THE WHY BEHIND INTEGRITY & GRACE
“There are 3.5 million people living in the Twin Cities. 53% of them don’t attend church. That’s 1,846,250 people-the same people who pass you by in the skyways, on highways, in classrooms and cubicles. Every number has a name. Every name has a story. Every story matters to God. Because He’s not done, we’re not done. There’s a hunger for Hope that can’t be ignored and our hearts beat to bring the message of Jesus to those who need it. And there’s no one we’d rather do this with than you. Let’s make Jesus known-one name, one story, one person at a time. One by one.” –Eagle Brook Church
Integrity & Grace was founded on the conviction that all people matter to God and that He deeply desires a loving relationship with them so that they may have an abundant life that is healed and whole. God has given us everything that we need to accomplish this here on earth by engaging in an authentic relationship with His Son and growing deeper in our faith, as we are transformed more and more into His likeness. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, it is written “May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together-spirit, soul and body-and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.”
Jesus transforms lives from the inside out, through his peace, love and grace. When on earth, Jesus made disciples of many and taught them to pray in every situation “your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”. After His resurrection, He used everyday people to continue on with His mission of bridging this gap and changing our world to look more like Heaven. This conviction drives Integrity & Grace, as we desire our participants to experience the transforming love of God, as they grow deeper in their relationship with Him. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, each participant then gets healthier; Spirit-Soul-Body, in the process.
OUR MISSION
To inspire transformation of the human body and soul by growing deeper in relationship with God-understanding His pursuing love and relentless grace-as we become healthier overall, in the process. One God, one community and one person at a time.
OUR KINGDOM VISION
Integrity & Grace has been called to meet a specific need, that is not currently being met in this world-helping people to find health and healing in Jesus Christ, through Functional, Restorative exercise. We know that Jesus can change anything in an instant and He does! Over and over again, His ability to transform is beyond human comprehension. In our ministry, we truly feel that even though we CANNOT change the entire situation of every single person here on this earth, we CAN definitely give REST-through one hour of hope, peace and joy-as a reminder of God’s deep, unconditional love and grace, to as many people as He allows us to.
In this time frame, God’s supernatural power is released and a catalyst for deeper change can ultimately begin. We believe it is a fact that people can only start to change their current situations…physical, financial, emotional, spiritual or relational, when they realize how much God loves them and cares for them…just a glimmer of hope is all that is needed. In our earthly chaos, we can’t even hear Him speaking change. Integrity & Grace exists to intentionally eliminate the noise, so that we can start to listen for His voice. This is our small part, in making a big difference in this broken world. Reflecting a small piece of the reality of Heaven.
Somewhere during this magnificent process, our Mind gets healthier. Our Soul gets healthier. Our earthly Body gets healthier. Healed and Set Free!
OUR STORY
“In humble honesty..without any disrespect, the world’s view of being healthy and well does not completely line up with God’s truth. At times, this lack of truth has left me feeling like an outsider in my own industry.”-Corrie Stanway
Only focusing on the external Body-without the Spirit and Soul does not work, and leaves people unsatisfied and finding unrealistic comparison with others. Infusing in the holistic work of the Spirit and Soul from a worldly (ego-based) perspective, leaves so many people with an uneasy feeling, and convicted in their beliefs. Witnessing the self-loathing, over-training, drastic measures used, addiction, low self-esteem and frustration with failure in people, leaves a sense of hopelessness and shame for so many. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Not at all. There is so much hope for freedom, if we are willing to find it.
The Change: Integrity and Grace desires for this to change and we truly believe it can. We take a stand to give our health and wellness back to God-first and last, as we seek Him to make these adjustments in all areas of our lives. We want to be part of the solution-with a group of other like-minded fitness missionaries that are being raised up, and we believe He has given us everything we need to create what people are seeking in order to find authentic wellness in their lives. We’ve prayed and He has revealed the plan. Welcome to Integrity & Grace. We are just so glad that you are here. Whatever your story is, you are welcome and you belong. Really hear that, “you belong!” right in the middle of your brokenness.
Integrity & Grace is God’s idea. He can even use the tool of foundational exercise to speak to hearts. God can use any space to advance His Kingdom if we are willing to let him.
Integrity & Grace is a non-profit ministry dedicated to educating and inspiring people to live healthy and whole lives in Christ, so they can experience true FREEDOM and extend it out to a lost hurting world. From a basement, filled with a small group of girls who wanted to exercise and study God’s Word at the same time, to a dream…to a divine opportunity. We started our ministry at Hope Church in Oakdale, MN by providing restorative exercise classes to anyone interested. With no expectation, we desired to breathe fresh hope and healing truth into the mind-body world, and provide a new way for people to meet together, and grow in their love for God and for one another-while getting a bit healthier in the process. The Integrity & Grace Method started to develop, as we realized that you really can do a “living, breathing..moving” Bible study.
