Michelle Mann
A phrase inscribed on the entrance wall at each of the three BBS Fitness Centers -- "Seek first God's Kingdom and all else will be given to you" -- is more than a Bible verse to owner Scotty Cox.
"Spiritual fitness is a key component to total physical fitness," Cox said as he and the Enterprise BBS on-site personal trainer Matt Hickman took a break to talk about the center's "Exercising Faith" weekly Bible study at the Enterprise Center. "Hopefully that Bible verse is the first thing you see when you come in."
The Enterprise fitness center located at 709 Boll Weevil Circle is one of three owned by Cox. The Dothan facility is located at South Brannon Stand Road, and the BBS in Headland is in U.S. Highway 431.
BBS Enterprise is a 20,000 square foot facility with personal training, nutrition counseling, High Intensity Interval Training classes, and boxing classes. The Wednesday night Bible study in Enterprise that begins at 6 p.m. is open, Hickman said. "You don't have to be a member to attend the Bible study."
A Bible study is held at the BBS Fitness Center in Dothan Mondays at 6.p.m.
Meet Scotty Cox
Cox, from Dothan, was the first personal training in the area and has competed and won numerous bodybuilding competitions. He is also a Certified Youth Fitness Instructor by the International Youth Conditioning Association, Speed and Explosion Certified by the National Strength/Conditioning Association and has over 45 years of training experience on all levels to include high school, junior college, and college strength coaching.
Cox said he began serious bodybuilding when he was 15, competed in his first body building show at age 17, and earned the distinction of being the first Mr. Teenaged Dothan.
'Full circle'
Both Cox and Hickman say that being at the Enterprise gym is "coming full circle." The facility was opened by Dr. Tim Tucker, as the first Gold's Gym in the region, when Cox, then 22, met with Tucker to discuss opening a Gold's Gym in Dothan. "That was 45 years ago," Cox remembers with a smile. Hickman, who grew up in Enterprise, started working out at the gym when he was in his early teens. "That's when it all began in the field of fitness for me," he said. After graduating from Enterprise High School in 1999, Hickman served as a stint in the military, as a peer support specialist at a VA hospital, and with drug court in Andalusia before returning to Enterprise where he has volunteered at the Christian Mission Center. Hickman said that he was unsure if he was going to return to the training, until he met with Cox. "He got to talking to me about the Lord and how the Lord has blessed this place. I was talking about my relationship with Jesus Christ, and I just knew this was a calling for me to come back into training," Hickman said.
"And a what a blessing he has been," said Cox about Hickman. "He has literally turned this gym around. Like Matt and I talk about all the time, we've got to get out of God's way and letting Him work."
"Coming back to this gym all these years later after being in the fitness industry for so long, coming back where it all started for me, God has really taken over my life," Hickman said. "I've been so blessed by what He's been able to do."
"Exercising Faith" has expanded to the point that it is now held in the boxing room to accommodate participants. Billy Irvin, Director of Ministry Relations for Faith Radio, came to teach one of the studies. Dr. Mike McQueen launched the 2025 study year. "It was amazing," Hickman said. "We've seen some people become Christians through this gym."
"My prayer is that God will touch the world through these gyms," Cox said. "I pray that every day."
"The best part is that I've had some people come in and say, 'I chose this gym because of the Bible study,'" Hickman said. "We've been so blessed at how it has drawn people in."
Hours of operation
The gym is staffed Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. There is no staffing on Sundays. The gym is open to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a key.
More information
A boxing class in the evenings is an added fee to the original monthly membership fee. For more information phone (334) 475-4738.
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Staff Writer
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