It was the people who go out into the streets to minister and feed people who changed Gerrit’s life.

“These people, like those at Lord’s Gym, gave me a solid foundation to grow in Christ and get into the presence of God,” Gerrit said.

Gerrit, 33, has been in recovery for a year. Life before, he said, was a “living hell.” All of it was he created with bad choices. He started using drugs after his parents divorced and when he was 14 he got kicked out of his home.

“It was a life without Jesus and that was not what God had intended so of course I was miserable trying to fill the God sized hole in my heart that only the Holy spirit could fill,” he said.

 Lord’s Gym in Price Hill was a safe place Gerrit could go. It was place where you he wasn’t judged.

“Many times, I was starving, and they would just so happen to be open and I could eat without having to steal,” he said. “They are a blessing. I’m truly grateful for their gestures of kindness and compassion.”

Gerrit overdosed eight times in Price Hill.

“God always made sure there was someone there to help me at my most desperate times His mercy and grade and beyond comprehension,” he said.

Today Gerrit is an intern at Heritage House. God has restored everything the Devil stole from him:  Love, joy, purpose family, friends and peace.

“That hole in my heart is now not just filled, it is overflowing,” he said. “Thank You God for making a way and never giving up on me.”

We thank God that we were able to return last week to work and to be able to bless our friends. Between Wednesday and Friday we served about 134 meals. On Thursday we went out to deliver to several people in need, including several young people from the center and the football team. We fed about 27 kids last week. The testimonies of gratitude are many (all to the glory of God) but I was struck by the particular testimony below.

Last Wednesday a young man in his 30s asked me if I could bring bags of snacks to his four sons and two nephews who were staying at his house. I wrote his address and promised that the next day I would bring the bags to the boys.

When I arrived at his house on Glenway I left the bags on the porch. I knocked on the door and his wife opened it, she didn’t know who I was, but when she saw the bags her facial expression changed. When I identified myself, she called her husband and with joy he almost broke social distancing to hug me. With teary eyes, he thanked me for keeping my word and because their food supply for the children had already run out. God’s timing always just right.

Over the weekend I took part in a three-day Bible study to prepare my heart for Easter Sunday. Last night’s reading was especially thoughtful and impactful. It involved Peter’s denial which is ultimately a lesson in the Lord’s beautiful redemption.

In Luke 22: 54-62, we see Peter following at a distance as Jesus is brought into the high priest’s house. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, Peter sat among them. A girl staring intently at Peter, accused him of being a disciple.

Peter denied it.

A little while later, another made the same accusation.

Peter denied it.

An hour later, another “confidently affirmed” that Peter knew Jesus.

Peter was even more adamant: “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”

Immediately, while he was still speaking,  the rooster crowed. And in the most heart-breaking manner that I can imagine, the  Lord turned and looked at Peter. Peter immediately recalled what Jesus had told him just a short while ago: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Peter turned to solitude and wept bitterly.

I thought to myself, I can’t begin to imagine the sinking deep-cutting pain Peter must have felt at the look of Jesus. But then, I remembered, I’m a sinner too.

I have not always lived pleasing to the Lord. I’ve done things that scream: “I do not know Him.”

Then I thought of that look. That look of betrayal, that look of abandonment that Peter must have seen on Jesus’ face. Oh, how many times have I caused that expression on my Lord’s face.

Like Peter, I felt helpless. Hopeless. My sin has once again taken Jesus to the cross. But, the glory of Easter Sunday, is that Jesus didn’t stay on the cross. No. In three days, He rose from the dead.

And shortly after His defeat of death, he met with Peter. In this conversation Jesus gently dealt with Peter’s sin and offered Him forgiveness and purpose – to feed His sheep and follow Him.

I think of how Jesus has forgiven me and given me the opportunity to follow Him and share His love. Oh, it’s a great feeling that trumps all defeat of sin. Indeed, redemption is a beautiful thing.

