That first garage sale brought in enough money to pay the month’s rent. Soon the garage sales became a weekly event. They kept growing, Johnston said, until they turned into the Christ Fit Thrift Store, behind the gym.

“The thrift store is one of our biggest blessings,” she said. “It has been able to provide so much.”

Billy’s brother, Bernie, has been there from the beginning, helping put in the floors and set up the equipment. But the gym wasn’t making money in those earlier days, so Bernie worked in oil and gas for seven years — “a horrible lifestyle,” he said.

“I came back home, got my life right with the Lord, and started working here full time,” Bernie said. “This gym saved my life, 100 percent.”

Bernie works with the moving and recycling arms of the operation. Those operations, along with the thrift store, help keep the gym operating on a donation basis.

Even Billy’s mother, Janet Weatherall, plays a role in the operations.

“Ever since the gym was opened, Billy has always given me a place here at the gym” she said. “Billy has been so obedient. I look at his life, and God has just blessed him.”

Christ Fit’s growing portfolio of businesses and services provides more than just a place to work out. To many, it provides an opportunity.

“Christ Fit Gym is not just a gym,” Johnston said. “We have all the special needs students work here during the day. This whole facility offers second-chance employment. We strongly believe in that. We think, if somebody doesn’t give them a chance, why won’t they go back to their old ways? It’s our job to plant the seed. If you come here, it’s gonna get planted. And if you come here enough, it’s gonna get watered, too. That’s the goal of it.” 

“It doesn’t matter your past,” Billy said. “We are willing to give anyone a chance. We all have pretty bad backgrounds. We’ve made some mistakes. We’ve lived life. I’ve lived life to the fullest for the world, and I’ve lived life to the fullest for the Lord. It’s not even comparable.”

While each family member has a specialty in the operation, they all pitch in anywhere they are needed. Billy and Julie both have helped on moving jobs, and Janet has been known to help with the packing.

“If we’re all not in it, I don’t want to do it,” Julie said. “This is such a beautiful thing we have here with our family.”

As the operations continue to grow, the family remains committed to God, to each other and to every person who walks through their doors.

To Julie, it’s about being the church to people who might not go to a church building.

“I love that this place is open for everyone,” she said. “A lot of people aren’t going to go to a church building. But they feel very welcome here. It’s a come as you are kind of thing because none of us is perfect.”

For Bernie, the excitement is in seeing how God always shows up.

“I see God’s favor daily,” he said. “I see miracles weekly. It’s unbelievable. God’s favor is all over this. Truly blessed.”

And for Janet, it’s simply a labor of love.

“This gym is absolutely unconditional love,” she said. “People come as they are, and it’s always just been a warm, welcoming place. I’m just so proud of my children. I learn from them every day. They are my inspiration.”

For Billy, it all goes back to Christ Fit’s mission statement, found in 1 Timothy 4:18.

“Physical training is important, but it’s not the most important,” he said. “It’s knowing the Lord. When you know the Lord, it has eternal ramifications. It’s for here, and it’s for the future.”

The goal of the camp is to empower families through education, encouragement, and enjoyment, helping families alleviate the frustration of chronic illness. 

Education: Camp Jambalaya Jubilee’s adult small group meetings provide families with access to top pediatric rheumatologists from around the country, dentists, orthopedic surgeons, ENTs, nephrologists, cardiologists, hand surgeons, ophthalmologists, nurses, family therapists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Parents learn about new research and medications, how to watch for signs and symptoms, and ways to work with the school system. Local organization TEAMS steps in here.

Encouragement: Camp Jambalaya Jubilee’s small group counseling sessions give families the opportunity to talk with family therapists and address underlying issues, such as marital strife, siblings having feelings of neglect, or fears regarding the illness. These sessions have proven invaluable to fostering connections between families and healing strained relationships. Dr. George Wolcott has been involved from the beginning and brings a team of therapists each year to work with the families.

Enjoyment: Camp Jambalaya Jubilee’s camp program for children includes a number of special needs accessible activities such as bowling, swimming, arcades, games, and arts and crafts. Because all children are able to participate in every activity, they experience a sense of normalcy, maybe for the first time. Parents report that children look forward to camp each year with great anticipation. Special family evening recreation is intended to facilitate relationship building between families. Activities include a Mardi Gras parade, an outdoor carnival, and an evening outing to places like the YMCA and Sci-Port.

Overall, families return to camp year after year to receive patient education, patient peer support, caregivers support and patient advocacy information—all critical needs within these families. They gain unprecedented access to doctors, surgeons, specialists, and therapists, all dedicated to helping them cope with the physical, emotional, and financial challenges of having a child or sibling with chronic illness. 

At the 30th anniversary of camp in 2022, 20 former campers (over age 18) participated, and the families learned about how far the medicines and treatments have come over the years. Several of these camp alumni are wheelchair bound which isn’t the case for most newer patients due to the advancement in medical diagnosis and treatments. The former campers shared their stories of success and trials. Parents saw how their own children would be able to navigate adulthood with the illness.  

