the beginning of body & Soul® It was September 1981. I was a young Mom with two active little boys. Life was good and God had blessed our family greatly, but then the unexpected happened. My Father-in-law, a wonderful godly man, went into the hospital for routine surgery, but there were complications, and he didn’t make it through the operation. He went home to be with Jesus, and sadness enveloped us. As my husband grieved, he was struck by the fact that his dad might have made it through the operation if he had taken better care of his health. His Dad was a hard-working man who never exercised and was somewhat overweight. So my husband started jogging, we put the kids in soccer and he asked me what I was going to do in order to “get fit?” Well, forty-two years ago “aerobics” was popular, so I went to a class - and I instantly loved it.
What came next was unexpected. My friend at church knew I was teaching aerobics. She was planning a fall women’s event called “Body & Soul”. She would be sharing some spiritual encouragement for the “soul” part and asked if I could choreograph some songs and lead a workout using Christian music for the “body” part of the event. I had never choreographed anything before, but I prayed, and God answered big-time. Contemporary Chirstian music was just becoming a thing, so I choreographed 10 simple songs in a quick whirlwind of time, knowing that the Holy Spirit was guiding me and giving me music that lifted up the name of Jesus. The event was packed wall to wall. Th® ” class was born in her basement. God did it. It was God’s ministry from the start. The ladies who joined us became fast friends. They reached out to each other for prayer. They heard the message of the saving grace of Jesus and one lady who had never heard this good news said yes to following Him. God is so good!
My life was so blessed, and it still is today as I hear stories from Body & Soul® classes all around the world where joys and sorrows are shared, a special community of God’s love abounds, and people get fit in their body and in their soul. God is still doing it, and we all get to be a part of it. To God be the glory for the things He has done! These words from one of the first Body & Soul® songs still ring in my ears.
What is your Body & Soul ® story? Will you share your story to encourage others? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know what God has done in your life through Body & Soul ® or how you have benefited from our classes in some way. by Jeannie Blocher, Fort Wayne, IN
Jeannie and her husband Roy Blocher founded Body & Soul® in 1981 and she currently serves as the Director of Spiritual Impact, leading a dedicated team of Instructors in creating spiritual resources for the ministry. Jeannie loves spending time with family, which now includes 9 grandchildren, spread over three states. She loves encouraging both family and Body & Soul® friends to grow in faith & fitness!
