Matthew 6:33, the foundational Bible Verse for the First Place program

A recent notice in The Bulletin of Fort Valley United Methodist Church caught my eye. It read, "First Place: Are you wondering what to do to get rid of those extra pounds that seem to have slipped on you during the ‘eating season'? There is a Christ-Centered Bible study group, which meets at the First Baptist Church right down the street every Saturday at 8 a.m. We focus on putting Christ first in every area of our lives…"

My interest was piqued, partly because of the extra pounds I have put on since Thanksgiving, but mostly because of the group's focus –putting Christ first in every area of their lives. I was interested to learn how First Place, a Christcentered health program, puts that worthy ideal into practice. I know how hard it is for me, and probably many people, to be consistent and disciplined in my daily walk.

After a few phone calls, I discovered that First Place holds weekly support groups and Bible studies at several churches in the area including First Baptist Church of Fort Valley, Westside Baptist Church, and Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins.

Westside Baptist Church just happened to be holding an orientation meeting for new members the following Tuesday night, and I made a decision to attend. While most of the attenders were women, two men also showed up for the meeting. The first thing I learned is that the First Place program is well established. It has provided sensible, faith-based health and weight management instruction and support to small groups meeting in churches since 1981.

First Place is a 13-week program that emphasizes a balanced lifestyle in all four areas of life— mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. The program points members to God's strength and creates a compassionate small group environment that helps members stay accountable. The 1-1/2 hour weekly meetings begin with a weigh-in, then move on to prayer concerns, and Bible Study.

"First Place is more than weight loss—it's a lifestyle change that encourages every participant to find balance in his or her own life. This is not a DI-ET– it is a way of life, forever and ever," shared Harriet Sheffield, the leader of the Tuesday night Westside Baptist Church First Place group since 1996.

Members of First Place agree to follow a fitness and Bible study program centered around nine commitments–the heart of the program– including regular attendance, daily prayer, regular scripture reading, scripture memory, daily Bible study, healthy eating, accountability, fellowship and exercise. Sheffield encouraged the newcomers to consider prayerfully the nine commitments before joining the 13- week session.

Testimonies from several First Place members offered encouragement and hope.

Ellen Reagan, who has been a member for the past 13 weeks was able with God's help to lose 23 pounds, 3 shy of her goal weight for the session. Ellen majored in Food and Nutrition at Georgia Southern University and had actually studied the First Place food plan years ago. Ellen is sure that God brought her back to the First Place Program.

" I was involved in a Beth Moore video series Bible Study, "Believing God." After Beth Moore told the story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho, she asked the question, ‘What is your wall that keeps you out of your Jericho? ' The word "food" jumped out at me. It was highlighted, in neon lights. I realized at that moment that it was time for food to stop being my stronghold. The Lord is gracious, and that same day, a friend of mine asked me to go with her to an orientation meeting for First Place at Westside Baptist Church in Warner Robins. Since I have joined this group, I have learned that the power of Jesus is there for you and me to grab hold of. I couldn't have done this on my own. I look around this room and I thank each one of you for your loving support, but more importantly, I'm thanking Jesus." Ellen said.

Lainey Turnipseed, a First Place member since 1995, still embraces the program enthusiastically. "The best thing that First Place taught me was to be in the Word daily, to have a set appointment with God every day. I'm amazed continually at the serendipities that occur as part of this program," Lainey said.

Patsy DeFuente shared, "Last year a friend and I attended the orientation thinking First Place was a six-week course–just another diet. A year later, I have lost over 90 pounds, but most importantly, God has changed my heart."

From the website, I learned that the First Place Director Carol Lewis believes it is crucial to have a spiritual foundation to a weight loss program. First Place was started in 1981 in Houston, Texas, when a group of 12 men and women from the First Baptist Church in Houston created a Christ-centered weight control program.

They recognized that the spiritual life demands discipline to pray and follow God each day and that it also takes discipline to control our food consumption. The program focuses totally on Christ and includes Bible study, small group support, a proven commonsense nutrition plan, a method of record keeping, and other elements.

The desire of the group is to grow in every area of life. The logo for First Place illustrates the balance of the program. Each of the four aspects of life is given equal importance. The center of the logo features two shafts of wheat, representative of bread, significant throughout the Bible as God's provision. Jesus said in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life, He who comes to me will never go hungry." "Through Christ we can achieve balance in all four areas of our life if we depend on Him to satisfy our ‘hunger,'" Lewis wrote in her book, First Place.

At the close of the orientation session, I joined the Westside Baptist Tuesday night First Place group. I am looking forward to being a part of this small group Bible study, accountability group, and health program.

Westside Baptist Church has two First Place groups: a Tuesday night meeting at 5:30 p.m. (weigh-in at 5:15 p.m. ), and a Thursday morning meeting at 9 a.m. (8:45 a.m. weigh-in). For more information, call Harriet Sheffield at 953- 4339. The next orientation meeting is scheduled for April 10 at 6 p.m. First Baptist Church of Fort Valley has a First Place group meeting on Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. For more information, call Mary Ann Hall at 825-8457. Southside Baptist Church's First Place group meets on Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. For more information, email Connie Kelley at connie@ssbcfamily. com For general information about First Place, visit firstplace. org.

"In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Proverbs 3:6