About Us

Meet Your Coaches

We know what it feels like... To look in the mirror and not recognize yourself. To feel shame after eating, again. To cry out to God for help, and still feel stuck in your body. To wonder if lasting change is even possible. We’ve been there. And it’s exactly why we’re here.

Matthew’s Story

Matthew knows what it’s like to feel completely stuck—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. For years, he tried to fill God-sized holes with alcohol, drugs, food, and success—anything to numb the pain. He battled obesity, chronic pain, and hopelessness. By 23, he was on medications for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and gout, all while recovering from military-related back surgeries. At his lowest point, he put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. But the gun didn’t fire. God stepped in, because He wasn’t finished.

What followed was a slow, grace-filled rebuilding from the inside out. God showed Matthew who he really was in Christ, how to steward his body, renew his mind, and live with purpose. That journey fuels everything he does today. With over 16 years in the fitness industry, Matthew is a U.S. Army veteran, Nutritionist, Certified Health Coach, and Certified Personal Trainer with formal education in Nutritional Science and Nutritional Psychology.

He’s helped hundreds of men and women create lasting change—even with real-life challenges and demanding schedules. His story and message have been featured on multiple Christian platforms and media outlets, including
New York Weekly: "From Battlefields to Fulfillment", Christ Over Fear Podcast (Watch on YouTube), Bibledingers Podcast – Episode 10: Is Being Overweight Sinful?, Pathways to Greatness Podcast – Episode 2, The Determined Society (Watch on YouTube), Premier Christian Radio – Man Like Jesus Show – Bulk In Jesus’ Name, and Conquer Me Podcast – Episode: The Importance of Identity.

Now, Matthew is on a mission to help others heal from the inside out, break free from bondage, and reclaim their health so they can live strong, redeemed lives for God’s glory. Because he’s lived in the darkness… and he knows the way out.

Leah’s Story

Leah brings wisdom, compassion, and real-life experience to Temple Keepers. With 15 years in education and curriculum design, her transition from the classroom to coaching was seamless because at her core, she’s still teaching. But now, instead of students, she equips believers to align their habits with God’s Word, rebuild trust with their bodies, and live with lasting freedom.

For years, Leah lived in survival mode, teaching full-time, tutoring at night, and trying to be “on” all the time. Like so many women, she chased skinny, strived for perfection, and drowned in the noise of food and fitness culture. But nothing worked and she felt stuck.

Everything changed when she and Matthew began aligning their health with God’s truth. That’s when she discovered:

✨ Freedom doesn’t come from restriction, it comes from surrender.

✨ Food isn’t a trap, it’s a gift.

✨ And health isn’t about vanity, it’s about stewardship.

As a mom of three in a beautifully blended family, Leah knows what it’s like to feel stretched thin. That’s why she now leads with grace and grit— helping Christians ditch guilt, embrace God’s design, and build healthy lives that honor Him from the inside out.

This isn’t just our profession, it’s our testimony and our calling.

We’re Matthew and Leah Headden, the founders of Temple Keepers Christian Fitness. Together, we’ve helped hundreds of believers just like you finally break free from toxic diet culture and learn how to care for their body God’s way.

Matthew and Leah’s Story

We never set out to start a fitness ministry. But we kept seeing something heartbreaking: Christians stuck in cycles of food guilt, confusion, and physical struggle. Some chasing worldly diets. Others not realizing their health even mattered to God. And no one in the Church was talking about it. Then in 2023—God brought us together. On a dating app, of all places. Our very first conversation was about Jesus and the gym… and look what He’s built since then. We had no idea what He was preparing. But He did. He was taking two people with a shared passion for Christ, health, and helping others—and merging their strengths in a way only He could.

Matthew brought years of experience in fitness, nutrition, and coaching; and Leah brought a heart for teaching, curriculum design, and leading women well. Together, God gave us a calling: not just to help people get healthy, but to teach believers how to treat their bodies as temples—and finally walk in the freedom they were created for. Temple Keepers was born out of obedience to that call. We help Christians break free from the noise, heal their relationship with food and their body, and build a lifestyle that reflects discipline, grace, and biblical truth. Not for vanity. Not for control. But for worship. Because when you align your health with God’s design… everything changes. And we’re here to walk that road with you.

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