Perhaps you have not had the chance to experience His love. Choose life today!

Prayer of Salvation

Heavenly Father, your Word says that if I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is Lord, I shall be saved. Therefore, I confess right now that Jesus is Lord over my life. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose again to give me everlasting life.

Forgive me for my past, Father, and help me to begin to live a life that glorifies you from this day forward. Fill me with your spirit, Lord, and let me feel the wholeness of being your child.

I thank you for your unconditional love and for accepting me just as I am. God, I choose to never be the same again. Today I am a new creation and I choose to live a life for you.

Thank you for saving me, God.

In Jesus’ name I pray….Amen!

Scripture References:

• John 3:16
• Romans 10:9-10
• John 10:10
• Romans 5:8

Now, begin to read God’s word so that you can know his perfect will for your life. Don’t have a Bible? We’ll send you one, or visit www.biblegateway.com.

If you’ve read this prayer and accepted Jesus, please let us know!

Pastor of Life Church International

4830 Rivergreen Parkway Suite 200

Duluth, GA 30096

Weight control is a real issue in my family. It’s something that I have to work really hard at. If I don’t discipline myself, I know that I have the potential to be extremely overweight.

1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” We have to understand that there is value in exercise. 

When we feel that we can’t say no to food, we should realize that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of us. That power, not our own, gives us the power to say no.

How he incorporates fitness into ministry: Preaches on wholeness and healthy living. As the church grows and expands, plans are in place for a Family Life Center that will offer a gym and nutrition education classes.

Bishop Dale C. Bronner

Pastor of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral

212 Riverside Parkway
Austell, GA 30168-7876

1 Corinthians 10: 31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” When you take care of your body, you do it to his glory. We are custodians of this body. We will have to give an account of that. We must be good stewards over our possessions, and our body is our greatest possession.

 I started a fitness ministry because I am concerned about more than just the souls of my members. If our physical body perishes, we won’t be able to do what we have been called to do. Too often we blame the devil for sickness that we caused by violating God’s commands in terms of nutrition and exercise. I urge you to realize that food is not for friendship, nor is it for pleasure – food is for nourishment.

I work out three times a week doing both cardio and strength training. I also do a lot of juicing (veggies and fruit) and drink protein shakes.

 How he incorporates fitness into ministry: The church’s Family Life Restoration Center offers health clinics, basketball courts, a weight room and aerobics classes.

Dr. David Cooper

Pastor of Mount Paran Church of God

2055 Mount Paran Road

Atlanta, GA 30327

2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” We need to exercise and have a proper diet to reverse this wasting away. As we age, we lose bone and muscles; exercise counters that.

Moderation is very important in eating. American portions are out of control. Sometimes we can still eat the foods we love but only eat half. When I started eating half my plate, I lost over twenty pounds.

It’s important that we set an example for our children and our congregations. I run three miles a day and lift weights. I also eat a lean diet – no pork or red meat. I avoid fried foods, take vitamin D, and incorporate lots of fruits and veggies into my diet.

How he incorporates fitness into ministry: Offers a recreation ministry to help people establish quality relationships within the church while nurturing and equipping people to understand the importance of good health. Personal training and athletic programs are available.

Bishop Eddie L. Long

Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

6400 Woodrow Road
Lithonia, GA 30038

One of my earnest desires is for the church to be healthier. I struggle with the sad reality that so many of God’s people claim to know their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, yet they still disregard the true connection between faith and fitness for their own lives.

In 1 Corinthians 6:20, God’s word declares that we were bought at a price and that we should glorify Him in our bodies and in our spirits, which are His. But how can we live out God’s mandate when so many of us are physically broken?

Create a plan, set some boundaries and take reasonable steps toward a more abundant life today.

How he incorporates fitness into ministry: Samson’s Health and Fitness Center, where Bishop can be found at least three times a week, features a health bar, sauna, two fully equipped strength training rooms and an indoor basketball gymnasium. Offers personal training, boot camps, nutrition classes and more.

Credit: Newbirth.org

I was definitely a chunky kid, but my parents did a wonderful job of always, always keeping me active – I was constantly involved in sports. I started thinning out when I a teenager, but I still had a stocky, athletic build. I get my physical frame from my father; he was always considered a big guy. I know I’m only going to get so small, so I need to take this body that God gave me and keep it as fit and lean as humanly possible!

I’m 5’6”, and at my heaviest, I weighed 235 pounds. I ate and drank every one of those pounds. Fast food, eating late, not exercising, drinking beer and margaritas – basically, I was enjoying life! What’s wrong with that? I never looked that heavy, men were still interested in me, I didn’t have to shop in special stores – life was golden! One day, at a routine checkup, my doctor circled “obese” on my chart. That’s when it all clicked and things began to change.

