Pastors, are you feeling stagnant? Burnt out? In need of a spiritual breakthrough? First off, don’t be afraid to admit when you need some real one-on-one time with God. Paying attention to your spiritual needs and well-being is crucial for a healthy relationship with God. Retreats for Pastors bring spiritual refreshment and is a great way to decompress and get deep with God. Think about it, Jesus was constantly going off on his own to find solace and to pray. If Jesus felt the need to get away, we should also yearn for that same secluded time with God. Perhaps you haven’t truly connected with your spouse in a couple months or dare I say, years. Any amount of time is too long really. But it’s never too late to work on your marriage and stoke those ashes. Whatever situation you find yourself in as a leader, fighting for intimate time with God and your marriage are necessities.
Church, think about your Pastor, Priest, Evangelist, or Leader, aren’t they always available to listen and to offer spiritual advice for those in need? It’s easy to forget that they go through similar trials, maybe they are married, maybe they have a family, maybe they have money, those are all areas where trials can arise. But what do they do? Where do they go? Who do they talk to? We are not doing them a favor by thinking they have it all together or that they don’t go through trials just because they lead the congregation. There are options out there that aim to specifically help Pastors or church leaders find refreshment. Retreats for Pastors are mainly for their benefit and the benefit of their marriages.
Here is a list of 20 retreats for Pastors and getaways that could be beneficial for their spiritual walks. Some are free, some charge a fee, but whatever it is, isn’t it worth finding a way to support your Pastor when they need it?
Top 20 Getaways and Retreats for Pastors
Zarephath Ministries – Simi Valley, CA
Cost: Free for Pastors
Shepherding the people of God is a high and holy calling. It is a spiritual work first and foremost. Leading the church requires men and women of character, character that has been forged in the furnace of meeting face to face with God. Extended time alone with God allows His holiness and His fire to singe the hearts and the faces and the minds of spiritual leaders. The cornerstone of Zarephath Ministries is to offer full-time pastors and spouses a 5-day spiritual retreat, Sunday evening through Friday morning, completely free of charge.
Pastors On Point – (2 Locations) Buena Vista, CO and Stillwater, MN
Cost: Contact for current fees.
Pastors on Point is for all ministers. Maybe you are an energized pastor seeking ways to further leverage your giftedness. You could be looking for time and space to consider what is next in your ministry and life. Or maybe you are facing burnout, overwhelmed by the needs that surround you. Whether you are a seasoned pastor or are new to the ministry, Pastors on Point provides an enriching experience that speaks to where you are today. The experience has been built to challenge the understanding of your limitations, while providing powerful, individualized coaching on your essence and how to maximize the stewardship of your design and your ministry.
Deer Ridge Ministries – Freeport, IL
Cost: Free for Pastors ($100 Refundable Deposit)
Deer Ridge Ministries was formed to encourage pastors in full-time ministry. We provide, by faith, excellent retreat facilities where pastors and spouses can rest and enjoy the presence of God without having to worry about any financial obligation. Founded in 2003, Deer Ridge Ministries is dedicated to supporting pastors and spouses by providing the gift of 5-day rest and renewal retreats and other services of encouragement.
Broom Tree Ministries – (2 Locations) Grand Rapids, MI and Frederic, WI
Cost: Free for Pastors
The Mission of Broom Tree Ministries is to provide a gracious environment, secluded and private, protected with prayer, to which Christian leaders and their spouses can retreat from frantic schedules and become intimate with God so that He can refresh, refocus, restore, encourage, energize and equip them for the task to which He has called them. Since 1997 thousands of pastors on retreat have been revived using God’s model of restoration for Elijah; Rest, sustenance, and large blocks of time with God. He gives them direction, encouragement, strength and the resolve to continue the work He has given them.
The Brook at Bethpage – Bethpage, MO
Cost: Free for Pastors
The Brook at Bethpage is a place that has been set apart where those serving in Christian Ministry can come and escape the rigors of everyday life. There is no set agenda, therefore, you can use your time at the Brook for prayer, study, relax, or work on a favorite project.