We have entered into some dark days but my heart is filled with hope because of the light of Christ that shines through our volunteers.

Two of those volunteers are Leon and Tuwanda.

They both are passionate about serving the Price Hill community, especially in the midst of such uncertainty. On our way to feed the Price Hill community the other day Tuwanda said: “I love coming to serve, it gives me the opportunity to put a smile on people’s face.”

She went on to to say that she looks for those who are really down and uses her quirkiness to brighten their day.

Leon, who has served alongside me for four years, finds a special purpose in ensuring the kids of the Price Hill community are fed and cared for. A few Thursdays ago we made several deliveries of food and hygiene to single mothers in Price Hill.

I just watched “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” a movie about the life of Fred Rogers and a line in that movie struck my heart and reminded me of these two faithful believers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

Here at Lord’s Gym Ministries in the Greater Cincinnati Tri Stare Area we continue to operate in serving our friends who are the most vulnerable. First – “thank you” for your prayers and help as we serve together during these challenging times. In complying with the governor’s orders, our gyms are closed and our other indoor ministry activities are suspended temporarily. Since we maintain religious facilities and provide ministry in the context of social services, we have made a few changes to executing ministry. 

Working Together

Coordination is the operative word here as we work with other ministries such as BLOC, Urban Outreach, City Gospel, and churches to share our resources and time. We are even in contact with some of the schools in Price Hill to see how we can be of help. Our essential staff and volunteers provide “Grab and Go” bags of food that can be distributed to our friends and youth from our Family Activity Center in Price Hill. Loitering and fellowship are not permitted.

 On The Move

For those who cannot make it, we (Tom, Danny, Brandon, C.J. and Lola) load up our truck and van and drop off food to our families in need. James, Greg, and Mo are coordinating the services to our homeless friends in Covington at the Covington Convention Center. People can get showers at our Lord’s Gym in Queensgate through James and Greg’s coordinated efforts. We are very grateful to the churches, individuals, and foundations who have reached out to us to provide encouragement and resources that are both material and financial. (Go to www.LordsGymMinistires.org if you would like to make a donation.)

 A Day In The Life

Today, was an incredible day of mobile ministry, according to Price Hill Chaplain Brandon.

 “We were able to deliver snacks, dinners, hygiene, cleaning supplies, and the most coveted item in America – toilet paper – to several families in Price Hill,” he said. “Most of which are single mothers or grandparents who are caring for their grandchildren.

God is good and He is making a way to shine His light in uncertain times.

Reaching More People

Yesterday, across town, God showed up in multiple ways, opening doors to relationships and new “eyes and ears” to Lord’s Gym Ministries, according to Queensgate Chaplain C.J.

 C.J. had established a relationship with the hotel manager of the InnTown Suites on Colerain Avenue and told them about our mobile mission. The hotel manager immediately made a sign-up sheet for struggling families at the hotel to receive care packages. 

 Within a day, eight  families had signed up. The care packages will come this Friday. Several families had already picked up cleaning care packages from Lord’s Gym Ministries.  

 People began to ask where these “blessings” were coming from.

 “I had the opportunity to tell about how the Lord’s gym ministries is engaging the community,” C.J. said. “God is good and his mercy endures forever.” 

 Our Culture

While practicing social distancing and other appropriate safety precautions our ministry continues to serve some of the most vulnerable in Greater Cincinnati. It comes down to our vision, mission, and culture.

 In the last 9 months, FOCAS has adopted and implemented a cultural framework from Tim Kight’s Focus 3 organization out of Columbus. The formula is simple. It is E (Event or Situation) + (plus) R (our Reaction) = (equals) Outcome. Our reaction is the only thing we can control!

Today, as always, our Outcome (vision and mission) has not changed. The Event/Situation is the C-19 virus which we cannot control. That leaves our Reaction, which we can choose to control. We will comply with our government leaders and continue to faithfully serve as much as possible within those constraints. While there are many things to think about when processing our reactions, things we want to emphasize is our faith in God, our attitude (don’t Blame, Complain, or Deflect), and staying engaged and disciplined day by day in response to the unfolding unique situation before us.

