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10 July 2017

Prayer at the gym? Watch out for your local gym chaplain

Alliance member Sports Chaplaincy UK (SCUK) is welcoming Fit Lives into the chaplaincy family. 

Fit Lives has been working with chaplains in gyms for 20 years. 

The partnership will enable gym chaplaincy to be developed across the UK.

Warren Evans, chief executive of SCUK said: "I am delighted that Sports Chaplaincy UK has been able to embrace this exciting new development with Fit Lives and see chaplaincy grow and build on the amazing legacy of Fit Lives throughout gyms across our nation. 

"People go to gyms for many reasons and it's not just to keep healthy."
 
Sports chaplains in gyms do similar work to that of a chaplain involved in more traditional club sports. 

They seek to bring the same values of presence, excellence, relationship, confidentiality and humility to the gym that club chaplains bring. 

SCUK has a vision to see chaplains in every professional and amateur sport in the UK and Ireland as well as equip, challenge, and enable the Church to engage with their sporting community. 

SCUK is calling on the Church and Christians from all denominations to examine how they are serving their local community of sport, especially within gyms. 

Dave Courteen, chair of Fit Lives, will be joining the SCUK Board of Trustees. He said: "I am so grateful for the work that we have achieved in the past with Fit Lives Coordinators being a presence in gyms. 

"But, after prayer, we believe God is calling us into a new season and I am excited to form this affiliation with Sports Chaplaincy UK. 

"The work that Sports Chaplaincy UK is doing is widely recognised and I am confident that they will help see more chaplains within gyms. 

"I would join with their call to see how Christians can respond to this growing opportunity." 

SCUK provides training and support for anyone interested in becoming a sports chaplain. 

If you're interested in becoming a sports chaplain, you can find out more via the Sports Chaplaincy UK website

There will be training here at the Evangelical Alliance on Wednesday, 6 September from 11am to 4pm. Training costs £45.
 
 
As a member of the Evangelical Alliance, Sports Chaplaincy UK  is one of 600 organisations supported by the Alliance. We facilitate members' initiatives and campaigns and offer support to increase their impact. Member organisations have an opportunity to speak to the media on behalf of our membership, as we direct media and information enquiries to member organisations best placed to deal with them. The Alliance also provides training for organisations on how to engage with the local government and media.  

If you would like your organisation to become a member of the Evangelical Alliance, you can find out more here.  

Image: Hunter Johnson