Memphis’ St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church received a $7,250 ENCORE Ministry grant to help renovate a storm-damaged room and make it a safe and inviting workout area for senior adults. Church member and community residents use the facility.

At St. Matt’s — as congregants affectionately call it — members actively reach out and care for people in the surrounding community. In the summer, the church serves as an outreach center for mission teams, and it hosts a monthly flea market popular with mature adults. In the winter, the members run a homeless shelter for families of displaced women and children.

As part of the congregation’s call to serve mature adults, church members also wanted to provide a safe and affordable workout area. With many mature adults living on fixed incomes, membership prices at local gyms were a concern. In addition, many seniors were interested in taking line dancing lessons, but no local option existed.

That changed, in part, with funding from the ENCORE Ministry grant. The ministry is a part of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church whose mission is to assist seniors.

“Church members decided to apply for and use grant money to help renovate a room damaged by water during a winter storm. The room was in complete disarray,” said Rev. Kimberlynn Alexander, pastor of St. Matthew’s.

“Before the room could be reconstructed, mission team volunteers emptied the room,” said Missions Director Terrence Ryans. “Then, an old asbestos floor was removed, the ceiling and walls were repaired and painted, and carpet and exercise equipment were purchased and installed.”

Today, the transformed space is used for many health and wellness activities for senior adults, including line dancing classes, strength training, cardio, and health education.

St. Matthews’ member Mary C. is excited about the church’s line dancing class. She reports that classes help keep her mind and memory sharp and her motor skills intact.

Another member, Loretta E., is happy to have a fitness room. She enjoys meeting other mature adults whenever she goes to work out there.

“Thanks in part to the grant from ENCORE Ministry, we now have a safe, affordable, and inviting environment to promote health and wellness to church and community seniors,” said Alexander. “But it’s so much more than that. It’s a tool for evangelism and outreach in a world that needs community beacons of hope to share the love of Christ.”