Christina Barkley

Faith and fitness together aren’t about wanting Christ to inform our workouts or our approach to health and wellness. Sounds nice and righteous though doesn’t it? It’s about God wanting to transform every part and every moment of your life. THAT radically shifts this from ‘what I do’ and ‘how I choose to live’ TO ‘God is in control’ and continually yielding our “I want …” to that divine control and providence.

William Hansen calls himself “just your average sergeant,” but those who know him understand that his story is anything but ordinary. After being wounded in military service, his journey did not end on the battlefield—it transformed into a new mission. Known today as Big Sarge, Hansen represents the resilience, discipline, and purpose that emerge when adversity meets faith in Christ and determination. All photos in this article are by William Hansen. Used by permission.

The power of our words—the very articulation of our thoughts and beliefs—can create or destroy, uplift or bring us down. Words have the power to crush our spirits or lift us up. I believe we have the capacity to influence our circumstances through God’s Word, which carries immense power. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. The effect of our words is complex.