Conversations with Mark Rice Jr.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Rice Jr. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Mark Rice, Jr. is a Buffalo, NY native that has spent the majority of his life on the outskirts of Atlanta, GA. His story is a familiar one, as he grew up in the church; however, strayed away from it. Sad to say, but his story did not get better throughout his collegiate and post-college years. However, after multiple traumatic experiences in 2012 and 2013, the Lord reached him on a completely different level. He gave his life to Christ and became baptized in February of 2014. The following year, he fully submitted his life to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Despite his past; currently, Mark is a faithful husband to Alanna Rice, loving father to 2 daughters and an Executive Pastor at Living Faith Tabernacle, (Forest Park, GA), under the leadership of Apostle Jeremy Tuck. His focus is to teach, encourage, and remind people that regardless of how they start or where they are, there is still a chance for them.

Within this journey of impacting others, he launched a fitness initiative. Mark Rice, Jr. AKA “Mark the Fitness Preacher” is a local, certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer, utilizing fitness as a tool of evangelism. His passion for wellness and fitness grew after receiving “unfavorable” news from his doctor. Upon losing 40 pounds in his own journey, God gave Mark a revelation and desire to impact others in the area of health and wellness. Subsequently, this lifestyle change helped to birth the Temple Turn Up class. This is a HIIT cardio fitness class that uses only Christian hip-hop and upbeat Gospel music. We have been bringing fitness to churches around the city while also being able to take the message of Jesus into local gyms. Each class begins with prayer and ends with a 3–4-minute devotion. Understanding that the great commission is not a suggestion, he aims to do his part in going into all the world. As kingdom ambassadors, it is time to be more intentional in telling people about Jesus.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has been interesting, as I have never been heavy into fitness. In addition, the fitness industry is pretty saturated. However, I am trying to create a new lane for fitness, impact, and the Kingdom of God!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets this journey apart is the fact that it is a solid merge of fitness, ministry, and business. We have seen people give their lives to Christ. We have prayed and witnessed physical healing take place. We also have had bodies transform through consistency in our virtual, personal training program. ‘We want to see people be physically and spiritually healthy.

We believe in Jesus AND Jumping Jacks. We love Squats AND scriptures. This is a true movement of Faith and Fitness.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Jesus gets all the glory and all the credit. This is his vision, and I am just trying to carry it out.

I am thankful for my wife supporting and helping me to run this vision. My pastor for standing behind me. I also need to thank the man who got me into fitness and trained me on what I know. He also helped me to lose weight in my journey. Thank you to Donald Williams, AKA Trapfit DJ.

Contact Info:

• Website: MarkTheFitnessPreacher.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markjr_remedie?igsh=MXdvbzI4a3k3Znl4Mg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555261337546&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_thefitnesspreacher?_t=8jHMmqk7blG&_r=1