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NEWS
Church begins weight-loss initiative
Members of the band and choir and other volunteers from Christ Temple Church in Huntington weigh in on the truck scales at the Flying J Truck Stop in Catlettsburg, Ky., as they begin their weight loss challenge Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009.
Purchase this photoCANNONSBURG, Ky. -- Saturday, a local church weighed in on Huntington's recent Associated Press' designation as the unhealthiest city in America.
Christ Temple Church started the 10-week "Above and Beyond Challenge," a call to action to lose weight and achieve better health. Saturday, members of the choir and band and other volunteers at the church collectively weighed themselves on a set of scales at the Flying J Truck Stop in Cattletsburg, Ky., coming in at 8,940 lbs.
"Hopefully this is a way that we can turn something very negative into a good thing for the city," said church member Peggy Hale.
The choir, band and volunteers are racing against the congregation to see who can become healthier based on weight loss, blood pressure improvement and other measures of personal health.
"One of the things we want this to be is a wake-up call," Pastor Chuck Lawrence said. "As a church we always preach about purpose. If your life is cut short by poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle, your purpose is cut short."
The church is actively pursuing their goal to a healthier lifestyle with health tips, motivation and a message each week from the pastor. Health screenings and tips from nutritionists are also a part of their evening service.
"It's all about being fit for purpose, God's purpose," Lawrence said.
John Darin Rowsey, the church music director, came up with the idea to help improve the fitness of the congregation. He said the goal was to improve the body, soul and spirit.
Lawrence said the people of the Bible had to have been in excellent shape because they walked everywhere they went. Lawrence has made several trips to Israel and said he has seen the places Jesus had walked.
"If you look at some of the paths he walked, it's tremendous to see how far people walked then. Being in good health back then is a given," Lawrence said. "You would have had to have been in terrific shape."
Huntington was named the most unhealthy city in America by the Associated Press in November based on factors such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Rowsey said that anyone who is interested in participating may attend evening services Sunday at the Christ Temple Church at 2400 Johnstown Road.
