Introduction to SFM and Coach Burnette

Soul Fitness Ministries, Inc. is led by Coach Burnette who has around twenty years of work experience within the kingdom of God. He graduated with a B.S. in Health, Physical Education and Sport Studies from the University of West Georgia which gave him the knowledge of the physical fitness side of life, and later received a Masters of Divinity which gave him more of the spiritual wisdom of life.

His first job was teaching kindergarten thru eighth grade physical education classes, and coaching middle school girls volleyball, basketball and cross country for a few years. During the summers, he went on mission trips to Brazil, which was a catalyst to get him to Asbury Theological Seminary where he received his masters in Divinity. His last class took him to the Holy Land, where he spent 80 days touring, and helping out with various ministries such as, SERVE NAZARETH, Abundant Hope International, LOVE Into Action, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. This led to a few days in Poland as well, and then back to the United States.

Following seminary, he continued to write books and curriculum for Soul Fitness Ministries, worked with a missions agency, spent three months serving the poor in Brazil, helped with a Suzuki Montessori School, and then helped a start up school in Dunwoody, GA. In 2019, he met the Principal of the Cumberland Christian Academy on Memorial Day along the Chattahoochee River. Shortly after, he was hired and taught a variety of courses for 7-12th grade students. Some of the courses were World Religions, History of the Church, Apologetics, Ethics, Christian Relationships, Health, Weight Training and Physical Education. This is the school that the Kendrick brothers parents started in Mableton, Georgia. (Think of movies such as War Room, Facing the Giants, Flywheel, Overcomer, and Courageous.) This is also the summer that he met Bernadette Sayre, who would later become his wife in April 2023.

In 2021, Mr. Burnette was led not to continue teaching at the Cumberland Christian Academy, and to pursue his dreams of starting Soul Fitness Ministries, Inc. as a non-profit. This led him to Front Royal, Virginia, his wife’s hometown, where he started working with Seton Home Study School, and leading Soul Fitness 4 Kids courses. In 2022, he also led Soul Fitness Christmas Music Event at retirement facilities in Northern Virginia.

In April 2023, Stephen and Bernadette got married in the St. Mary’s Chapel at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, went on their honeymoon, and later, God led them to Virginia Beach to settle. They have recently welcomed their first child into the world and are enjoying the blessings of the LORD each day. Soul Fitness Ministries received it’s trademark, their solicitation permit for fundraising, and is leading The World Revival Prayer Guide, and Soul Fitness 4 Kids courses in Virginia Beach.