Tuesday Oct 11, 2022

EP. 11: Building Spiritually Healthy Fitness Communities with Trey Steele

Many people cannot differentiate between spirituality and religion, although these are two distinct concepts. For many, a relationship with a higher power takes a back seat to a written law and how it's communicated by others. Religion is what these individuals go through. They try to practice it correctly while adhering to the set rules. And because they are imperfect people, they mess it up. Because of this, many people have the unfortunate experience of feeling excluded in that environment.

As a result, many wind up being their own higher power, leading to self-centeredness, pride, and disappointment because they continually let themselves down.

In 2019, Trey Steele founded The Hope Project. After serving on church staff for six years, Trey realized in order to reach more people with the Good News of the Gospel, he would need to take the message to them. As a veteran CrossFit coach and former gym owner, Trey saw the opportunity sitting in community fitness gyms like his around the globe. “People don’t join a community fitness gym, like a CrossFit gym, just to get fit. They join to be part of a community and something bigger than themselves.”

It’s community gyms where The Hope Project is focused. “What we’re really trying to do is build a community within the community. When we introduce The Hope Project to a gym, our goal is to ignite a movement for spiritual fitness. I started this with a vision that people could learn practical ways to explore and express their faith, all while in a fitness setting.” Trey holds a Masters Degree in Christian Leadership, is married to his lovely wife Casey, and has three amazing children.

In this episode, you will learn the value of personal relationships with each other as humans and with a higher power, the difference between religion and spirituality, and how spirituality and fitness are related.

Episode Highlights