Who Can Retreat Here?
We feel that the Lord has called us to provide a place of peace and rest for those who have devoted their lives to His service. The many pressures and expectations that Christian workers face today are overwhelming! Those who are constantly giving need to be able to have a place of no demands where they can go to be replenished and renew their energy. Our desire is that Living Springs Ranch will be such a place for them.
Pastors, missionaries and Christian workers alike have used Living Springs Ranch to rekindle their relationship with the Lord, refresh their marital relationships and rest from their work. Many of those who have visited the Ranch testify to the peace of God which they experience here and discover fresh passion for their respective ministries.
Invitations Are Extended To...
- Pastors
- Missionaries
- Counselors
- Chaplains
- Church Staff
- Nonprofit Staff
- Humanitarian Workers
- Others…tell us how you serve the Lord
Is it Really Free?
Since its beginning in 1964, Living Springs Ranch retreats have been free of charge for our guests. We believe that God has blessed us with this property in order that it may be a blessing to others. Restorative ministry is vital to the health and wellbeing of ministry workers. God has called us to provide this without burdening any further those who already have given so much. We also realize that with the average ministry worker’s salary being less than abundant, many pastors and missionaries simply have no extra money to spend on a retreat like this.
How Many People Can You Accomodate?
It depends. As well as having a queen-sized bed, each of our cabins has a pull-out sofa bed. A family of 4 can usually fit comfortably in one cabin. For larger families or those with older children, it sometimes works better to reserve 2 cabins. We are happy to provide multiple cabins as needed, depending on availability. We are not well-suited to hosting large groups. If all 3 cabins are available, groups of up to 10-12 can be accommodated, depending on sleeping arrangements.
How Long Can I Stay?
Guests can stay for up to 2 weeks, depending on availability. We book people on a first-come basis, so it’s best to try and schedule with us in advance.
What Programs Do You Offer?
Typically our guests fall into two categories:
- Open Use. People who want to get away, have a date night, take a family vacation, or have a place to stay while in the area fundraising.
- Burnout Recovery/Prevention. People who are feeling the pressures of ministry and need to reconnect with God, pray, study, and find direction in their life.
We try and meet the needs of our guests by making resources available, but not shoehorn people through a set program.
Open Use
People come for a wide variety of reasons. In fact, some local pastors like to come out for a few hours just to walk the roads and look at the view while they are working on their next sermon. Some missionaries stay here while they are visiting their sending churches, just so they can have a space to themselves and don’t have to constantly keep their children on their best behavior while staying in a spare room in a supporter’s house. (In case you didn’t know, being home on sabbatical can be very difficult for missionaries, especially for those with children.)
For people in this category, they are welcome to read the available books on how to prevent burnout and balance family life with ministry, but for the most part, we just leave them with lots of space and privacy to spend their time how they want. There’s no pressure to talk with anyone or have a set schedule.
Burnout Recovery/Preventative Retreat
We try to be very flexible for people in this category, giving more or less space as needed on a per-person basis. Our team consists of retired pastors and missionaries, as well as other people who can come alongside and be a sympathetic ear. A lot of time we find that having a neutral party to talk to is what people need the most. We provide a safe place for people to open up and discuss their troubles without fear that it will come back to “bite them.” However, we give them space and privacy most of their time here, letting the Lord do the work of rejuvenation through peace and rest.
Be Our Guest
Due to the nature of our ministry, reservations are by invitation only. Some restrictions apply. To receive an invitation, fill out our form and select the dates for your retreat. We will review your request and based on availability send you an invitation to join us.
