A competition to see whether Suffolk or Portsmouth is the fittest will take over two local churches beginning Easter Sunday, and all are invited to participate.

Suffolk’s The Experience Church on Pruden Boulevard will compete with New Testament Church in Portsmouth for 50 days, ending on June 4. Weight will be measured at the beginning and end of the challenge to see which congregation lost the most weight.

“It’s Easter Sunday, so it’s a great time to get started,” said Pastor John Moore of The Experience Church.

Moore said he got the idea from a church in Baltimore, where the pastor is a friend of his.

He connected with Bishop Jerome Williams of New Testament Church, another friend, and asked him about the idea.

“He was up for the challenge,” Moore said.

He said he believes the church needs to take the lead on helping people be healthier.

“I think the church ought to be the lead on this,” he said. “Even though your spiritual man is being fed, your physical man needs to be fed as well. We all need to live a healthy life. People are dying of all these diseases and sickness, mainly because we’re not eating healthy, we’re not living healthy.”

Moore said everybody who comes this Sunday and signs up for the challenge is welcome, whether or not they are a member.

“This is for everybody in Suffolk,” he said. “If you live in Suffolk, you can be a part of the challenge.”

Scales will be on hand to weigh folks on Sunday, but nobody’s weight will be broadcast, Moore said.

Moore said various activities will take place throughout the challenge to keep folks moving.

“We’re going to try to do some things throughout the 50 days to keep that morale and motivation going,” he said.

On June 4, the scales will be brought out again to see which church lost the most weight.

Moore said Planet Fitness will give a prize to the winners, but what the prize is will remain a secret until the end.

Service begins at 10 a.m. at The Experience Church, which is located at 4165 Pruden Blvd. Weigh-in will take place following the service.

Visit www.theexperiencechurchva.com or call 347-1870 for more information.