Shepherd’s Haven of Rest – Main Location: Arlington, TN; Multiple Retreat Locations (AL, CO, GA, MO, NY, TN, TX, WV)
Cost: Free for Pastors
Shepherds’ Haven of Rest Ministry’s purpose is to provide encouragement and time for pastors, staff members, missionaries and wives to rekindle the fires of their passion for God and ministry. We desire to create an atmosphere of rest and renewal for ministry couples. The long-term goal of SHOR ministries is to help curb the dropout rate of pastors and to see men and their wives serve the Lord in power and joy. We believe also that many men and their wives do not have adequate time alone together. We see the need for quiet time with the Lord and each other as a requirement of effective ministry. Too often ministry controls our lives and drowns out any hope of quality time together. It is a must that couples have protected time to spend with each other and with the Lord.
The Leadership Center – Wolfeboro, NH
Cost: $250 per couple
The Leadership Center (TLC) Retreats are designed to strengthen and encourage couples in full-time ministry by providing an environment of grace and rest. Our four-day retreats in fall and winter offer quiet times alone in God’s Word as well as fellowship with other couples in ministry and refreshing recreational activities. Pastoral couples in full-time ministry come to the quiet shores of Lake Winnipesaukee to enjoy each other and the serene surroundings. Cared-for couples return home ready to serve, feeling refreshed, highly valued and more in love with Jesus and each other.
Dogwood Hills – Harriet, AR
Cost: $160 per night
We began our Bed & Breakfast as a pastor’s retreat so that pastors and their families could get away and have a peaceful time together. There is no Internet here, no cable TV, and it is quiet. You can sit down on the back deck and watch the goats graze and catch your breath and reconnect with your kids. Beautiful sunsets make the time very special. And because we opened Dogwood Hills with the primary purpose of bringing rest and renewal to those in full-time Christian service, a portion of our public sales goes toward offsetting the cost for those in ministry. Pastors and full-time Christian workers, please contact us for special pricing.
The Prophet’s Chamber – Russellville, AR
Cost: $60-$70 minimum donation amount for housekeeping and maintenance
Don and Susan Nordin have served in a senior pastor role for over 30 years. They are very aware of the stress and the strain that ministry can sometimes place on the ministers home, marriage and family. As a result, they have designed the Prophet’s Chamber to be a place of relaxation and refreshing for ministers and their families. The Nordin’s understand that proper rest is essential to the effectiveness of ministry and because of the awareness of ministry pressures this home has been designed for the purpose of relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Mountain Learning Center – June Lake, CA
Cost: Contact for current fees
We provide a mountain retreat for pastors and their spouses where a physically enjoyable, emotionally gratifying & spiritually invigorating experience revitalizes their relationship with God, self and others. The MLC is located in June Lake, California, beneath the awe-inspiring Sierra Nevada Mountain Range — 30 minutes from the Eastern Gate of Yosemite National Park. It is a California, not-for-profit, tax-exempt Corporation, governed by a Board of Directors. Since 1993, ministry couples in personal and professional crisis have sought out the clergy care services available to them at the MLC.
SonScape Retreats – (3 Locations) Colorado; Tennessee; New York
Cost: $1,995 per couple ($750 holding deposit)
For over three decades, our weeklong, guided retreats have helped thousands of pastors, missionaries, parachurch leaders, along with their spouses, to balance the demands of life, family, and ministry while rekindling their passion for Christ and His church. SonScape Retreats envisions God-centered, fruitful Christian communities around the world led by healthy and rested leaders drawing their life, wisdom, and empowerment from an intimacy with Christ.
Beside Still Waters – Anna Maria Island, FL
Cost: $100-$150 for maintenance; $50-$100 deposit (based on amount of guests)
Beside Still Waters at Playa Del Sol is a program that recognizes the pressures of being in ministry in this day and age. Our goal is to provide a place of rest and refocus for those in need who are in the service of the Lord. This program is open to experienced pastors, ministers, missionaries, bishops, priests, or rabbis, etc. Explore our website to learn the details of how you can come and stay with us in sunny Gulf Coast Florida.
Shepherd’s Refuge – Turners Corner, GA
Cost: Contact for current fees
Established in 2003, Shepherd’s Refuge is a non-denominational, non-profit ministry dedicated to serving the needs of Vocational/Bi-Vocational Christian Pastors, full-time Church staff in a leadership position, full-time Christian ministry staff in a leadership position, and Missionaries.
