Spring Update 2018

Canvas of the Heart

by Rob Lauer, President and CEO

While visiting family and friends in Illinois recently, I visited the world renowned Art Institute of Chicago. They have the most amazing collection of paintings, sculpture, and medieval armor I’ve ever seen.

As I strolled through the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism exhibits, enjoying the paintings of Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, and others, I began to contemplate . . . what were their life stories . . . what circumstances inspired these paintings admired by millions? Each artist’s unique story formed the work displayed on canvas.

While gazing at Monet’s celebrated painting Water Lily Pond, it occurred to me that every pastor, missionary, and Christian leader attending a SonScape retreat has a unique story. A story shaped by the dichotomy of joy and pain stemming from spiritual warfare encountered on the front lines of ministry.

They intercede on behalf of family, friends, and those they faithfully serve. As wounded healers, they are often the last to seek help for themselves. Although their stories or work may not be known by millions, their lives and sacrificial service impacts the world around them . . . they are making a difference.

Christian workers need a place to get away . . . to be known . . . to be reminded of who they are in Christ. SonScape Retreats serves as a safe haven of healing and transformation where God redeems the stories of His servants and, in turn, inspires those they serve to live lives as unto the Lord.

When asked about her week in Colorado, a recent guest shared, “SonScape is a place to receive unconditional love and acceptance from those who truly care about inner health . . . a place for those in ministry to lay aside their role and receive from The Good Shepherd . . . a place of safety and love where healing abounds . . . a refuge for the weary . . . a place of restoration for the broken . . . a place of healing for the wounded . . . a refreshing drink of water for the thirsty . . . a help in times of trouble.”

Because of her redemptive week in the majestic mountains of Colorado, this guest experienced SonScape as thousands have before her: a safe place for those in ministry who are weary, broken, and wounded to retreat and receive restoration and healing in order to convey the hope of Jesus to a hurting world.

The canvas of the heart desperately needs a touch from the Master Artist. SonScape intentionally carves out time and space for such encounters. Solitude with the Savior produces a vibrant life framed in healthy broad strokes of love, joy, and peace.

Are you in ministry needing time away with the Father? Make a resolution to spend a life-changing week at SonScape. Do you know someone in full-time ministry who would benefit from a retreat? Please send them to SonScape.

Alumni . . . thank you for introducing your friends to SonScape. Host Couples . . . thank you for pouring into our guests. Ministry Partners . . . thank you for your faithful generosity that permits us to serve wounded healers around the world.

To our many friends of SonScape . . . thank you for making a difference!

Colombia, Argentina, and now India

by Rob and Shini Abraham, Retreat Leaders

In November of 2017, we held our first SonScape retreat in Bangalore, India. The retreat center we used was away from the noise and crowdedness of the city, surrounded by rugged hills, palm trees, and sugarcane plantations (and sometimes monkeys). We welcomed our guests – 3 couples that work in church planting ministries and a lady that runs a home for abandoned children – into this peaceful setting for 7 days of rest, renewal, and life change.

In a place like India where the needs are overwhelming, the retreat was a much needed, safe sanctuary for our guests. It was all about getting away from everyday busyness, slowing down enough to rest, and time to take an honest look at life and ministry.

“It’s so scary even to think about what could have happened to our future if not for this retreat!” said one of the couples that came on the verge of quitting ministry. “We are battle-weary and burned out, but we have received deep encouragement from God to continue on.”

All of our guests took the time to tell us that this was a “very unique retreat” and appreciated the “perfect balance” of time, space, teaching, and personal times. “We extend love and grace to those we serve but have rarely experienced it extended to us like this,” said one of our guests who has experienced many painful betrayals in ministry.

As we wrapped up the retreat, one of the church planters said, “This retreat is exactly what I needed. It has encouraged deep change in me, in my life and ministry. I recommend it highly and would love to see every worker in India do it! SoulCare retreats are something we all need to think about. Please come back and lead more retreats here in India!”

The Stick Man

by Nathan Buchanan, Alumni

At SonScape, God used the week to help me better understand who I am and who God created me to be.

On the first day of the retreat, my wife and I headed out on a hike into the national forest. We walked through pine trees, through aspens, and finally to some huge rocks that were great for climbing.

Just before we got to the rocks, I found a piece of a tree lying on the ground. What attracted me to this object was its unusual shape. It looked like a man. It had a head, arms, legs, and a body. I picked it up and turned it over and noticed bugs eating the wood and destroying it from the inside out. Even as interesting as the piece of wood was, I put it back on the ground and left it in the forest.

The week continued and I grew day by day in my understanding of how God made me and what changes needed to happen in my thinking. On Sunday, the Sabbath day, I took some time by myself and went back on that same hike . . . back through the pines, through the aspens, and back to the rocks.

After some time with the Lord, I started back. Along the path, I found the same piece of wood. Because of its unusual shape, I picked it back up fully expecting to see the bugs and ants still devouring the underside of the tree, but they were gone.

It was at that moment I realized what God had done in my life at SonScape. He took a man that on the outside looked great but who was actually being eaten from the inside out by the lies of the enemy. Lack of confidence and unrealistic expectations (mine and others) were destroying who God had made me to be.

Throughout the week with times of rest and with God’s truth, God opened my eyes. I am beautifully and wonderfully made, and if I will just be who He has made me to be, I will be able to fulfill God’s calling in my life.