Our Story
Jeff Christian and Sandra Christian - Jeff's story is a story of God's love and redemption! A story of how God can bring anyone back to himself even when they run from him. His is a story of how reaching the top doesn't satisfy you in your life! "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his very soul!" We hope you will read this story and be inspired to seek God if you don't know him and if you are a runner from him, that you will give up your exhaustive self efforts and come back to the Father who is waiting for you with open arms!
Jeff was a champion bodybuilder in his younger years, but retired in his twenties after becoming a born again Christian. Shortly after becoming a Christian he felt the call of God on his life for ministry. He served as a student and family pastor and then as a senior pastor for almost 20 years. After the tragic death of his daughter he, at the age of forty decided to work out again and also ran from his calling and his relationship with God. He says, "To tell you the whole story of my little Madisyn would take all day! Thousands of seizures, Strokes, comas and pain is almost too much to even rehearse it all, yet I would do it all again for her! Sadly, after she died I went off the rails. I was worn out...I can honestly say I was never bitter with God over any of it! I was just worn out! My marriage was in ruins, my finances were in ruins and instead of accepting God's strength and grace I came to a moment and tried to check out of my walk with God."
"I pulled a Jonah and ran...and then a Peter. I went back "fishing" to bodybuilding at the age of 40...I disappeared spiritually although the entire time I was miserable in the backside of a desert of my own making. Years went by and I couldn't even find the Lord! I knew I was saved, I would lay on my bed and pray, but God was so far away it seemed. I have learned what the desert experience is like. It is lonely, miserable and barren! I would try to find God at times, wonder where he was, wonder how I got here, but always no matter where...I was lonely, miserable...dry...wandering...how did I get here, how do I get out? As crazy as it sounds I always had small embers of faith still lit and God was right there ready to fan the flames if I would have just turned back to him, but I didn't!"
Getting back into the bodybuilding lifestyle didn't take long and before long Jeff was prepping for the USA bodybuilding championships. During this prep he was involved in a car accident that left him with severe nerve damage on the left side of his body! The Lord was trying to get his attention and draw him back! God says "He will never leave you or forsake you" even when you decide to run from him, but understand as his child he will also lovingly discipline you as a father does his child. Instead of turning Jeff says, "I kept running!"
Finding his life in chaos and being told he would never walk without assistance much less ever train again Jeff instead of turning back to the Lord decided to double down. "I have always had that hard headed mentality and toughness that no matter what I was told I would find a way!" And he did...eighteen months after the accident and doing his own therapy Jeff walked back into the gym to start his workouts all over. "This time I was further behind than before because I was dealing with nerve damage and had to learn how to reconnect with the muscles" he states. Never one to feel sorry for himself he went to work and after 2 years of training won a regional overall title then placed 5th in his first national show!
Placing 5th didn't sit well..."I hate losing and when I knew I should have placed higher it really didn't sit well with me!"
So, back to work and then a year later Jeff placed 2nd in two classes in the top national shows in the country! SO CLOSE, but as he put it..."Placing 2nd was worse than 5th! Losing is not an option for me!"
Over the next year and a half Jeff would double his efforts and put on over 20lbs of stage weight! This time their would be no doubt! Jeff won the Universe and his IFBB Pro card. "Yes, finally reaching that pinnacle of success in bodybuilding should have been the greatest thing to me, at least you would think, but in reality I was more empty and under constant conviction from the Lord! I had traded my walk with God for Satan's lie! I came to that point where I had to get right with God, I had to repent.. I found I could no longer go my own way!"
And he did..."I came to that point like a 280lb baby I got on my knees and finally repented and the Lord was right there to accept me back!"
"I want to encourage you, if you have fallen by the wayside, seek the Lord Jesus while he may be found! He is right there waiting for you! Never think you are too far gone! He loves you so much and he is waiting for you to come back, repent of your running and follow him!" Jesus specializes in second chances! The fact you are still on planet earth means there is time for you! If you have never met him, seek him today! Realize that Jesus died for your sins on the cross, was buried and rose again the 3rd day! He paid the price for your sin so that you don't have to forever in a horrible place called hell! How? Simply pray and repent of your sins, ask him to forgive you of your sins and to save you! He is waiting for you and no matter what you have done Jesus will forgive you and save you!
Sandra grew up overweight. Always wanting to do athletic things she was just not afforded the opportunities. She says, "I was chunky and kept getting chunkier through my 20's!" After her 4th child she decided to do something about it and started the Body for Life challenge where she became a National winner because of her amazing transformation. Over the years She would start competing in figure competitions and did well. When she and Jeff got together the synergy of their training and relationship took off! She would win her IFBB Pro card 60 days after Jeff won at the Universe! She would dominate 2 classes and win at the North Americans! Sandra became a born again Christian in her mid thirties and God used her influence to bring her husband back to the Lord!
