From Oasis Guests

This week was a great time of rest, having nothing to worry about or think about practically and simply allowing myself to have time to process through debriefing and slow down in a safe, peaceful environment. Such a blessing.
The times of debriefing were also very encouraging to explore other thoughts and reflections.

The care I felt this week was a source of rest and thought-clearing process to reposition myself to discern and hear what God has in store in the coming season.

Me sentí escuchada, comprendida, chineada. Además, el proceso de autoanalisis fue transformador.

I experienced a quiet space to process, spend time in the presence of God, and be encouraged by Pam and Mark. I was encouraged by the time I spent with Pam doing Spiritual Direction and felt safe to share with her about all of the things I was processing with the Lord. I left feeling rested and transformed by my time at Bethesda house.

Desde nuestro primer contacto con Mark and Jayne sentimos inmediatamente el cuidado de Dios para nuestras vidas. Su hospitalidad y alegria impacto nuestro corazon haciendonos sentir amados, cuidados aun consentidos. El lugar es fantastico para renovar las fuerzas, sentir la presencia de Dios en cada rincon y animarnos a seguir adelante. Gracias Mark y Jayne por su ayuda por sus hermosos corazones y servicio a Dios.

I really appreciated the balance of presence and space/time to be with the Lord on my own. In my case it seems God led me there to be in the presence of His extravagant care through Craig and Theresa’s care to process some deep emotions. If they had not been sensitive to His leading I would have missed that gift and much needed ministry. I believe that ministry in particular will enable me to continue in ministry rather than burnout.

The place is very scenic and beautiful and located in a quiet area. We as a family, got a chance to reconnect with each other and just enjoy some much needed down time. The Lord was so present and we experienced his closeness and left feeling encouraged and rejuvenated.

We were very blessed by Judy and Kelly. They are friendly and very helpful. At the beginning, they prepared a welcome meal for our family. Judy even accompanied us on a hike. They also suggested which places we could go see and they prayed with us.

The Haven was so thoughtfully arranged and they took care of every little detail which made it very special for us. We felt loved and pampered which sometimes is a good thing. 🙂

Oh my goodness…it was the embodiment of all of the above, my husband rested so well I think he took about 3 naps the first day! Tom and Karen are encouragement personified, we felt so safe and comforted and they had tons of helpful resources in the way of books, printed materials and most of all their loving, understanding WISDOM that they freely shared at our request. Everything about the space was so lovingly prepared and set up, the food was overwhelmingly delicious, and the place is on a gorgeous lake that they took us on a boatride around, so….we cannot emphasize enough that it was JUST WHAT WE NEEDED Thank you!

Kimmy and Harold were excellent hosts. Not only did they offer hospitality but also a very clean, beautiful, and peaceful atmosphere. One of the reasons we chose them was because of similar experiences and ministry that they had been in; particularly Harold. A plus is that their home is situated in a beautiful, quiet neighborhood.
Kimmy and Harold took time to listen, dialogue and pray with us every day. Our deep gratitude to them.
We would recommend this retreat house and hosts to anyone.

It was a great opportunity to openly share, be honest and pour out our hearts and hurts in a very safe environment. We received some good resources to help simplify the process to move toward healing and wholeness.

We feel this model of restful ministry is unique and very personal. To have us in the Harris’ home to receive ministry is something new and different from anything we’ve done before. We’ve felt befriended, seen, heard, encouraged, and exhorted. This allowed us to open our hearts for deeper ministry time. Feeling very thankful as we leave our time here.

Transformational trip for us. We were able to get time to disconnect, we received timely encouragement that helped shape our stay and were able to connect with God in a way my wife and I never have before.

Nicole and Andy were so professional in their approach. And this made it possible for us to relax and trust them and the process. Nicole is an excellent debriefer with Andy offering good support and insight. We had been recently kicked out of the country where we had served for almost 35 years, so this debrief was vital for us to do before moving forward. We left feeling strengthened and better prepared to move into whatever God has in store for us next in ministry.

The Lord was so kind to give us sacred space and rest at Suncoast Oasis. It was a true retreat away from home. We had the whole upstairs and Alan was so gracious to provide the space, time, encouragement, a safe place to be able to share about us and this last season. It was such a gift to be seen, heard, and encouraged.