 Pray Continuously

Above all, join us in prayer as we seek God’s protection for our country, our leaders, each other, and our staff. Please follow us on social media (Facebook – FOCAS/Lord’s Gym) if you would like to stay connected and receive updates.

May God richly bless you as you stand firm.

Scott Bowers

Executive Director

• Non-perishable foods items (Please contact me directly at 513-885-5665 to coordinate your delivery.)
• Kroger gift cards for groceries
• Money for our benevolence fund which is being taxed at this very moment as many will have important needs during this prolonged season (i.e. food, medical, utilities, etc.).  

If anything, the last few weeks have taught us it is that the scriptures ring true: “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

It’s not an easy time. We are under attack physically and spiritually. The news and social media posts are all so much to take in. People are sick. The numbers are growing. More may get sick. What if it’s my family? What if I can’t go to work? How will I pay my bills? How will I buy food? There’s no more food at the store… the worries go on and on and on. There seems to be no end. But there is. We just must STOP. We aren’t going to have all the answers today; that’s why there is tomorrow. STOP.

STOP and look to Jesus.

This is a critical time for the world and an even more critical time for the Lord’s Kingdom.

People are watching. They are watching what you say; what you post; how you conduct and how you distance yourself.

By all means we have to take natural precautions and we have to obey the laws. But as citizens of God’s Kingdom we must also  listen and obey the Lord.

In Matthew 6:25, Jesus tells us: “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body… Is not life more?”

Indeed.

Life is about love. Above all, we are called to love God. Secondly, we are called to love our neighbors as our selves. If we’re worried about ourselves being fed, clothed – taken care of – then we should be feeding, clothing – taking care – of those around us.

 Even in this time of great fear, we can be a blessing. We can be a beacon of God’s everlasting love.  And, we need to do these things without fear because we are children of the almighty God; Master and Creator of the world. He’s Master over our lives, over our circumstances, over any and every sickness known and unknown to man. He’s Lord overall.

Jesus tells us in verse 26, of Matthew chapter 6: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Our heavenly Father knows all that we need. And He calls us to “seek first” His Kingdom and  His righteousness.

So, our friends, our volunteers, our supporters, our team: “…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Take it day by day. We don’t have to solve every problem at once. Live day by day. Cherish your family; enjoy taking a walk in your yard; pet your dog or cat; love your neighbor. Reach out. Be a blessing. Remember, God is always with you.

Each of us is living a unique story.  None of our stories are the same. Similar perhaps, but not the same.

You have an unfinished story, as do I. There are ups and downs, twists and turns and many surprises around each corner. Everyday our story line crosses paths with other characters in their own developing stories.

Early on, the plot line in my own story caused me to seek an understanding of the bigger picture of all of our combined stories. I became aware of the greatest Story of All.

In the beginning, the Self Existent One, GOD made all things and all things were good. Rebellion was allowed to enter the picture corrupting the whole human story.  But GOD, our Father, so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to be Savior of the world.  Today, Jesus, whom GOD has raised from the dead, is at GOD’s right hand ruling and reigning as the Anointed One (Christ), Lord and Savior. Through the Spirit of God, Jesus is presently transforming human stories one at a time.  

In 1971, on Fountain Square, Cincinnati, my story was forever altered as two others shared the good news of God’s redemption with me.  In 1993, my story took a twist and turn as I joined with Dick Taylor and others to create a place of refuge and connection called the Lord’s Gym.  Through this effort I’ve been astounded by the thousands of paths crossed and thousands of stories altered by Jesus’ redemptive work.

Life for me takes another twist this March of 2020 as I retire from the Lord’s Gym team.  I’m thankful for all the friendships and wonderful memories from the Lord’s Gym that are now part of my story.

I await the adventure and grace in the next chapter….

