Community Highlights: Meet Jake King of Jake King Fitness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake King

Hi Jake, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Have you ever met a full time pastor who is also a personal trainer? Sounds unique right? Well it all started with me working in full-time ministry. Born and raised in Charleston, SC I grew up in a non-denominational church that helped me grow in my walk with God. Then, out of college I started working part-time in student ministry. I served in the same student ministry that I grew up in and I got to be a part of seeing Jesus change the lives of students over the span of almost 10 years.

During that time, I served alongside a pastor who was a close friend of mine, and he asked for my wife and I to be a part of a church plant that he and his wife were starting. We felt the call to go and we said yes to helping launch this new church. My wife and I and our one year old son moved from Charleston, SC to Lawrence, KS in 2022. That pastor’s name is Mike Woodard, and he is the Lead Pastor at The Valley Church in Lawrence and I have the pleasure of serving as the Executive Pastor.

Now one of the main reasons I have served in ministry all this time is because I believe God has given me a passion to see people to step into their fullest God-given potential. When I see people realize who they were created to be and then begin to operate in the fulfillment and purpose God has for their life, it truly brings me joy.

That personal passion and purpose leads me into another way I’m involved in the community. I am also a Certified Personal Trainer as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach.

Through my time in ministry, I realized I wanted to do more to see people reach their fullest potential. Men and women alike, but I really had a desire to see men and husbands and dads of this generation become the best version of themselves they can be! Having an affinity for fitness and exercise myself, I realized how impactful it had been in my life, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well! So in 2023, I decided to study and become certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Now, I have started a business where I train others to step into their fullest God given potential. Now, not only spiritually through means of ministry, but also mentally and physically through the empowering force of fitness.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every good story has its ups and downs. I believe that it’s throughout the struggles and challenges that we learn the most about ourselves.

As a pastor, there have been many challenges and struggles, both externally and internally. Externally, I had to grow in my leadership abilities, learn how to grow my capacity and work load, and grow in having vision and direction for the leaders I serve with. Internally, I have had to deal with insecurities in my leadership abilities.

In personal training, as a newer endeavor, there is always a fear of failing. There is a struggle of carrying the burden of people’s physical and mental pain. Fear of not finding clients and even worse, not helping them reach their goals. These are things that have haunted me at times. However, it’s through perseverance that I have overcome many of these negative thought patterns or I have proven to myself that I can do new things and do them well!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a self-employed contractor, I train my clients at an incredible facility in Lawrence, KS called Evolution Athletics. As a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, my goal is to help men get in the best shape of their life mentally, physically, and spiritually. I believe that men should be leaders in every area of their life, and that includes their physical health, mental health, and spiritual health. As a husband and dad of two kids, I want to be the best version of myself for them I can be. This passion to be my best is the heart of why I do what I do. I focus on men because it has been and will be my life goal to see others be the best version of themselves they can be.

WHAT MAKES JAKE UNIQUE?
Well, as a trainer with a passion for ministry, I don’t look at personal training as “another job.” Personal training is a personal ministry where I have the ability to challenge people not just in the physical, but I challenge then to grow in their faith as well if that is something they are looking for.

Now I understand that being a pastor and personal trainer may deter people and that’s okay. I’ve never had a client leave because of being a pastor, because they get to know my character and I would never force my faith upon on anyone. It is simply that Jesus has changed my life in every area so He is a part of everything I do. So if thats something you’re looking for–to get healthier and to grow in your faith, what else could you want in a trainer? But to anyone reading, they would have my respect for simply wanting to get healthier.

WHAT I OFFER:
I offer in person training for men local to Lawrence, KS and the surrounding areas. I also offer online personal training for men and women! Because I am a full-time pastor, I am a part-time trainer. So I utilize the time in the gym for the male clients I have. However, online I train both men and women who have their own space they train at, but they are in need of workout/programming and nutrition guidance.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Personally I don’t believe in luck but I believe that everything that happens in my life can be used by God. He is always teaching me new things and growing my faith in the good times and the bad in both my personal life and my business.

Any success or failures as a pastor or personal trainer has been an opportunity for God to teach me something! I believe I have grown because of what I’ve walked through, the good and bad. I think that through all moments in life, I have grown to be a better pastor and a more confident trainer.

So now I look forward to what’s to come knowing that it is all for a purpose!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeking_93/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jake.king.777/
• Other: For training info, email me at [email protected]