “I got you man,” Lynn replied. And today Jewell is 5 months clean. You can hear more about Jewell and other stories by visiting LordsGymMInistires.org. You can view our entire Community Awareness Event at the top of the homepage, it will play after the Fox19 segment on the Family Activity Center.

First Football Game for 2022 Panthers

by | Sep 28, 2022 |

From FAC Director Danny…

We had a full house at our first home games, 8 games and about 725 people in attendance! We are so thankful for our staff and volunteers, special thanks to the moms who worked at the concession stand for almost nine hours straight! Many of them were with us from 7 a.m. until almost 9 p.m. Thanks also to my family for the help and for being patient and understanding. It was truly a team effort!. Thank you all!🏈👏🏾🙌🏾

LGP 1

LGP 2

LGP 3

LGP 4

Going After the One

by | Sep 6, 2022 |

From STORM Chaplain Lynn…

Our mission is to leave the 99 and go after the ONE. In this case, the ONE is a single mother battling mental illness, homelessness and unemployment. She desires to do better and provide for her child but faces so many obstacles along the way. Our STORM team has been building relationships with this particular single mom for several months now. After praying with her, connecting her to the right agencies and encouraging (imparting courage) “self responsibility”, she was so happy to share with us that she finally found a job with Nehemiah.
 
Since the Aug. 9 Grand Opening of our newly renovated Family Activity Center in Price Hill, we’ve seen God at work through our partners. We intentionally created a partner room to allow several agencies like Addiction Service Council, UMADAOP, Crossroads Center, HopeLine and many others utilize that space to serve our friends. Every week these different agencies have assisted our friends with referrals and helped them find shelter even rehab for some. God has divinely brought us together for the advancement of His kingdom and to seek and save the lost! 🙌🏾
 
Pastors Tom & Tamera Sherwood of Peoples Church House to House have served with the Lord’s Gym for many years. We had a phenomenal Sunday gathering that included an intimate time of worship to top it off with 5 baptisms inspired by one young lady from the Jordan House. Pastor Tamera and Sister Ro have been ministering to these ladies at the Jordan House on Saturday mornings. Please pray that this will be the beginning of many more Sunday baptism celebrations at Peoples Church House to House! 😇

We welcome Chef LeQuan Mack from Atlanta

by | Aug 29, 2022 |

From FAC Director Danny…

It has been a busy week, but Sunday it was refreshing to have chef LeQuan Mack from Atlanta serving our community with his culinary talents. My neighbor, Stephanie Brown Hughes, brought her powerful testimony, as well as our friend Joe. Thanks to Men in Balance for being our partners in feeding the community on a monthly basis and also for showing God’s love. In my ministerial life, I have heard many testimonies of the power of God in the transformation of human beings, my neighbor’s is one of the most impactful. Click here for her full testimony.
Thanks to all the volunteers! Sunday was a day where everyone was fed physically and spiritually. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.🙏🏾

A Tribute to Virgil

by | Aug 23, 2022 |

From Covington Chaplain James…

 Last Thursday night one of our friends and long-time gym members was murdered as he was walking home from work.  Virgil Stewart was in recovery and credited the Lord’s Gym for helping him get sober more than a decade ago.  He did a lot for us, including always keeping the front of the building/sidewalks clean, donating gym supplies, and giving money to help others who couldn’t afford their gym memberships.  He will be sorely missed.  

We didn’t find out about it until the news crews started showing up at the gym late Friday morning.  Click here for the Fox 19 story. At the end of that news clip was one of our Lord’s Gym ladies who we helped get into the women’s shelter a couple weeks ago.  Once she had a stable place to live, she got a job working at the Family Dollar in our complex where Virgil worked.  Since she knew him, the reporter asked if she would go on camera.  She seized the opportunity and was able to preach a message of repentance that hit prime-time news in Greater Cincinnati that evening!

 

Additionally, I was scheduled to preach Saturday night at our church.  Per the leading of Holy Spirit, I scrapped my planned message.  I shared about Virgil and preached the simple gospel. The video of the sermon is above.

About 17 individuals came on stage to give their hearts to Jesus. 

Romans 8:28:  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God is good!

Categories