Live It Articles If God Builds It, They Will Come

For many years I have had a desire to plan an event dedicated totally to fitness. In December 2003, the Lord told me to bite the bullet and Press On! The wheels went into motion, and the weekend of April 17 th in Meridian, Mississippi, the First Place program at Northcrest Baptist Church held its first Fitness Rally. It was a day orchestrated by God. The weather was picture perfect. The entire event was held outside at Bonita Lakes and 120 women and men from five states participated in this daylong event. God built it and they came.

Vicki Heath with Body and Soul Ministries was our special guest for the day. Vicki taught a First Place/ Body and Soul aerobics class lakeside. It was a sight to behold. There were those who had never done aerobics before the Rally and many people developed a new "can do" attitude about aerobics.

I taught a class called "Walking and Exercising With Much to Lose." I worked with them and we then went for a half-mile walk. There was a lady walking with us that began to cry. She was about my same weight when I started walking. She said she couldn't believe that she was really walking.   She had been trying to make herself get up and walk and just couldn't do it. She came to our Rally so I would get her up and walk. She told me she thought she couldn't do it, but she now knew that she could. She was one of the new "can do" attitudes God put into hearts at the Rally.

One of the highlights of the day was kayaking. I brought ten brand new kayaks to the lake for the people to give paddling a try. I heard people saying. "I'm not going to do that; I will flip over. There is no way." The next thing I knew, all 10 boats were out on the lake.

People found out while paddling that you could get a great workout and have fun at the same time.   From 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. my kayaks were constantly in use. Everyone that wanted to paddle got an opportunity to try it.

Vicki Heath taught a class on making the transition from walking to running. I heard many comments from those in the class who couldn't believe they really could run or jog.

We had a Personal Trainer from the local fitness center to come and work an hour on strength training and how to use weights properly. Aimee Skipper and Holly Johnston took a willing group for a three-mile walk on Cardiac Hill. Teresa Mackey and Patricia Gamblin took a group up into the woods for a walk on the trails.

We had many fabulous door prizes to give away. Darla Guy won the treadmill that was generously donated. The Grand Prize was an all-expense paid trip to First Place F.O.C.U.S. WEEK at Round Top, TX. Teresa Mackey, who had been praying without ceasing that she would win that prize, won it.

To sum the day up, our God is an AWESOME God. His people were truly blessed. The Rally met their needs and motivated God's people to move not only for weight loss but also for Him, and to get into Kingdom condition. I would like to share an email I received from a sweet lady in Louisiana. This pretty well sums up the day.

    Bev,
    No words could adequately describe the wonderful blessings I received today at the Fitness Rally.  It was more than I could have ever hoped or believed for.  But then again, God's word tells us that He will do abundantly more than all we ask or imagine, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

    Thank you so much for following the leading of the Holy Spirit and stepping out on faith and organizing the rally.  God will bless you abundantly for your faithfulness. You are such a blessing to everyone who's life you touch.

    I know that if someone would have told me that I would have "loved" kayaking (can't even spell it, but love it...lol), and then I would have probably told them they were out of their mind.  But I tell you, I loved it.  It is all my sister and I could talk about all the way home.  So much that I've told my kids we need to save up and invest in some, and every lake we passed on the way home we'd look at and say...hmmm, I bet you could kayak there.

    Again, I can't thank you enough for today. I am so happy to have met you, and Vicky, and Teresa, each of you touched our lives more than you could ever know. You've shown me that exercise can be fun, and plus so much more. I feel motivated, refreshed, energized, and ready to face a new day.

God bless and keep you!

Beverly Henson
Certified Personal Trainer


Beverly Henson is a conference and rally speaker for the First Place ministry. She is also a Bible teacher and certified personal trainer. Beverly joined First Place in July 1997 and has lost 147-1/2 pounds. First Place has given Beverly a powerful testimony. She is a First Place leader and Bible teacher at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Beverly has a genuine love of proclaiming the word of God to His people.