Here is a spoiler…I know in the end GOD wins and love prevails!

Today was one of those days I remember the Why.

Robert came into the gym needing a listening ear. He came in distraught over health issues, angry at himself for his alcoholism and frustrated with life in general. He needed a place to pour out his heart, he needed a place where he wouldn’t be judged, he needed a safe place to just be and he found it at the Lord’s Gym.

“My life is a nightmare, but I don’t stop praying or believing and I won’t stop coming here because it gives me hope,” he said.

He told me with the issues he was facing, the temptation to just sit at his house and isolate was extremely strong but he was determined to make the 2-mile trek because it was good for his soul. We prayed, conversed, and after all that I saw him connecting with other gym members.

Shortly before he arrived, Chris came up to me and said: “I am ready for detox can you still help me?”

As we were waiting for a call back from the detox center he started opening up about being HIV positive, his troubled childhood and his addiction. He shared about the heartbreak of growing up with rejection from his father, how he was a very angry man who showed no care or concern for his kids.

When Chris opened up to his family about being HIV positive they shunned him even more. He knew his addiction to drugs was just to mask the emotional pain he has felt since childhood but that he was a place in his life where he didn’t want to mask it any longer. He shared how as a child he felt this desire to be a preacher. We were able to listen, hug, encourage him and pray that God would bring freedom, healing and restoration to this man’s life.

A few hours later, Laura came into the gym to thank us for being there for her in her darkest moments. She shared that she has been off the streets and clean for seven months and was experiencing life in a whole new way. She not only wanted to thank us but she offered to sponsor 20 of our local youth to go to an Aviation Day Camp, which we graciously accepted.

Through the Price Hill Lord’s Gym God is inspiring our friends that there is hope and He is transforming hearts daily.

Our vision: Transformed lives changing individuals, families, neighborhoods, and generations for the glory of God.

“We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always come with getting burned

But you got to be tough when consumed by desire
‘Cause it’s not enough just to stand outside the fire…

We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all

They’re so hell bent on giving, walking a wire
Convinced it’s not living if you stand outside the fire”

Last week, we made note of a spiritual side of a classic Garth Brooks song. Those non-country music fans, please hold on to your hats (well, you’re probably not wearing a hat if you’re not a country fan), but still bare with me. We’re about to do this again.

This time we’re going to take a look at “Standing Outside the Fire,” released way back in 1993. The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Country Charts in 1994. It was also a success internationally and reached the top 30 of the UK singles charts, a rare feat for a country singer at that time.

This song also has a deep spiritual meaning and it offers a challenge to us who call ourselves Christians.

In the song, those who get by on their own, who never take the fall and risk everything for love are thought to be “cool” and “strong.” Those, on the other hand, “who chance the sorrow and the shame that always comes with getting burned” risk everything for love and are considered “weak” and foolish.

These mis-perceptions are still held almost 30 years after these words were written. We live in a society that admires the loners and questions the sanity of those who love freely. But loving freely aligns us with God’s will. After all, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to save whoever believes in Him (John 3:16).

And so, as believers, we’re called to be like those who are referred to as the “fools,” the “weak” in these lyrics.

God doesn’t want us on our own. In fact, He’s always with us, wherever we go. (Joshua 1:9). And He asks us to walk along side others. Not only are we to reach out and help where needed, but we are to “chance the sorrow and the shame” and love them – yes even the unlovable – even if we get burned. And honestly, you will sometimes. You are, however, in good company. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us: “… In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

When it gets too hot, dancing in the flame, remember that Jesus first loved you. Seeing “the slightest chance love might exist,” Jesus forsook it all and bared your sins on the cross. So, now, you CAN love others, if you are willing. Are you?

Are you willing to swallow your pride, give up your “status” and go to the darkest corners of the world and love others the way Jesus loves you?

I encourage you to live “so hell bent on giving, walking a wire, convinced it’s not living if you stand outside the fire.”