Every journey has a starting point.
For us, the story of Percheron Fitness began long before the doors of our gym opened. My wife and I both grew up as athletes... despite our physical size, we both played as giants in our respective sports. We both demonstrated high skill, high ability, and thrived as our identify was carved out for us. We had no choice but to be performance-based athletes. Everything we knew about life was around preparing, training, competing and making sure we were at the top of our game, all the time, no days off. No mistakes, perfection was the goal, and anything less... well, it just wasn't good enough. Start over. Line back up. Do it again. Work harder. Go faster. Do better. Again. Again. Again. No whining. No complaining. No excuses.
When we began our life together 20+ years ago, we were both ready for something different. Maybe something other than sports? Anything but performing...
Here we are - a young married couple with two toddlers, committed to love, and doing all we can to run away from the versions of ourselves we had known our whole lives. I know what you're thinking:
"This is where we found fitness right...?" Not quite.
This is where we found hope.
This is where we found freedom.
This is where we found mental and emotional healing.
This is where we found Jesus.
Then, within 2 years, we found ourselves in full-time local church ministry.
The seeds for Percheron Fitness were planted throughout most of our childhood and teenage years. Those seeds have been watered and nurtured throughout our time in ministry. And those seeds would eventually bloom during a season of reflection and growth. It’s a story rooted in a core belief that a longer, healthier, more whole & fulfilling life is possible and within reach for everyone.
Here comes the gym, right...?
Amy & I were on Sabbatical celebrating our 11th year of full-time ministry, using that time to refocus and refresh ourselves - making sure that we were ready for whatever God lead us to in the next 11 ministry years and beyond... We had no plans of doing anything other than ministry for the rest of our lives, really...
Little did we know that God was about to take out his brushes and pallete and paint a very clear picture of what our future would look like. Ministry & beyond...
"Fitness" isn’t just about physical health for us — it means so much more. Throughout our time in ministry, growing our marriage, and raising 3 kids, we have learned that our physical health is only a part of our overall ("holistic") health. You'll hear more about this in future blogs/content, but "Fitness" is a level that we strive to reach in all areas of our lives, not just physically. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, yes - physically, but also relationally & even financially. Yes, you can be "fit" in all of these... Ok, back to the story...As soon as we dialed into what God was painting for us, we started to see exactly what we needed to go back home and do.
We saw a gym that wasn’t just a gym.
A place where people could walk in and feel seen, supported, and inspired.
A place where it doesn't matter what you know or how "good" you are.
A place where showing up far outweighs showing off.
A place where health wasn’t measured by numbers on a scale but by the strength of a thriving, supportive community.
A place where marriages would not be divided but become more unified.
And with that vision in mind, we decided to make it a reality. We had no idea how... but as each door opened, we would step right through it. Within 6 months, Percheron Fitness was born. 2 months after that, the gym was open and we had members.
Opening Percheron Fitness wasn’t just about building a business, though. It was about creating a safe space for people to find their rhythm, their strength, and their best selves. Our mission has always been simple:
to meet people where they are and help them discover what they’re truly capable of — both inside and outside the gym.
For us, it’s not about quick fixes or flashy promises. It’s about helping people develop lifelong habits that empower them to live fully and confidently. That’s the heart behind Percheron Fitness — and it’s what fuels us every single day.
We’re proud of where we started, but this journey isn’t just ours. It’s yours too.
Whether you’re here for a new challenge, a fresh start, or simply a place to belong, we’re ready to walk alongside you.
In the next part of this series, I'll unpack the meaning and all the depth behind the name. Buckle up. 🐴
- jP
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