“The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.” Psalm 74:16-17
First Quarter Update
We have noticed a trend in our neck of the woods in the 4+ years we have been here. It snows every January, and the cold can be brutal for our Southern DNA. In the moment, it can be uncomfortable and even feel unbearable. However, when we pause any negative talk or thoughts about it and take the time to look up and out, the landscape is unbelievably beautiful. God, may we never lose the awe of the beauty of this place that You have given us for Your ministry here!
Since the beginning of the new year, we have had the honor of hosting guests ranging from lay leaders to church staff to missionaries. The word that is spoken most by our guests is “peace.” From the moment they drive up the driveway to the time they leave, God’s beautiful and perfect peace is what they experience. And we give God all the glory for that. We desire for our guests to be able to pull away from the distractions of life and ministry and just be.
In early February, we had a work day to clear the space where our garden will be and fell some dead trees that needed to be removed along the driveway. A group of “family and friend" volunteers handled the garden area around the barn (including a space that may house chickens one day), while the Madison Baptist Association’s Disaster Relief Team from Huntsville came and made short work of the trees that needed to be removed. They were well-trained and saw a couple more that needed to be removed and graciously added those to their list that day.
New Projects for 2025
As we roll into Spring, leaving frosty temps behind, we’re beginning two new projects for the year: a garden for the Inn and our fifth guest room!
Garden
The Garden will be located by the barn. Until now, we’ve strictly used the barn area for storage; but now that our major renovation is over, we are focusing more time on the surrounding property. Our plans are to create a garden that feeds the Inn and is a therapeutic place to enjoy God’s creation.
We will be growing vegetables that we use on a regular basis in our menus at the Inn. This means healthier and more sustainable food. It will also be a place where, in the cooler months, we can actually serve meals to our guests outdoors.
The Lord blessed us a couple years ago by introducing us to a wonderful ministry couple nearby who own a nursery. They are helping us get things set up for success by sharing their knowledge of gardening and starting our seeds for us.
The biggest part of this project (besides the sweat equity) is getting water run to the barn. We have the resources for the garden itself, but we are asking for help with the cost of getting water run to the barn. This includes a new water meter and about 500 feet of water line to the barn itself. Not only will this supply water to the garden, but it will also provide some infrastructure for future growth at the Inn.
The cost of the water meter and water line will be approximately $3,000. If you would like to donate for this project click here and select “Garden” in the designation menu. You can also volunteer on an upcoming work day to help build and plant the garden.
Carriage House Guest Room
Our second project is the Carriage House guest room. This will complete the Inn guest rooms, providing enough space for small retreats, with room for a facilitator, or for a small church or ministry team to stay at the Inn together, which has become a growing need.
We poured the foundation for this guest room last year when we completed our sidewalks and porches, and the separating wall in the carriage house has been built. The cost of this project will be $15,000. This includes framing, electrical and plumbing, HVAC, insulation, drywall, flooring, and completely furnishing the bedroom and bathroom.
We will use volunteers on as much of the project as possible to help keep costs low. If you would like to help sponsor this project, you can donate by clicking here and selecting “Carriage House” from the designation menu. We look forward to completing this project and being able to host a small number of ministry team retreats and have ample space to accommodate up to five couples on any given weekend.
Church Partnerships
One of the ways we are able to provide the ministry of Shepherd’s Inn is through Church Partnerships. A partnership with the Inn provides for the monthly costs of running the Inn, subsidies for ministers and missionaries who need a discount to stay, and it provides a number of free stays for a partnering church for their ministry team to use.
If you have experienced the ministry of the Inn and would be interested in your church partnering with us, click the picture link below to find out more.
If you would like for us to share the value and the need for church partners with your church leadership, contact us here. Sometimes it is helpful to have an outside voice share the need for sabbatical and personal retreat with your personnel team or elders. We would love to advocate for intentional times of retreat and care for your staff to promote longevity and sustainability in ministry.
Prayer Needs
Pray for ministry leaders to prioritize seasons of rest and renewal for themselves and their families. We have seen the restorative power it has in their lives, but we’ve also seen an increased need to make time for this. There will always be what we call “the tyranny of the urgent” in a church or ministry. That’s why it is crucial to set aside and hold sacred time for personal, restorative retreat. Pray that our ministry leaders will make this a priority and set up healthy boundaries to protect that time away.
Pray for peace and protection in the church. We have seen ministry leaders under attack on a regular basis over the last couple years. These are human beings who make mistakes, just like we do, who seek to love and lead their church or ministry well, while also raising and providing for their own family. They are often caring for many people while, in the process, being hurt by those who are hurting or who have felt mistreated by church. Please pray for grace and forgiveness among believers, for biblical reconciliation, and protection over the families of those who have given their lives to the care of others.
Pray for wisdom and provision as we care for the many ministers and missionaries we serve. We desire to meet them where they are coming in and send them back out with renewed strength and encouragement for many more days serving in their ministry roles.
Gratitude
Thank you for continuing to be a part of the ministry of Shepherd’s Inn. We are grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and support, and we could not do this without amazing brothers and sisters like you. Thank you for loving on ministers and missionaries who serve our families and communities around the world with the good news of Jesus.
In Christ,
The Shepherd’s Inn Team