Late in 2018, God made it clear that Integrity & Grace had a bigger call to action. He charged us to, “Raise up an army!” because the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. In confidence, Integrity & Grace launched 9 professionally recorded sessions for participation from home through the I & G ON DEMAND membership. In the future, we will also begin instructor training, to successfully send out “fitness missionaries” into the field of holistic wellness. With God’s leading, these next steps will allow our distinct Method to be used to further the advancement of the Kingdom.
We truly believe by the power of God, and in the gift of His grace; Integrity & Grace, its participants, instructors and partnering donors will impact the world by bringing health and healing, into a lost and hurting society. We desire transformation, not treatment. One God, one community and one person at a time.
"TELL THEM THAT I LOVE THEM AND THAT I FORGIVE THEM." –GOD
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We Believe in one God, who exists in three Persons-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is loving, holy and just. We Believe sin has separated us all from God, and that only through Jesus Christ can we be reconciled to God. We Believe Jesus Christ is both God and Man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He led a sinless life, took all our sins upon Himself, died and rose again. Today, He is seated at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest and Mediator. We Believe our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again just as He promised, and this earthly life is not all there is. We believe in life that will last forever.
We Believe the Bible is God’s Word. It is inspired and accurate. It is our perfect guide in all matters of life. We Believe the knowledge of God is being made known to every person here on this earth. God Himself has shown the truth to them and written it on the inner conscious of their hearts. We Believe that salvation is the ultimate gift of God to man. This gift is affected by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and it produces works pleasing to God.
We Believe that God is the ultimate creator of all things in Heaven and here on earth, and Satan can only imitate or deceive. We believe that there is an enemy of our souls that works to steal the ultimate Truth from our hearts and minds. Our position as believers in Jesus Christ, is to stand firm on God’s promises and truth, which never stray from the divine Word of God and to be led by the Holy Spirit. We Believe the Holy Spirit is our Comforter and Counselor. He guides us in all (spiritual, emotional and physical) areas of our lives. He also blesses us with spiritual gifts and empowers us to yield the fruits of the Spirit.
We Believe God pursues a loving relationship with every single human being, and wants to transform, heal and prosper us, so that we can live blessed and victorious lives, that will impact and help others. We believe that Integrity & Grace is called to be a part of the revival of believers who know their true identity in Christ, and desire to share the good news of God’s deep love with others, through the tool of functional, restorative exercise.
CORE VALUES
Ten core values bring clarity to the things that matter most at Integrity & Grace. They guide how we achieve our mission, influencing our humble decisions as well as our everyday ministry plans. In short, they keep us focused on the unique call God has given us as a ministry.
- We believe that God deeply cares about our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing and is the creator of everything under Heaven and here on Earth. All areas of Health and Wellness already belong to Him. Human beings can only re-create what is already His…either factual or deceptively. This includes the concept of spiritual, emotional and physical wellness, prayer, meditation and worship. (Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 14:23)
- We believe transformational, life-change often times happens in quiet, intentional community. And that regular practice of intimate Worship, Prayer and meditation upon God’s divine Word, is a means of receiving and understanding God’s unfathomable peace, love and grace. This includes the concepts of health and wellness, discipline, vulnerability, prayer and meditation, worship, Bible intake, learning, communion and accountability. (Luke 6:12–13; Acts 2:44–47)
- We believe true heart transformation, only found through Jesus Christ is the catalyst for life-long change in individuals’ lives and in the Integrity & Grace Ministry. This includes the concept of teaching for life change; spiritual, physical, emotional, mental restoration. (Romans 12:7; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; James 1:23–25)
- We believe ALL people matter to God and He desires to grow deeper in relationship with them; therefore, they matter to our ministry. This includes the concepts of relational evangelism and evangelism as a process. (Luke 5:30–32; Luke 15; Matthew 18:14)
- We believe loving relationships should permeate every aspect of our life and ministry. This includes the concepts of love-driven ministry, ministry accomplished in teams, and relationship building. (1 Corinthians 13; Nehemiah 3; Luke 10:1; John 13:34–35)
- We believe Christ followers should manifest authenticity and yearn for continuous growth as disciples of Jesus. This includes the concepts of personal authenticity, character, and wholeness. (Ephesians 4:25–26, 32; Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 1:6)
- We believe the pursuit of full devotion to Christ and His cause is normal for every believer. This includes the concepts of stewardship, servanthood, downward mobility, and the pursuit of kingdom goals. (1 Kings 11:4; Philippians 2:1–11; 2 Corinthians 8:7)
- We believe excellence honors God and inspires people. This includes the concepts of research based programming, evaluation, critical review, intensity, and excellence. (Colossians 3:17; Malachi 1:6–14; Proverbs 27:17)
- We believe men and women with God-given spiritual and leadership gifts should lead Integrity & Grace. This includes the concepts of unity, empowerment, servant leadership, ministry gifts, and intentionality. (Nehemiah 1–2; Romans 12:8; Acts 6:2–5)
- We believe our ministry should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure. This includes the concept of sensitively relating to our culture through our programming, attire, music, printed materials, and use of the arts. (1 Corinthians 9:19–23)