The other mission of Children and Arthritis is to help with early diagnosis of the condition through continuing education to medical practitioners, especially pediatricians who are the first point of contact for these children. The organization has hosted the medical Cassidy Conference: Advances in Pediatric Rheumatology. At the most recent in 2022, Willis- Knighton Health System was the presenting sponsor, in partnership with the 

Northwest Louisiana Pediatric Society, Pediatric Rheumatologists of the South (PROs), and Shriners Hospitals for Children-Shreveport, where the conference was held. The conference featured world-renowned faculty speakers. The conference was a chance for new and experienced pediatric rheumatologists and pediatricians to come together and share their knowledge of advances in infectious disease and pediatric rheumatology, allowing for new thought processes and innovative techniques.

The Cassidy Conference is named in memory of Dr. James T. Cassidy, an exceptional rheumatologist and professor who was considered “the father of pediatric rheumatology.” Cassidy was internationally recognized for his work in pediatric rheumatology and wrote the first textbook, “Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology.”

Cassidy was an instructor and mentor to Pressly and was also instrumental in starting Camp Jambalaya Jubilee. 

childrenandarthritis.org

1. Reduction in stress and anxiety:  Studies have shown that spending time with pets can help reduce stress and anxiety. The special bond you have with your pet can reduce feelings of anxiety and help cope with ailments that are exacerbated by stress. Pets provide a calming presence, and their unconditional love and affectionate behavior can help to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone that is associated with stress. Having that excited dog to greet you when you come home or having a warm fur baby to cuddle up with on the sofa can provide a sense of security and comfort and can help reduce feelings of anxiety. Tending to your pets feeding schedule, play time and grooming can provide a sense of routine, which also helps to alleviate anxiety.

   Of course, in order to benefit from the calming influence, you do need to make sure your pets are relaxed and happy, so doing some research on things like why dogs are scared of fireworks and how to help them can be useful. 

2. Improved mood and decreased depression:  Pets can have a positive impact on our mood and mental state. Spending time with a pet can increase the production of endorphins, the brain’s feel-good chemicals, which can help to boost our mood and decrease feelings of depression. In addition, pets provide unconditional love and companionship, which can help to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. Many people became new pet owners during the pandemic for this very reason. For individuals prone to mental health struggles, pets can provide a distraction and disruption from distressing symptoms, such as ruminating negative thoughts. Using animals to promote mental wellness has been formally adopted by hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities. Animal-Assisted Therapy or Pet-Facilitated Therapy (PFT) has been shown to be a valuable adjunct to traditional medical and psychological treatment approaches. Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and even llamas have been used in pet-assisted therapy and have shown to have beneficial events in a wide range of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and autism. There is some evidence to suggest that the human-animal bond may reduce the risk of suicide, a health threat that disproportionately affects U.S. military veterans.
3. Increased socialization and sense of community:  Pets can be a great way to meet new people and make friends. Whether it is taking a dog for a walk in the park or joining a cat-lovers group online, pets can provide opportunities for socialization and a sense of community. Dog parks are very friendly places, not just for the dogs, but for the humans as well. Meeting and chatting with fellow pet owners can help to combat loneliness and can be a great way to connect with others, especially for people who are shy, struggle with social anxiety or have a hard time making new friends. I have had some of the nicest conversations with strangers in the veterinarian’s waiting room. Most pet owners are happy to chat about their pet with others.
4. Enhanced sense of purpose and responsibility:  Pets are family members. Like humans, they need love, healthcare, feeding schedules and attention. Caring for a pet can provide a sense of purpose and responsibility. Pets are totally dependent on their owners, and taking care of them can provide a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Pets can be a great way to introduce chores and teach responsibility in children. Pets also provide children with opportunities to learn about demonstrating nurture and affection. A University of Cambridge study, which examined pet ownership and children over a 10-year time span, found that children who had a strong relationship with their pets exhibited higher levels of pro-social behavior (e.g., sharing, helping) in comparison to their peers.
5. Increased physical activity: Many pets, such as dogs, require daily exercise. A Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey found that approximately 60% of dog walkers met the criteria for regular moderate to vigorous exercise, in comparison to only 45% of non-dog owners. Having a cat or a dog has been shown to be beneficial for your blood pressure. Being a dog owner is associated with lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The National Health and Nutrition Examination study looked at pet ownership over a 20-year time span. The study of over 2,400 cat owners concluded that there was a significantly lower relative risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart attack, compared to non-owners. Pets can help us get regular exercise, and this has been shown to have numerous physical and psychological benefits.

The rewards provided by pets are too many to list. If you’ve had a tough day or a personal crisis, the unconditional love and support a pet can provide can be priceless. Many people report that their pets have helped them get through difficult times. 

While pet ownership clearly has enormous benefits, it is not without commitment and challenges. Before getting a pet, carefully consider your lifestyle. Do you stay late at work? Do you travel often? Pets require time, attention, and financial resources. Make sure you are at the right point in your life to be able to responsibly take on a pet. A good fit between you and your pet can enhance your life immensely.

Michelle Yetman, PhD, is a Clinical Associate Professor at LSU Health Shreveport and a Clinical Psychologist for the Children’s Center at the LSUHS School of Allied Health Professions.