Crossroads Prayer Retreat

CROSSROADS PRAYER RETREAT'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SABBATICAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION IN A SERENE PLACE FOR PASTORS, THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHERS. WE WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER, REST, HEALING, WORSHIP, MUSIC AND FELLOWSHIP.

IN 2021, THE MINISTRY BEGAN TO GROW AS COVID-19 BECAME LESS A FACTOR. MUCH EFFORT WAS SPENT IN FINISHING THE OUTSIDE OF THE WORSHIP BARN. THE COST OF THE CYPRESS BOARDS WAS DOUBLE THE $20,000 QUOTED BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PAY THAT OFF. VOLUNTEERS FROM A CHURCH IN NEW ALBANY CAME SEVERAL TIMES AND DID MOST OF THE WRAPPING OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE OUTSIDE WAS COMPLETED BY MAY 2021. NO INSIDE WORK COULD BE DONE UNTIL THE INSIDE MPE PLANS WERE FINISHED AND APPROVED BY THE NASHVILLE OFFICE. A FIRM IN MAINE FINISHED THOSE PLANS AND DONATED THEM BY THE END OF 2021. A BEAUTIFUL CROSS SHAPED ARBOR IN MEMORY OF A DEAR FRIEND AND SUPPORTER WAS DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND DEDICATED BY 75 MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY IN MAY 2021. IT IS AN AMAZING ADDITION. GIFTS OF THE ARTWORK CAME FROM ARTIST BARBARA BALDWYN FOR THE FUTURE WORSHIP BARN. SEVERAL CHALICES AND PATENS WERE MADE AND DONATED BY LOCAL ARTISANS SHELIA AND MARTY MCCLENDED WHICH ARE BEING USED FOR COMMUNION SERVICES. A FIRE PIT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY A VOLUNTEER AND IS USED ALL THE TIME BY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. THIRTY-THREE PEOPLE CAME TO DO MISSION WORK FOR US FOR FOUR DAYS. THEY PAINTED, REBUILT A DOCK, CUT LIMBS, BURNED TRASH, STARTED A GREENHOUSE, REBUILT STEPS IN THE WORSHIP BARN, AND HOSTED A COMMUNITY WIDE GATHERING WITH BBQ AND A CHRISTIAN CONCERT. WE PROVIDED MEALS FOR THEM AND WORSHIP SERVICES DURING THE WEEK. PROGRAMMING WAS DONE ON A MUCH LARGER BASIS WITH THE USE OF THE 3 CABINS AND ALL THE OUTDOOR SPACE. WE ADDED APPLIANCES TO CREATE A FULL KITCHEN WITH LAUNDRY WHICH ENABLED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO COOK WHEN DESIRED. WE HOSTED SEVERAL MINISTERS AND THEIR SPOUSES, COUPLES FROM WEST POINT, MS, AND SEVERAL MINISTERS WHO MUCH NEEDED REST AND ENCOURAGEMENT. FOLKS CAME OUT TO FISH KAYAK AND WALK. WE JOINED IN WITH A LADYS MINISTRY AT PICKWICK TWICE AND HOSTED LEADERSHIP AT THE PRAYER RETREAT. WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH SEVERAL WOMENS GROUPS AND SEVERAL YOUTH GROUPS FOR WEEKEND RETREATS. WE HAD VISITORS FROM SEVERAL STATES. WE HOSTED TWO WEDDINGS AT THE LAKE FOR A MINISTERS DAUGHTER AND FOR PEOPLE INVESTED IN THE MINISTRY AND PROVIDED A 40TH ANNIVERSARY VOW RENEWAL FOR TWO PASTORS. LOCAL CHURCHES CAME OUT TO PRAY AND ENJOY THE WEATHER. THE LOCAL BOY SCOUTS CAME TWICE TO CAMP OUT, COOK AND DO SERVICE PROJECTS. OUR DIRECTOR FILLED IN FOR A PASTOR WHO HAD HEART SURGERY AND WAS ABLE TO INVOLVE MEMBERS FROM THAT CHURCH IN THE MINISTRY. JOY FROM AMERICAN FAMILY RADIO DID AN ON-SITE INTERVIEW AND IS PLANNING TO HELP US TELL THE STORY. THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER EDITOR DID A FEATURE ARTICLE WHICH WILL APPEAR IN THE JANUARY 2022 EDITION. THE MCNAIRY COUNTY, TN NEWSPAPER RAN A TWO-PAGE ARTICLE TELLING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE MINISTRY. WE ALLOWED A MINISTER AND HER HUSBAND TO LIVE IN THE CABINS RENT FREE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE HER MINISTRY WAS ESTABLISHED. HE WAS OUT OF WORK 3 WEEKS WITH COVID. ANOTHER MINISTRY COUPLE FROM THE COAST LEARNED OF OUR CABINS AND STAYED AND HAVE BEEN BACK TWICE. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MINISTER TO MINISTERS AND LAITY FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, RACES, AGES AND CHURCH TYPES. THE PLANS ARE TO FINISH THE INSIDE OF THE WORSHIP BARN TO ENABLE MANY MORE PEOPLE TO COME AND LARGER EVENTS TO BE SPONSORED.