Q: What is happening to the old Brookhaven Outreach Ministries building?

A: Brookhaven Outreach Ministries moved in February from its location at 101 East Court St. to a new facility less than two blocks away at 218 West Court St.

What’s taking its place in the red brick building at East Court and North Railroad streets is still an outreach of sorts. Rico Sorrell, a certified personal trainer from Brookhaven, purchased the building from the ministries’ director, Jerry Durr, and plans to open a 24-hour fitness center called Endurance.

“Our theme is ‘God’s Name is I Am’, so we want to be able to endure the things the way he endured for us,” Sorrell said. “Being over here spiritually, intellectually and physically helps you endure life.”

Sorrell will start seeing clients one-on-one Monday in one recently-renovated section of the building even while continuing work on the other rooms as time allows. He hopes to be fully open no later than January 2019.

His plan is to have the fitness center open around the clock with 24-hour access available to members. There will also be trainers available during business hours.

Instead of a gym, Sorrell likes to think of Endurance as a fitness/community center. “Anybody can come here and put their differences aside and have the same goal of getting fit,” he said. “Any excuse you can come up with, I can take out.”

His main goal is to get the building renovated.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to own my own gym,” Sorrell said. “I think my growth was hindered before, but I know I can do a lot more over here and help a lot more people.”

Sorrell plans to hire other trainers to help in his mission.

“Someone gave me my start so I’m looking for anybody who’s looking to get his or hers,” he said.

Sorrell said he’s received a lot of support, especially from his 11-year-old daughter, Dream, and his 10-year-old son, Trillion. 

“Everything I do is for them,” he said. “I also want to thank the people who didn’t believe in my dream because that was the driving force behind my decision to do what I did.”