Today we’d like to introduce you to Torie Bartee.
Hi Torie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our story really started with God stirring something in our hearts that we couldn’t ignore anymore. My husband, Seth, and I have always had a heart for discipleship, community, and helping people know Jesus in practical ways, but over the last several years God began opening doors and clearly leading us toward planting a church.
That journey eventually brought us from Florida to Eagle Mountain, Utah. As we have spent time in the community, we quickly realized there is incredible growth happening here. Families are moving in rapidly, but many people are also searching for connection, belonging, and authentic relationships. We felt God calling us to create a place where people could know Jesus, grow in their faith, and truly do life together.
In 2026 we are launching Eagle Mountain Community Church. Our heart is simple: we want to be a church that knows Jesus, grows together, and goes out into the community to live out His love. We want people to feel seen, welcomed, and equipped to follow Jesus in their everyday lives.
One unique aspect of our ministry is the fitness component that we are incorporating into the church. Fitness has been a huge part of my own life and ministry for many years. Through my work as a faith-based fitness coach, I have seen firsthand that movement can become a powerful bridge to discipleship and community.
Many people may never walk through church doors for a Sunday service, but they will come to a fitness class. We see fitness ministry as an opportunity to meet people where they are, build relationships, and help them reconnect with both their bodies and their faith. It creates a space where people can gather, move their bodies, encourage one another, and learn that their worth was never tied to appearance or performance, but to who God says they are.
Our vision is to offer faith and fitness classes, Bible studies, community events, and opportunities for people to build relationships in a non-intimidating environment. We believe caring for our physical bodies is an act of stewardship, and we want to help people embrace health from a Biblical perspective rather than from the pressures of diet culture.
Ultimately, this church plant is about loving God and loving people. It’s about creating a place where families can belong, where disciples are made, and where the gospel reaches people in everyday spaces. We are excited to see how God continues to move in Eagle Mountain, and we are grateful to be part of what He is already doing here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges has simply been stepping into the unknown. Moving away from what was familiar, leaving behind relationships, and starting over in a brand-new community has been both exciting and stretching.
Church planting is beautiful, but it can also feel slow at times. You quickly realize that ministry is built on relationships, and relationships take time. There isn’t a shortcut to trust, discipleship, or building community. There have been moments where we’ve had to remind ourselves that faithfulness matters more than fast results.
Another challenge has been balancing all of the different hats we wear. We are parents, we both work, we’re building a church, and we’re investing deeply in people. Sometimes ministry happens around kitchen tables, at kids’ activities, during workouts, or through spontaneous conversations. It isn’t always neat and organized.
We’ve also had practical challenges, like meeting spaces. We’ve outgrown some of the spaces we’ve been using, which is an exciting problem to have, but it also means we’re constantly trusting God to provide what we need for the next season.
I also think one of the biggest personal lessons has been learning to release control. Church planting has a way of exposing your own limitations. We can make plans and strategies, but ultimately this is God’s church, not ours. He is the one building it.
At the same time, we’ve been able to see God’s faithfulness over and over again. Every new family that walks through the door, every conversation that turns into a relationship, every person who says, “We’ve been praying for a church like this,” reminds us why we’re here.
The challenges have been real, but they have also strengthened our faith. We are learning that obedience doesn’t always mean comfort, but it does mean getting a front-row seat to what God is doing. And honestly, that’s been worth every difficult moment.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Professionally, I am a faith-based fitness coach, podcaster, speaker, and trainer. I have spent years helping women build sustainable health habits while learning to honor God with their bodies. My specialty is helping women move away from extremes, all-or-nothing thinking, and diet culture so they can pursue health from a place of stewardship instead of striving.
One thing that really sets us apart is that we don’t see ministry as something that only happens on Sunday mornings. We believe ministry happens in everyday spaces. It happens around a dinner table, during a workout, at a Bible study, while serving the community, or simply by showing up consistently in people’s lives.
I think what we’re most known for is helping people connect their faith to everyday life in a practical way. We want people to understand that following Jesus isn’t just another item on a checklist. It impacts every area of life, including our physical health, relationships, work, and how we serve others.
What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily a program, platform, or number of followers. It’s the people. It’s seeing women who once felt trapped by body image struggles find freedom. It’s seeing someone discover that exercise can become an act of worship instead of punishment. It’s watching people build authentic community and take steps toward Jesus.
Ultimately, I think what sets us apart is that we genuinely believe transformation starts from the inside out. We aren’t interested in quick fixes or surface-level change. We want to help people experience lasting transformation by renewing their minds, strengthening their bodies, and growing deeper in their relationship with Christ.
At the end of the day, whether it’s through church planting, fitness ministry, coaching, or discipleship, our heart is the same: to meet people where they are and point them back to Jesus.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
The world often defines success by numbers, growth, influence, or accomplishments. In church planting, it can be easy to fall into that mindset too. How many people are attending? How quickly are we growing? How many programs are we offering?
But we’ve really learned that success is faithfulness.
Success is being obedient to what God has called us to do, regardless of the outcome.
We can’t control the results. We can’t force growth, change hearts, or manufacture transformation. That’s God’s job. Our responsibility is simply to faithfully steward what He has placed in front of us.
If we are faithfully preaching God’s Word, loving people well, serving our community, investing in relationships, and pointing people to Jesus, then we are successful, even if it doesn’t always look impressive by the world’s standards.
The same is true in fitness ministry. Success isn’t about creating perfect bodies or achieving a certain appearance. It’s helping people experience freedom and learn to steward the bodies God has given them.
At the end of the day, our prayer is simple: that when people interact with us and our ministry, they encounter Jesus.
Contact Info:
- Website: emccutah.org and torielinfitness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torielinfitness/