Andreas and Marny took great care of us. Their home is not only a retreat but a real treat, so comfortable and cozy. My favorite place was their library. Marny made sure we were fed healthy delicious food. Andreas made sure to guide us every day, whether in wisdom, spirit, truth or daily activities. They encouraged and guided us with our marriage, coached us on specific ministry at our church, and listened well to our hearts. Before we came we had a vision from the Lord that we were praying about, Andreas and Marny provided us with practical steps to put it into action. We are totally transformed, energized, and inspired to continue to do the work the Lord has given us (Matthew 28:18-20).

So grateful for the time we’ve spent together! They are a lovely family.

Some of the things touched my heart in a very special way these days were:

• Their hearts for workers- all the effort they have put in so we feel welcome, taken good care of us, paying attention & ministering according to our needs
• Enduring & enjoying us 6 with all the noise & the mess
• Waking up every morning and preparing a special (feast type) breakfast for us. Their plates & display was wonderful!
• The wise & sensitive way they both approached Grandpa’s lost- giving us space to grief, cry, but also celebrate his life and the memories with him; giving us the option if we want breakfast later…if they should sit with us or no…
• Welcoming us in a clean, comfy home…and giving us all we need from towels & shampoo…until the space & freedom to decide how much time we want to spend alone as a family or with you…
• And I think many more 🙂

A big THANK YOU, to our hosts! I think everyone who will come over to your place will feel blessed, heard and cared for. You are doing a wonderful work! And I’m so grateful that you obeyed and you are willing to do this member care work for Him.

There’s nothing else you can do to improve this Oasis. It was the most incredible experience I’ve ever experienced. The only thing you can do is make sure it continues.

It was truly amazing. I was able to process so many things, to “declutter” as my host Kelly said. This gave me more clarity in thoughts and able to make some much needed decisions. Kelly and Judy were very encouraging in my journey, which helped me see myself again as Jesus sees me. I also discovered things that I need to work on and they are willing to walk beside me. I’m very grateful for the time I had and will do it again. Thank you Kelly and Judy for your ministry. Thank you Oasis for providing a safe place to process life’s complexities.

We’re grateful to Britt and Sheri for the wonderful time we had at their house. Their warm hospitality, delicious meals, and thoughtful care created the perfect atmosphere for rest and renewal. We truly appreciated the peaceful surroundings, the good company, and the quiet moments that refreshed both body and soul. We’re thankful to both Sheri and Britt for creating such a welcoming and restful space – it was exactly what we needed.

Me encanta mucho como Ben y Krista nos enseñan con todo cariño, paciencia ya que saben escuchar . Te da confianza a decir las cosas del corazón tal u como son. La confrontación con la palabra de Dios es hermosa con misericordia y mucho amor. Cada día fue un desafío ya que si realmente estaba ciega a muchas cosas y también cada etapa era algo para reflexionar y entregar muy bueno! La verdad necesitamos más Kristas y Ben’s en el ministerio porque esto realmente es Oasis nuevas fuerzas! Estás dispuesto porque ellos son como son realmente Dios los bendiga por tener el tiempo para hacerlo! A quien voy a contar mis problemas e inquietudes ? Hay respuestas claras!

Realmente me siento cómoda con Krista y Ben mis historias de transformación. No es fácil contarle a todo el mundo lo que sucede. Me gustaría que provean para Krista y Ben todo lo que ellos necesiten ya que ellos han hecho en mi vida un excelente trabajo! Y los son personas que realmente aman y sirven al Señor de una manera humilde e increíble! Estos modelos ya no los hacen ! O sea pocas personas tienen estos dones y capacidades de una manera humilde.

We were encouraged to share our highs and lows with our host, and it felt like a very safe space. We experienced this through their being great listeners and validating our experiences. We felt heard and seen!

It was also a time of rest. The place was absolutely beautiful. But it was transformative as well, because in that safe, encouraging environment, transformation just naturally happened! I’m experiencing the overflow now, pouring into others from what we learned!

I think my daughter’s words after leaving the Brewster’s house after the first night of dinner and meaningful fellowship were something like, “I didn’t know people like that existed. They really love US and are pouring into to US to help US!” We felt so completely spoiled in every way, from the stocked kitchen to the home cooked dinners to the thoughtful questions, words of encouragement, and prayerfully considered wisdom that was shared with us. We felt truly loved, cared for, and attended to.

