Restore Faith Outreach Ministries’ Boxing Gym

My name is Lyndsey Banks and I’m helping to raise funds to restore Faith Boxing, an outreach ministry that brings adults and children from all walks of life into a resilient environment.

I am an active duty officer in the Air Force, and I moved to Montgomery, Alabama in the summer of 2021. Because of how often I move, it’s difficult to make friends outside of the military environment. But Faith Boxing was different.

The gym is located on the 2nd floor of Faith Full Gospel Baptist church. One side is devoted to providing housing for homeless veterans. The other side is the gym, which serves as a safe option for inner city youth.

The first day I walked into the gym, I could tell there was a special spirit about the place. I saw men, women, and children from all races and backgrounds coming together to train. Instantly, the coaches and athletes welcomed me, and within short order, that community became a family. When I step into that gym, I’m with brothers, sisters, and uncles. We push each other, challenge each other, and teach each other. I have confided with them, prayed with them, and cried with them.

On March 2nd, 2023, I drove to the gym like any other day, but was stopped by a wall of police vehicles and emergency responders. A few yards away, I saw the side where the gym is located in a cloud of smoke.

Though the building remained intact, everything inside was ruined by either water or smoke. Your donation will go directly toward furnishing the gym with new equipment.