Rev John Phillips is the Minister for the Awatere Christian Joint Venture, serving the communities of Seddon, Ward, Kekerengu, and the Awatere Valley. But what many people don’t understand about John, is that for years he was a passionate member of CrossFit—a global fitness movement whose devotees are so enthusiastic, it’s often compared to a religion.
Spanky Moore caught up with John to find out what drew him to CrossFit—and what the Church might learn from its appeal.
Most of us have heard of CrossFit—but what is it, exactly?
What distinguishes CrossFit from other gyms is its holistic vision of sport and life. For many, it’s not just a workout; it’s a sport, a lifestyle, and a community.
When I first got into CrossFit, my daughter said, “Dad, don’t do it—it’s a false religion!” And in some ways, she’s not wrong. There’s something addictive about the extreme-exercise scene for those who love competition, overcoming challenges, and pushing themselves to the limit.
What do you love about it?
I love the variety and challenge of the workouts—running, rowing, gymnastics on the bars, resistance training with barbells, kettlebells, or whatever lumpy object is handy. But more than that, I love the ethos. Everyone celebrates each person’s achievements, no matter how small. When someone hits a personal best, the whole class cheers them on.
What do people think of an Anglican minister pumping iron, flipping tractor tires, and climbing ropes?
Well, the Air Force folks from Woodbourne are used to sweating alongside chaplains. And Catholics know that a priest is usually up for a laugh. The secular crowd can be a bit more puzzled by me. But every now and then, I’ll end up having a deeply spiritual conversation with someone after a workout.
What is it about CrossFit that makes it so appealing worldwide?
At first glance, CrossFit can look like some kind of cult—with a side of protein powder. The other day, ChatGPT told me, “CrossFit workouts are a lot like Anglican liturgy—no one’s entirely sure what’s going on, and everyone hopes no one notices when we make a mistake.”
But in more positive ways, I think CrossFit resembles the Church. There are personal testimonies—like mine. CrossFit helped me lose 25 kg and come off all my blood pressure medication. It’s a genuinely supportive community that gives people hope and purpose. People say things like, “One day I’m going to nail a bar muscle-up!”
But what CrossFit can’t offer is an answer to death, disease, or how to have a relationship with God. The gym conversation always gets awkward when I mention that my personal records are getting worse—because I’m mortal, and aging is inevitable. Some people still try to tell me that if I just work harder, I’ll keep getting stronger. That might be true in your 20s—but not so much in your 50s.
What could the Church learn from CrossFit?
Some people are deeply motivated by very hard challenges. CrossFitters remind me of monastics and Puritans in that way. And CrossFit does a fantastic job of journeying with people, celebrating even their smallest achievements. It shows us a model for discipleship—one that encourages, challenges, and supports people every step of the way.
Check out other articles in the
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More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Rev John Phillips is the Minister for the Awatere Christian Joint Venture, serving the communities of Seddon, Ward, Kekerengu, and the Awatere Valley. But what many people don’t understand about John, is that for years he was a passionate member of CrossFit—a global fitness movement whose devotees are so enthusiastic, it’s often compared to a religion.
Spanky Moore caught up with John to find out what drew him to CrossFit—and what the Church might learn from its appeal.
Most of us have heard of CrossFit—but what is it, exactly?
What distinguishes CrossFit from other gyms is its holistic vision of sport and life. For many, it’s not just a workout; it’s a sport, a lifestyle, and a community.
When I first got into CrossFit, my daughter said, “Dad, don’t do it—it’s a false religion!” And in some ways, she’s not wrong. There’s something addictive about the extreme-exercise scene for those who love competition, overcoming challenges, and pushing themselves to the limit.
What do you love about it?
I love the variety and challenge of the workouts—running, rowing, gymnastics on the bars, resistance training with barbells, kettlebells, or whatever lumpy object is handy. But more than that, I love the ethos. Everyone celebrates each person’s achievements, no matter how small. When someone hits a personal best, the whole class cheers them on.
What do people think of an Anglican minister pumping iron, flipping tractor tires, and climbing ropes?
Well, the Air Force folks from Woodbourne are used to sweating alongside chaplains. And Catholics know that a priest is usually up for a laugh. The secular crowd can be a bit more puzzled by me. But every now and then, I’ll end up having a deeply spiritual conversation with someone after a workout.
What is it about CrossFit that makes it so appealing worldwide?
At first glance, CrossFit can look like some kind of cult—with a side of protein powder. The other day, ChatGPT told me, “CrossFit workouts are a lot like Anglican liturgy—no one’s entirely sure what’s going on, and everyone hopes no one notices when we make a mistake.”
But in more positive ways, I think CrossFit resembles the Church. There are personal testimonies—like mine. CrossFit helped me lose 25 kg and come off all my blood pressure medication. It’s a genuinely supportive community that gives people hope and purpose. People say things like, “One day I’m going to nail a bar muscle-up!”
But what CrossFit can’t offer is an answer to death, disease, or how to have a relationship with God. The gym conversation always gets awkward when I mention that my personal records are getting worse—because I’m mortal, and aging is inevitable. Some people still try to tell me that if I just work harder, I’ll keep getting stronger. That might be true in your 20s—but not so much in your 50s.
What could the Church learn from CrossFit?
Some people are deeply motivated by very hard challenges. CrossFitters remind me of monastics and Puritans in that way. And CrossFit does a fantastic job of journeying with people, celebrating even their smallest achievements. It shows us a model for discipleship—one that encourages, challenges, and supports people every step of the way.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
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