A Quiet Place – Bryantsville, KY
Cost: Free for full-time Ministry Personnel
Located in the heart of Bluegrass country in Central Kentucky, A Quiet Place is a non-denominational Christian ministry where those in full-time service can retreat, relax, and rest. Our mission is to serve those in full-time Christian ministry by providing a quiet place for spiritual, physical, and relational renewal that compels all participants to love God and His people more each day.
The Lodge – Buchanan, MI
Cost: 5-day Pastors’ Retreat – $650/room; 3-Day Couples’ Retreat – $300/couple
The Lodge is an ideal locale for pastors’ retreats, staff meetings, leadership events, and specialized group functions. Whether it be one of our retreats that we facilitate, or one that we customize for your group, our beautiful facilities, immaculate housekeeping, and gourmet meals will envelop you in luxury.
Allegro House – Reno, NV
Cost: $495 per couple
Allegro House is a pastor’s retreat house, a quiet place to rest and lay the foundations for transforming daily life. We offer a ‘safe place’ for pastors and spouses to reflect upon their ‘calling’ and to rekindle, restore and renew their relationship with God and one another. Retired from many years on foreign mission fields and after completing service as Senior Pastor of a multi-cultural church, Pastor Williams and his wife moved to the Reno area to begin this new work in obedience to God’s command, “Be still and know that I am God.” The submission of the Williams enobles the beauty of Allegro House, enshrines its roof and hallows its foundation stones. We are blessed to have them and you will be too.
Sugar Hollow – (2 Locations) Johnson City, TN and Boone, NC
Cost: $275-$1,100 per night
A church’s pastor lives at the center of a vibrant, busy community. The challenges of educating, guiding, consoling, and enlightening are no doubt rewarding, but can be draining as well. Sugar Hollow Retreat has just the type of serenity with which many congregations seek to reward their pastors. A weekend getaway at Sugar Hollow for a pastor and his family provides a welcome break in a striking, natural environment. Solitude and peace, allowing for prayer for guidance, reflection on the future of the church, or just simple relaxation, will leave any church’s pastor recharged and at his best.
Westwood Ministries – Mountain Home, TX
Cost: Room rate – $45/day; Counseling – $75-$120 per session
Westwood Ministries has been operating since 1989 as a pastoral care ministry in an attempt to meet the physical and family needs of those in full-time ministry and church lay leadership. Westwood offers ministry in three priority areas: Sabbatical Retreat & Rest, Holistic Christian Counseling & Life and Ministry Training. We are convinced that God’s desire for His Church is to be a healthy, functioning body. But before the Church can be healthy, its leaders must find health themselves.
Quiet Waters Ministry – Denver, CO
Cost: Contact for current fees
QuietWaters has always been very “place” oriented. Our vision states “To ensure that every Christian leader and their family has a place to seek and find restoration and renewal.” Our ministry is a safe and nurturing environment for transformation to occur in the life and ministry of each leader coming through our program. It is a place for restoration of vision and renewal of the leader’s calling. It is a luminal space where the Spirit guides the leader into the deeper places their heart must go to cross the threshold into God’s holy presence. QuietWaters Retreat Center is simply a place where grace happens. A safe place for soul care.
Anchor Retreat Ministries – Kimberling City, MO
Cost: Donation-based
At Anchor Missionary & Pastors Retreat, our goal is to be a blessing to those in the ministry. We will never say no to any pastor couple or missionary couple in need. Our primary focus in developing Anchor Missionary & Pastor’s Retreat is to provide a place to minister to pastors, missionaries, youth leaders, and others in Christian service – a place where we can accommodate people in a quiet, scenic lake front setting for times of personal restoration.
These retreats for Pastors share one thing in common, their goal is to provide guidance and refreshment to ministry leaders. Retreats for Pastors offer the opportunity to strengthen their spiritual foundation through guided classes, solitude, and counseling. If this sounds good to you, check out some of these retreats for Pastors or find a retreat near you. Getting close to God is a daily decision for everyone, make yours today!
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