He Nearly Lost Everything—Now He’s Building Stronger Men for Christ
When gym owner Jeff Hambrecht set out to start his new gym, he never expected the cultural storm that he now finds himself in. Hambrecht is the owner of Proverbs 27:17, a gym located in the Oklahoma City area that is designed for men, but not just any men. Hambrecht designed his gym specifically for men who want to grow in their walk with the Lord.
There have been some media outlets and bloggers who have criticized Hambrecht regarding his mission of leading a men’s-only gym. However, Hambrecht sees himself as being non-political.
“I’m not political, I just want to grow in Christ, I’m not anti-women," he said. "Proverbs 27:17 is here to help men grow in their relationship with God.”
Hambrecht seems to be okay with the criticism and even welcomes it.
“I prayed that God would let me reach as many people as I can, so my critics are helping me do that," he added.
Hambrecht is no stranger to the sports arena.
“I’ve been in health and fitness for 19 years,” he explained. “I was a college athlete who was drawn to this by training [with my] mom. She paid me $10, and I was hooked.”
Hambrecht describes himself as someone who, at that time, didn’t know the Lord until having an encounter that made him turn to Jesus. Before coming to Christ, Hambrecht was a self-described gym rat, someone who worked out in the gym constantly.
His fitness lifestyle was abruptly derailed after being injured in a car accident, Hambrecht recalled.
“I was driving home from work, and a lady blew through a stop sign and knocked me into oncoming traffic on the busiest road in all of Des Moines, Iowa.”
His situation worsened from there. Dealing with the pain caused him to be addicted to pharmaceutical drugs. Hambrecht found himself at rock bottom, having lost everything he had worked to accomplish. He explained his descent into addiction, stating, “Nobody knew that I was battling pills and alcohol at the same time. I just wanted the pain to go away.”
“My grandpa was an entrepreneur,” Hambrecht shared. “He went from a 10X10 barbershop to building one of the largest accounting practices in all of Iowa. I come from some grinders.”
However, he couldn’t grind himself out of addiction.
Hambrecht confessed, “It was a dark season in my life.” However, he has chosen not to dwell on it. “I feel like a lot of people don’t heal from their dark times or their past because they use it as a crutch rather than a strength.”
That strength comes from looking forward rather than backward. “I’m a big believer in Luke 9:62. It says you can’t put your hand to the plow and look back and be fit for the kingdom of God.”
It was through Hambrecht’s dark season of life that he found God.
“I ended up going through divorce, almost losing my kids. I was sleeping in my gym. I was basically homeless, and that's where I met God. That's where He changed my life forever.”
Hambrecht shared that he threw up his hands in desperation and prayed to God, pleading, “If you give me a second chance to be a dad and help me, get rid of this pill and alcohol addiction, I will do whatever it takes to follow You.”
That second chance came in multiple ways. Through therapy and support from the body of Christ, Hambrecht was able to put his life back together, move to Oklahoma City and start over. Then Hambrecht surrendered to God’s call to open a gym that ministered to men seeking accountability. He began using his professional fitness skills and his story to help them.
Because he has shared his story, Hambrecht notes, “Guys have been asking to work out with me.” He knows that his gym isn’t for everyone but is rather a place where, as he puts it, “Like-minded guys want to work out with other strong Christian men who can help lead them.”
What he has built is a unique place for both physical and spiritual development.
“I felt like there's no space,” he said, “where guys can go and have a men's groups and Bible studies and hang out and work out together. God put on my heart to start this gym.”
Along the way, Hambrecht saw how God put the pieces into place for the gym, despite the financial hurdles he faced. He recalled, “A buddy of mine gave me an opportunity to rent out some space out of his gym that he was working out of. I had a little bit of capital built up, so I bought some equipment, and we just started running.”
As for the criticism that has come his way, Hambrecht welcomes it because it allows him to share the message that God has given him.
“If guys are going to be in here, we have a requirement. We're going to hold you accountable. We've had guys come in that just don't make it because they can't," he said. "They want to just live for the world. This isn't some fluff Christian gym. I want men to follow God and give up what is getting in the way of their relationship.”
The movement seems to be growing, according to Hambrecht. Although he has no plans to franchise, he has been meeting with a group of 10 guys who want to start a gym like his across the country.
Photo Credit: Unsplash\AnastaseMargos
Originally published August 20, 2026.
