MeritCare | Faithfully Fit Forever

Faithfully Fit Forever is an easy-to-implement, non-denominational, faith community-based exercise and health education class that includes the individualized devotional beliefs of places of worship. As a non-profit, low-cost program, Faithfully Fit Forever focuses on the body, mind and spirit by initiating and reinforcing positive health behaviors of adults in faith communities.

What Are the Goals of Faithfully Fit Forever?

Body - to promote increased physical activity and to enhance access to exercise programming in your community
Mind - to increase awareness and understanding of health risks and healthy living
Spirit - to enhance the fellowship and spiritual growth of faith community members

What is Included in a Faithfully Fit Forever Class?

Class times are flexible and at the discretion of the leader, but a typical class may include:

30 to 40 minutes of exercise
10 minutes of discussion on a health-related topic
10 minutes of devotion

Why Start Faithfully Fit Forever in Your Faith Community?

Only one out of ten older adults in the U.S. participates in regular exercise. Faithfully Fit Forever eliminates barriers that keep people from participating in exercise and health enhancing behaviors. Plus, it is an opportunity for a faith community to reach out to its parishioners.

How Can My Faith Community Get Started?

Anyone wishing to start a Faithfully Fit Forever class must attend a four-hour new leadership workshop designed to teach the basics of exercise and leadership. Workshops and refresher courses are offered regularly and held at a variety of locations based on request. Interested individuals should contact MeritCare Cardiac Rehabilitation at (701) 234-5659 or (800) 437-4010 for workshop dates, times and registration. (A minimal participation fee may apply.) No prior training is needed in order to attend.

Who Instructs the New Leader Workshop?

Instructors for the workshop are clinical exercise physiologists who help individuals recover from various heart and chronic disease conditions. Instructors have numerous years of experience working in clinical and non-clinical exercise, fitness and rehabilitation settings. MeritCare parish nurses also contributed to the design of the workshop, manual and video.

What is Included in the New Leader Workshop?

Utilization of the training manual, video and other informational resources
Tips on group exercise leadership
Demonstration and participation in a group exercise class
How to facilitate discussion on an educational topic
Discussion about leading devotions or incorporating individualized spirituality into the program
Discussion about safety considerations and liability issues