No more going out during the week and eating and drinking! I put myself on a very rigid fitness regimen that included boot camp, running, and strength and conditioning exercises. I did about six months of boot camp and was in the best shape of my life, but never lost one pound because I would not change my eating habits and completely commit to the plan.

I began to study and learn what I needed to do to reach my goals – like keeping my diet pretty basic. It consists of protein, veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds (good fat), limited starch and almost no processed sugar. I have my cheat night, usually on the weekend, and I eat four to five times a day. I make a point of shopping on the outer aisles of the grocery store.

About that time, a friend took me to a free boot camp class at Piedmont Park. I thought, “Oh, another boot camp, big deal.” Then I took the class with Get In Shape Boot Camp and that was all she wrote! It wasn’t long before the owner, Shannon, asked me to be a volunteer instructor. From there, I became a personal trainer with my own park in Smyrna!

Now, my weight hovers around 170. I know some people think that’s still heavy, but I don’t focus on the pounds so much as my body fat, physical fitness and how I look in my clothes (fabulous!). I still eat right and exercise because I am determined not to go backwards.

My family history of cancer and diabetes motivates me to live a healthy lifestyle. I am also motivated by how the changes I’ve made affect others. My clients look to me as an example of what can happen when you change your attitude about your personal health and fitness! I am living proof that weight loss and healthy living are achievable goals. I compete in fitness competitions and I’m even going back to school this year to get my master’s degree in exercise kinesiology.

My advice to others struggling to lose weight would be this – whatever your goal is, it starts from within. Find a group that shares your struggle and stay committed. Never talk about things you CAN’T do or things you WON’T give up. I never wanted to look like a supermodel. My prayer, as a spiritual person, was to look and feel the way God intended me to and to live the long and healthy life that He wants me to live. Three years and 60 pounds later, I’m loving me, inside and out.

Lauren Whitmore is a Lead Trainer and Motivator with Get In Shape Boot Camp. She teaches at Nickajack Park in Smyrna. For more information, contact Lauren at (404) 493-0756 or visit www.getinshapebootcamp.com.

Alex was shy and withdrawn. He would not make eye contact with his peers or teachers and was enrolled in special education classes at his school. Despite his extreme shyness, Alex got into trouble at school because of behavioral problems. He was removed from several after-school programs, which simply could not keep his attention or manage his behavior. Then Alex was brought to Moving in the Spirit, a program that reaches out to Atlanta’s underserved youth and helps them overcome the challenges in their lives through the creative power of dance, an excellent source of physical activity.

Under the direction of Chris McCord, a Moving in the Spirit alumnus and Men in Motion instructor, Alex began to develop mentally, socially and artistically throughout his first school year at Moving in the Spirit. By the spring, Alex was regularly leading his peers in their technical warm-up with confidence and ease during their Saturday afternoon classes. That May, Alex participated in the program’s end-of-year production, “Story Catcher,” dazzling more than one thousand supporters with a dynamic piece entitled “Shadow” during the show’s two-night run at the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts.

Alex’s caregiver, Jeannetta, is simply blown away by the profound changes she has observed in Alex. “I have seen such an improvement in Alex’s behavior at school, and he’s putting an effort into calming down at times when he would have become frustrated. During Moving in the Spirit’s Summer Camp, I watched Alex get his peers to line up and pay attention. He never would have done anything like that before he joined Moving in the Spirit. He’s more social and affectionate now. He hugs me! During the Summer Camp show, I looked up on stage and there he was, dancing, moving … and then, he smiled – a smile I’d been waiting to see for twelve years.”

“The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation provides ongoing opportunities for community organizations like ours to share best practices and gain access to the most cutting edge youth development research available in our country,” said Dana Lupton, Executive Artistic Director of Moving in the Spirit. “The Falcons roundtables have afforded me the opportunity to meet the finest collaborators in our city and bring valuable knowledge back to my faculty and students, including Alex. He continues to gain confidence, resiliency and leadership skills that will empower him for life – a transformation made possible by the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.”

Moving in the Spirit integrates high-quality dance instruction with performance, leadership and mentoring opportunities, in an effort to help young people overcome the challenges they face each day and realize the potential for their lives. Alex is just one child out of many whose inner spirit has been awakened. In a recent conversation with Jeannetta, Alex put his hand on her shoulder and said, “I think I found Alex. I don’t think he was lost really. I just know I feel good when I’m moving around.”

Through the support of countless community leaders and volunteers, Alex and more than 200 young people impacted by Moving in the Spirit’s programs will continue experiencing the power of dance and movement while gaining the skills they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Each year, thousands of people are released from U.S. prisons after felony drug convictions only to discover that serving time is not their only punishment: Thirty-two states, including Georgia, ban at least some drug felons from receiving food stamps and other welfare assistance. The ban, which stems from the welfare reform legislation of 1996, affects more than ex-convicts, however. According to the Legal Action Center, more than half of all prisoners have minor children, and many of those families were receiving food assistance before the parent’s incarceration.

