"We hope the overall Juniper Tree experience will breathe fresh life into many pastoral couples by serving as a catalyst for their physical, emotional and spiritual recovery. Our desire is to help these couples give themselves permission to push the ministry pause button and simply embrace guilt-free rest and solitude."

— Simeon & Sonya Young

Sabbatical is a derivative of the word sabbath or rest. A sabbatical is an extended time to be quiet, to rest, and breathe deep. It’s a chance to lay down your burdens and have respite from the relentless demands of ministry. As a pastor, you carry the heavy burden of weekly preaching, hospital visits, funerals, counseling couples, and coaching parents with troubled teenagers. Ministry is like carrying around an huge backpack full of worries, hurts, and hurry. This is what be a caring pastor looks like, but unfortunately ministry can take a toll on the soul. Of all the Ten Commandments, faithfully “remembering” and “keeping” Sabbath is the one commandment pastors most often break. God takes our rest serious and so should we. Click on button below to register for a one month sabbatical.

THE JUNIPER TREE STORY

I KINGS 19:1-8

Burnout seems to be an epidemic in ministry leadership. Unlike most work environments, ministry is a blend of community, job and beliefs. Without skillful navigation, this combination creates a roller coaster of emotions that can push leaders toward discouragement and even depression.

After a season of intense ministry, Elijah, a prophet of God, found himself alone in a wilderness. Tired, burned out and discouraged, he said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life” then fell asleep under a “juniper tree.” After a good time of rest, an angel of the Lord came to Elijah twice and touched him, and gave him food and water which renewed his strength and restored his soul. Elijah simply needed “selah”— a moment of rest, a personal connection with God and a good meal. 

Vision

Helping pastoral couples discover and experience spiritual rest.

Mission

Juniper Tree exists to refresh pastoral couples through either short or extended stays at one of our retreat sites for spiritual rest, physical recreation, mental reflection and ministry re-engagement.

Values

Our identity is Jesus. Our freedom is Jesus. Our priority is Jesus. Our rest is Jesus.

SIMEON & SONYA’S STORY

20 years without much of a break

Several years ago Simeon and Sonya Young entered into the darkest period of their lives and were ready to quit ministry. At the time, they had been serving in full-time ministry for 20 years without much of a break, and the stresses of ministry life began to take a dangerous toll. In caring for others they had not sufficiently cared for their own physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Although they enjoyed family vacations and occasional times away at conferences, they did not experience nor fully comprehend what they needed most—a true sabbatical of spiritual renewal and physical rest. Over time, this not only had an adverse affect on their family and relationships but also on their congregation. Simeon and Sonya's ministry experience has become the catalyst for their vision of developing the Juniper Tree venue for pastoral couples.

OUR HEART

The goal of the Juniper Tree Experience is to provide a unique retreat space and structured itinerary so to help each pastoral couple discern Christ’s personal invitation to an scheduled time of spiritual rest — Just time with Jesus. It is only by putting our total confidence and trust in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God that we experience the true and eternal rest (Matthew 12:8).

Upon arrival, pastoral couples can expect a warm greeting, lush get-away space, gift basket, and loose itinerary. During their stay there will be opportunities for repose, leisure, moments to connect with the host pastor, and scheduled time with a professional counselor (if needed). We envision pastoral couples going back home with renewed physical, emotional and mental strength, a healthier marriage and fresh spiritual vision for their congregation.

It’s vital for pastoral couples to distance themselves from the demands of leadership, to gain fresh vision and energy—to focus on comprehensive renewing and reequipping for long-term ministry. This time away promises the hope of beginning again, refreshment, renewing vision, and reconnecting with those influences that led us into ministry in the first place.