Jeff and Sandra have become known as top level coaches in the fitness community, but have have turned to ministering for the Lord Jesus as a husband and wife team. We still offer coaching and fitness help for every day mom and dads who are looking to get back in shape.
Jeff was a champion bodybuilder in his younger years, but retired in his twenties after becoming a born again Christian. Shortly after becoming a Christian he felt the call of God on his life for ministry. He served as a student and family pastor and then as a senior pastor for almost 20 years. After the tragic death of his daughter he, at the age of forty decided to work out again and also ran from his calling and his relationship with God. He says, "To tell you the whole story of my little Madisyn would take all day! Thousands of seizures, Strokes, comas and pain is almost too much to even rehearse it all, yet I would do it all again for her! Sadly, after she died I went off the rails. I was worn out...I can honestly say I was never bitter with God over any of it! I was just worn out! My marriage was in ruins, my finances were in ruins and instead of accepting God's strength and grace I came to a moment and tried to check out of my walk with God."
"I pulled a Jonah and ran...and then a Peter. I went back "fishing" to bodybuilding at the age of 40...I disappeared spiritually although the entire time I was miserable in the backside of a desert of my own making. Years went by and I couldn't even find the Lord! I knew I was saved, I would lay on my bed and pray, but God was so far away it seemed. I have learned what the desert experience is like. It is lonely, miserable and barren! I would try to find God at times, wonder where he was, wonder how I got here, but always no matter where...I was lonely, miserable...dry...wandering...how did I get here, how do I get out? As crazy as it sounds I always had small embers of faith still lit and God was right there ready to fan the flames if I would have just turned back to him, but I didn't!"
Getting back into the bodybuilding lifestyle didn't take long and before long Jeff was prepping for the USA bodybuilding championships. During this prep he was involved in a car accident that left him with severe nerve damage on the left side of his body! The Lord was trying to get his attention and draw him back! God says "He will never leave you or forsake you" even when you decide to run from him, but understand as his child he will also lovingly discipline you as a father does his child. Instead of turning Jeff says, "I kept running!"
Finding his life in chaos and being told he would never walk without assistance much less ever train again Jeff instead of turning back to the Lord decided to double down. "I have always had that hard headed mentality and toughness that no matter what I was told I would find a way!" And he did...eighteen months after the accident and doing his own therapy Jeff walked back into the gym to start his workouts all over. "This time I was further behind than before because I was dealing with nerve damage and had to learn how to reconnect with the muscles" he states. Never one to feel sorry for himself he went to work and after 2 years of training won a regional overall title then placed 5th in his first national show!
Placing 5th didn't sit well..."I hate losing and when I knew I should have placed higher it really didn't sit well with me!"
So, back to work and then a year later Jeff placed 2nd in two classes in the top national shows in the country! SO CLOSE, but as he put it..."Placing 2nd was worse than 5th! Losing is not an option for me!"
Over the next year and a half Jeff would double his efforts and put on over 20lbs of stage weight! This time their would be no doubt! Jeff won the Universe and his IFBB Pro card. "Yes, finally reaching that pinnacle of success in bodybuilding should have been the greatest thing to me, at least you would think, but in reality I was more empty and under constant conviction from the Lord! I had traded my walk with God for Satan's lie! I came to that point where I had to get right with God, I had to repent.. I found I could no longer go my own way!"
And he did..."I came to that point like a 280lb baby I got on my knees and finally repented and the Lord was right there to accept me back!"
"I want to encourage you, if you have fallen by the wayside, seek the Lord Jesus while he may be found! He is right there waiting for you! Never think you are too far gone! He loves you so much and he is waiting for you to come back, repent of your running and follow him!" Jesus specializes in second chances! The fact you are still on planet earth means there is time for you! If you have never met him, seek him today! Realize that Jesus died for your sins on the cross, was buried and rose again the 3rd day! He paid the price for your sin so that you don't have to forever in a horrible place called hell! How? Simply pray and repent of your sins, ask him to forgive you of your sins and to save you! He is waiting for you and no matter what you have done Jesus will forgive you and save you!
Sandra grew up overweight. Always wanting to do athletic things she was just not afforded the opportunities. She says, "I was chunky and kept getting chunkier through my 20's!" After her 4th child she decided to do something about it and started the Body for Life challenge where she became a National winner because of her amazing transformation. Over the years She would start competing in figure competitions and did well. When she and Jeff got together the synergy of their training and relationship took off! She would win her IFBB Pro card 60 days after Jeff won at the Universe! She would dominate 2 classes and win at the North Americans! Sandra became a born again Christian in her mid thirties and God used her influence to bring her husband back to the Lord!
Jeff and Sandra have become known as top level coaches in the fitness community, but have have turned to ministering for the Lord Jesus as a husband and wife team. We still offer coaching and fitness help for every day mom and dads who are looking to get back in shape.