The Girls Debut

From Danny…

This weekend was the debut of our girls’ team. Super happy not only with the girls’ victory but with the performance of the other teams. Thankful to God for our coaches commitment! ⛹🏽‍♀️⛹️⛹🏽‍♂️⛹️‍♀️🙏🏾🙌🏾

An invitation

A message from Scott Bowers…

I wanted to share with you about the impact we are having on the lives of those being served, as well as those serving.

The impact of the Gospel is real. And it extends outside the church walls. Just ask All Church Connections Pastor Brad Young. All Church is a generous and much-appreciated partner of Lord’s Gym Ministries.

“Our involvement with the Lord’s Gym has impacted our church members in numerous ways,” Brad said. “We want the people of All Church to see the impact their generosity is having, and the Lord’s Gym provides that in tangible ways. Overall, the Lord’s Gym has provided a wonderful outlet for our people to be generous with their time, money, and labor for the sake of the Gospel in practical and spiritual ways.”

These practical ways do include financial support, but also volunteer support in the form of coming down to our Price Hill or Covington locations to spend time with our friends in need. Help feed them, pray with them, or help coach or mentor our youth.

“All Church partners with the Lord’s Gym for a lot of reasons, but primarily because they are meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of our friends in East Price Hill,” Brad said. “They provide the tangible support and services needed as well as have a heart for Jesus that drives them to share the gospel and usher people towards faith in Christ through all that they do. We love the holistic care that the Lord’s Gym offers.”

There is strength in numbers, according to the Word of God.

In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, King Solomon writes: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

 The truth is we need each other.

 This ministry needs you.

I invite you to peruse our website, www.LordsGymMinistries.org to learn about opportunities awaiting you and your church. I encourage you to take it a step further and reach out to Tom Lipsey at TLipsey@LordsGymMinistries,org to learn about visiting one of our locations. During the tour you’ll meet our chaplains and supporting staff, as well as our many friends. You’ll get to see, first-hand, the work that’s being done by the Lord.

Thank you!

“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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

From Communications Coordinator Melissa Reinert:

Recently we held a few “Grateful Events” at Lord’s Gym Ministries. That’s what I call them. We invite our friends for pizza and an opportunity to write thank you notes to you – our supporters. It’s quite an undertaking organizing these events and for our friends to handwrite all these letters, but it is also very rewarding.

Several incidents stand out in my mind from these last events… A beautiful prayer of blessing for our supporters prayed by Brother Floyd in Covington. You could feel the sincere love and appreciation he has for you. Their help allows Lord’s Gym Ministries to operate, and therefore play an intricate role in Floyd’s spiritual and personal growth.

Then, there was the homeless gentleman in Price Hill. His cold worn hand slipped a set of 10 note cards in my hand. With a shy smile he said: “It’s the least I can do. Thank you for doing this. Thank you for all you do.”

A letter from one of our young people probably had the most impact on me. The young man wrote to one of you saying thank you for your gifts. But then, he asked: “Please give more.”

At first, I was a little taken aback. This is supposed to be just a sincere gesture of thanks. He had written several lovely letters. Why did he ask this in this letter. So, I asked, why? Well, my heart was changed toward this letter. He asked for more because he doesn’t want Lord’s Gym Ministries to go away. Ever. He wants the ministry around for him and his friends; as well as those who’ll need help in the future.

How beautiful. How selfless. He was thinking of others. This young man has been greatly impacted by the work we’re doing here, God’s work. When I say “we’re” I’m not referring to just our staff, but also, our supporters, our donors.

You are all making an impact. Know that. Relish in that. You are doing God’s work. You are the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you.

One minute read: Selfless love

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.”

Football Banquet 2022

Celebrating our Football and Cheer Families…

Skills. Relationships. Faith. These were things built during Lord’s Gym Ministries Panthers football season.

“We had a great group of kids,” Family Activity Center Director Danny said. “And the mom’s this season were amazing. They were so engaged in supporting the kids. It was a great thing to see.”

Football mom Sarita said it was a pleasure coming alongside Lord’s Gym to support her children.

“My 8-year-old was super shy,” she said. “Now he has lots of friends. I appreciate what Lord’s Gym is doing with the sports programs. It means a lot to this community. It keeps the kids out of trouble and happy. It’s truly all about the kids.”

Football mom Erica appreciates the skillset her son has gained this season.

“He’s loved football,” she said. “He’s very athletic and plays basketball, baseball and this year will be doing wrestling. He’s all about sports. We want to help him develop his skillset and this was a great opportunity to do that. His dream is to be a professional athlete.”

Cheer coach Keeshia said she’s appreciated the opportunity to be involved, but more importantly the opportunity to share her faith and see the kids grow in their faith.

“The kids need Lord’s Gym,” she said. “Through the sports programs the kids have strong adult figures in their lives, are learning skills, and learning about God. We share our faith, and we do devotionals. It’s a great thing.”  

The Steps of a Good Man Are Ordered by God

From Chaplain Lynn… 

I truly believe that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23) and I’ve seen that play out in my life time and time again. After our STORM outreach has completed our work for the day I typically don’t go back to the Family Activity Center (FAC) but I did this Friday. We had a few after hours guests stop by requesting help getting in touch with their caseworker and in this particular case one young man who was trying to get to treatment.
 
This young man just met one of my former students Zach Elder from Parkside Christian Church who joined us on the STORM bus the week prior. One takeaway Zach had after meeting this young man was that although he wanted to encourage him in his current situation of homelessness battling drug addiction, he actually encouraged Zach to continue doing good works and serving those who are in need like himself.
 
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we’ve all been created for “good works that God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” So at the very core of this young man’s very being, he desires to do the “good works” he’s been created to do but trauma in his life has hindered him from doing so. I’m seeing when you make yourself available and keep showing up for people in need and they experience God’s love in a practical way, transformation can happen when people know you care!

The Panthers Are Advancing!!!

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

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

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.