NEW YORK (VINnews) — Two new Christian fitness initiatives in the US are drawing national attention after unveiling men-only gyms that combine physical training with Bible study and community life while excluding women. Supporters say the concept is designed to strengthen faith, discipline and family life, while critics have accused the projects of promoting exclusion and avoiding personal responsibility.
One of the ventures, Proverbs 27:17 Fitness, was founded in Oklahoma City by Jeff Hembrecht. He said the idea grew out of his own struggles with addiction, including pornography, and his belief that traditional gyms can create unnecessary temptations.
“Gyms are places where affairs, infidelity and unfaithfulness can happen,” Hembrecht told Instinct magazine.
He insisted the goal is not to exclude women but to provide men with an environment that helps them remain committed to their faith and marriages. According to the organization’s website, its mission is to encourage “G-d-centered living,” with proceeds supporting the development of the gym and mentoring and discipleship programs.
A second project, The Remnant Gym, is scheduled to open in Denver in 2027. Membership will require agreement with a statement of faith affirming that marriage is between one man and one woman and that God created only two genders.
Beyond fitness equipment, the facility plans to offer Bible studies, a sauna, a golf simulator and a members’ lounge, aiming to build a broader spiritual and social community.
The initiatives have sparked widespread debate online. Critics questioned whether banning women addresses inappropriate behavior by men or merely shifts responsibility onto the environment. Others mocked the concept, with one social media user joking, “Finally, men can be themselves and work out with other men, just as the ancient Greeks intended.”
The founders reject accusations of discrimination, arguing that the gyms are voluntary faith-based spaces designed to help Christian men strengthen their spiritual lives, personal discipline and family commitments.
The controversy has quickly expanded into a broader discussion in the United States over religion, gender roles and the place of faith-based organizations in public life.