Federal food assistance is intended to provide a safety net for those who need a hand, particularly during times of economic hardship like we are experiencing now. As the Center for Public Policy Priorities pointed out in 2009, “Denying assistance to adults with drug convictions forces families to stretch their already meager budgets.” Ex-convicts already have to overcome monumental hurdles, ranging from health concerns to employment to readjusting to their families and communities. This policy is just one more obstacle that makes a successful transition even more difficult.

Researchers have found that policies such as these are particularly hard on women and may plunge families into food insecurity, a condition that, according to the Food Research and Action Center, “refers to the lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources.” At a time when the female inmate population is rising, nearly one in seven children in Georgia lives in food insecurity, which can lead to chronic malnutrition, stunted physical growth and poor performance in school.  

According to federal law, anyone convicted of a federal or state felony involving the possession, use or distribution of drugs is permanently banned from receiving food stamps (now known as SNAP) or assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The law allows states, however, to modify or lift the federal ban. If no modifications are made, people with drug felony convictions cannot receive food stamps or welfare assistance.

As of June 2009, 18 states plus the District of Columbia have lifted the ban entirely, and 19 states have modified the ban. Thirteen states, however, maintain the federal lifetime ban on food stamp assistance for drug felons. In these states, benefits are permanently denied.  It does not matter how long ago the crime was committed or how well someone has rehabilitated his or her life through a strong work history, with drug and alcohol counseling, or by avoiding repeat offenses. Georgia is one of these states.

Across the country, advocates are pushing state legislatures to ease or eliminate the ban on receiving food stamps or welfare for people convicted of drug felonies. It is simply the right thing to do.

How can elected officials, civic leaders and community activists encourage ex-convicts to reestablish ties with their communities and support their families when laws such as this one make that task harder and, at times, even impossible?

Let’s stop punishing the children for the crimes of the parent. It’s time to change the laws.

The first step in changing the law is to contact your state legislator. Find your local legislator at www.congress.org/congressorg/state/main/?state=GA. An advocacy toolkit for this issue is available from the Legal Action Center at http://www.lac.org/toolkits/TANF/TANF.htm.

 Dr. Henrie M. Treadwell is director of Community Voices, of Morehouse School of Medicine, an organization working to improve health services a

AK CrossFit Kids creates an encouraging fitness atmosphere for children with a supportive environment and great energy. All exercises are scaled to the ability of each child, ensuring success at every level while building confidence.

CrossFit Kids is not a scaled down version of CrossFit. It is geared and designed for kids and their specific developmental needs. CrossFit Kids is used by athletic teams, martial arts schools and many parents who want their kids to grow up healthy, strong and have a lifelong love of working out thus avoiding the common problems associated with childhood inactivity and obesity. Healthy living requires that our kids push, pull, run, throw, climb, lift, jump and effectively and safely regardless of whether or not they are involved in sports.

“The introduction of AK CrossFit Kids builds on our 15 years of experience working with thousands of kids and teenagers in the metro-Atlanta area,” said Heidi Ziegele, owner and founder of AK CrossFit. “We want to teach kids that exercise is fun and rewarding. We pride ourselves in treating each person as an individual and not providing a one-size-fits-all approach. The addition of AK CrossFit Kids to Atlanta Kick’s offerings allows us to help teach additional kids and teenagers a love of fitness.”

The goal of each AK CrossFit Kids session is for the child to have a fun and educational fitness experience. With a variety of skills and games, children will find that exercise is something to look forward to. The games and skills used in AK CrossFit Kids are similar to any type of exercise children may do on a playground or in everyday life. Each AK CrossFit Kids session includes the following:

· Warm up (jogging , stretching, and basic exercise movements)
· Skill Time (new movements are explained and taught)
· WOD (“work out of the day” which is scaled to the athlete’s abilities and skills)
· Game (using the skills learned)
· Cool Down (stretching and verbal review of skills)

“My sons have been a part of the Atlanta Kick family for many years, first with karate and now with AK CrossFit. The caring and supportive environment created by the Atlanta Kick team has allowed my sons to build their confidence while at the same time getting a great workout. I encourage parents to visit AK CrossFit Kids and see for yourself the difference it can make in your child’s health and fitness,” said Nancy Oglesby, parent of two sons currently working out with AK CrossFit.

The AK CrossFit Kids team has certifications in dozens of systems, methods, and programs including CrossFit, CrossFit Kids, Staring Strength, ACMA, Cooper Institute, First Aid and CPR.

The free open house schedule is: Pups (ages 5-8) Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 4:00 – 4:30 pm and Big Dawgs (ages 9 and up) Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 4:45 – 5:15 pm. Email info@akcrossfit.com to reserve a spot or to receive more information.