Open House Dates
June 1 & 2, 2024
Open Houses at The Gospel Gym are returning for 2024! You're invited to tour the building, experience a concert with The Garms Family, and enjoy a time of fun, fellowship, and inspiration. Get details and your free tickets here!
Spring
We believe Christian music impacts people for eternity. At The Gospel Gym, we're on a mission to create a place for concerts and events, music production, and fellowship so people are encouraged in their faith.
Prep Day
Power washing, Part One
Power washing, Part Two
Painting, Fall 2022
Power Washing, 2023
Painting, Summer 2023
Watch The Gospel Gym get painted!
“Kinda like a big family reunion!”
— Glen K., Open House attendee
Open Houses
at The Gospel Gym
Experience The Gospel Gym
When you attend an Open House...
- You'll tour the building with either Ben and Jayme, Taylor and Sam, or Leesha and Caleb, visiting the gym, locker rooms, our personal offices, and other fun places! Tours last about 15-20 minutes. When we hold events in the gym, much of what you’ll see won’t be accessible to the public.
- You’ll get the unique opportunity of hearing a candid and personal "Night of Encouragement" in the very room where we practice and record our albums! Experience God’s goodness and our family’s music in an intimate setting!
- You'll connect with like-minded people and visit with our family. Fellowship is sweet at The Gospel Gym, but we usually make it even sweeter with award-winning ice cream, made in Wisconsin! Those who've attended the Open Houses say it feels like family getting together. And we want you to feel the same!
“We drove 5 hours to attend, and it was worth every minute. So incredibly inspirational.”
— Dawn J., Open House Attendee
We're The Garms Family. For 15 years, we've toured America to love on people with live music, honest stories, and God's Word. Home for us is a 55,000 sq. ft. retired school in Arkansaw, Wisconsin. We’re renovating the building into The Gospel Gym, a center for Christian music and fellowship.
We haven’t always lived here. Years ago, before the music, God planted in us a desire to encourage people to follow Jesus and take Him at His Word, even when life is hard. A vision was born to buy a large building and hold events to uplift and equip people as they walk with the Lord. Our family would live in a wing as we ran this ministry center.
In 2019, God opened the doors for us to purchase the Arkansaw school. We’re converting the full-size gym into an event space called The Gospel Gym and the library into a recording studio. The classrooms are personal offices, residence sections, and potential rental spaces. The Gospel Gym will serve as a place for Christian concerts and events, audio and music production, and fellowship with people who love the Lord.
Watch this video about our first year
“When leaving the parking lot knowing the vision of their ministry… my heart was racing like when I see Lambeau Field in the distance!”
— Lonna P., Open House Attendee
What's happening at The Gospel Gym
Projects and Renovations
Our first Open House met the goal of $12,500 to paint the building exterior! The paint itself was $9,000. Our goal was to paint every wall to preserve the block from further moisture damage. Troy Ryding and Christians Inc. secured a paint sprayer for our use, free of charge. (Here's how big of a blessing that was: A used one costs $3,000!) We rented a power washer and a lift to reach the tallest walls. The massive project—power washing, scraping, priming, and painting—took us two summers to complete. We praise God! The new color is actually the background color of this page— Sherwin William's Divine White. (Pretty cool, huh?)
Chairs are a huge first step! We’ve collected about 117 chairs. Bethesda Church of North Branch, Minnesota graciously donated 161 more chairs (thanks to Bruce and Joanne Quiggle!). We can seat around 250 people on the floor of The Gospel Gym! (The north wall bleacher can seat around 450, but it’s not our first choice for seating guests.) We're always on the look for more chairs and appreciate any leads.
Our 2024 project is to paint The Gospel Gym's interior and put up acoustic treatment. It’s sure fun to sing in the gym with all that natural echo, but when you amplify sound, it’s a sound tech’s nightmare. We're researching lighting and portable staging. When we have painted walls, acoustic treatment, and sufficient staging, we’ll hold our first concert in the Gym!
Staging, Acoustic Treatment, Lighting & Chairs
Painting the Exterior
After painting the interior, our next step is an economical HVAC system for the gym. We were told the old boiler isn't functional, but we'd like to see if it can work again. To make a comfortable venue for guests and preserve the building, the temperature needs to be regulated. Join us in prayer as we explore efficient heating and cooling systems!
Heating & Cooling the Gym
There are two working bathrooms near the gym. A women’s bathroom with three stalls, and a men’s with a stall and two urinals. These are sufficient as we grow. In the upper wing, down the hallway, there are two additional bathrooms we're making functional. But we’ll need to expand bathroom space and accessibility. The former locker rooms are in perfect proximity to the gym. These will be The Gospel Gym's future main bathrooms. There’s plumbing already. Walls and floors can be removed. And a little paint goes a long way! We’ll likely need to consult an architect to bring this to life. The project is massive, but exciting!
Bathroom Renovations
A digital rendering of what The Gospel Gym could look like someday.
A digital rendering of how the locker room bathrooms could look.
"The smiles, the laughter, the tears... oh what a time! It was amazing to experience what the Lord is doing in Arkansaw through your hands! I hope this was only the first of many times I will visit the Gospel Gym."
— Vern L. Open House Attendee
Find The Gospel Gym
Need directions?
N6290 N H Street, Arkansaw, Wisconsin 54721
You can be part of what God is doing at The Gospel Gym!
Through events at The Gospel Gym, people are encouraged with music. We have major renovations ahead and need funds for supplies and construction. If you're lead to help us financially, you can donate here or write a check to The Garms Family, N6290 N H Street, Arkansaw, WI 54721. We're not a nonprofit organization, but your gifts will make The Gospel Gym a place where people are encouraged and the Gospel of Jesus is proclaimed!