We were reminded that what we are doing in our call for the Lord is significant and it matters that we remain faithful to Him. I think I cried more from the words of encouragement and exhortation and inspiration that were given by both Mark and Jayne than I have perhaps in my life. We have never experienced anything so grounding, upbuilding, directing, resting, refueling, and loving. This ministry and our time there was a life line for us. Thank you to everyone who gives time and finances to make this possible for us.

Our time with Theresa and Craig was truly marked by R.E.S.T. in every sense. From the moment we arrived, we felt so seen and thoughtfully cared for — every meal, conversation, and detail was infused with intentionality. Even the small things, like our favorite snacks and treats being present, made us feel known and loved. The way they engaged with our kids made us feel deeply cared for as a whole family and created space for us to truly rest and receive. The joy and ease in their hospitality was one of the most real and inspiring expressions of Christ-centered welcome we’ve ever experienced.

We felt like we received true discipleship during our time there — Theresa’s faithful discipline in prayer challenged and stirred me in the best way, and I left so encouraged and motivated to pursue deeper intimacy with the Lord. One of our biggest takeaways was Craig’s insight that “revelation is a prerequisite for relationship,” particularly in the context of our marriage and walk with the Lord. That truth has stayed with us and continues to shape our reflections and conversations even now.

Their wisdom, love, and the peaceful rhythm of our days made this retreat a space where we truly experienced safety and transformation. We left not just refreshed, but reoriented. We are so grateful.

Retreat- Broom Tree Landing is a peacefu environment that enabled us to feel completely separate from our work, and able to meet with God. One thing we really appreciated was the “expectation” (not put on us, but just due to being on sabbatical at a ministry location) that we would have extended time with Jesus and resting each day. That helped us prioritize using our time that way.

Encouragement & Safety- Tom and Karen were great listeners, empathetic, and never made us feel judged. Any topic was safe and they always engaged thoughtfully and non-critically. This was really meaningful for us being in church ministry, because most of what we go through we aren’t able to discuss with anyone. Tom and Karen understand our life from their own ministry background.

Transformation- Tom and Karen’s daily meetings with us helped guide our reflection. They also provided practical ways to engage with God. The accountability of entering into conversation with them each day helped keep us grounded. They helped us process some difficult ministry experiences and grow through them instead of remain stuck.

It was an incredible Oasis. It’s in a great location, close to so many activities that created a restful retreat for me. The space was beautiful and perfect for my needs. My hosts went above and beyond to make me comfortable and safe. The time my hosts spent with me was invaluable. They were flexible, patient and great listeners. They shared their story with me when it intersected with mine and blessed me. There was so much wisdom they shared. It was transformational in how I think about my marriage amid chronic pain. I felt completely safe to be myself, cry, grieve and laugh. And the food was delicious! It was a perfect Oasis Rest.

The home itself was very restful. It was beautifully decorated and very comfortable. The surrounding neighborhood was also very beautiful, with great places to walk nearby. It was also near the city where there were peaceful coffee shops and cute stores.

I experienced a lot of encouragement through Tim and Ericka. They really fostered a sense of peace and calm, and fun in their home. They listened very compassionately and provided very helpful and insightful thoughts in response to what I shared.

I felt completely safe, and I was thankful for the clarity the Lord provided me through this retreat.

Wonderful to have time with the Lord on my own and also time with Alan where in light of confidentiality I was free to share whatever I would like. Alan was definitely a safe person to open up to. He encouraged me to meet with the Lord and to seek what the Lord has impressed on my heart regarding future decisions.

This oasis retreat was exactly what I needed. The coaching, prayer, and space to be still and rest helped me hear from God more clearly and move forward with fresh confidence in my calling. Thank you for creating such a life-giving environment!

We really experienced true rest through the homestead guest house. Everything we needed was in place, and Brad and Becky blessed us beyond words with their openness and willingness to serve us. They really encouraged us and made us feel safe. And all of this enabled, and equipped us to continue our work in ministry after our time together.

I just thank God for calling you into this ministry. If you live in hard places, you sometimes subconsciously adapt the mindset you need to do life the hard way. But this is the opposite of what Jesus modeled. Thank you for having me taste and see how good the Lord is. And I hope I will continue to give Him space to be good to me when returning to my hard place.