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Walk by the sanctuary of New Life Ministries in New Orleans on a Tuesday evening, and you'll likely hear the uplifting sounds of contemporary gospel music. But if you took a peek inside the sanctuary, you'd be in for a surprise. The neat rows of chairs parishioners inhabit on Sundays are pushed off to the side so that Carla Allen, the first lady of the church, can lead as many as 100 parishioners and community members, including her husband, Pastor Glenn B. Allen, and their two children, ages 2 and 4, in low-impact "praise aerobics." "We're praising and worshipping God, but not in the traditional way," Carla Allen says.

The thrice-weekly wellness ministry includes the hour-long aerobics classes and health and nutrition seminars, taught by Carla and guest medical experts. For inspiration, she quotes dietary instruction found in Leviticus and other Scripture to show class participants what the Good Book says about caring for their physical selves. "The Bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit," Carla says. "But you have to do all you can to maintain it."

The number of faith based exercise and wellness programs is exploding. Wander through a Christian bookstore, and you'll probably find titles like Body by God and Moses Wasn't Fat. When Allen hosted a praise-aerobics workshop at a recent convention for churchwomen, more than 600 participants joined her in doing jumping jacks for Jesus.

WHAT IN THE LORD'S NAME IS GOING ON?

Health is widely recognized as a national concern," says La Vita Weaver, a personal trainer, ordained minister and author of Fit for God (Doubleday). "Now the church has begun to realize the many rewards of a healthy lifestyle. The healthier the congregation, the more productive we can be in ministry and fulfill our purpose in Christ."

Hallelujah! Perhaps the church can help save Black folks from the dangerous rates of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and other chronic conditions that claim too many of us.

# posted by Medical Information : 5:22 AM