January 2014 SonScapeUpdate rest renewal lifechange Page 1: An Extraordinary Gift Page 2: Those Who Made It Happen Page 3: What Does This Mean? Pages 4 and 5: 10 Years in the Making Page 6: Mike & Sandy s Story There are times when God does something so astounding you can only stand in awe. Last month the Green family of Hobby Lobby donated the beautiful Whitestone Inn and approximately 450 additional acres along the Tennessee River to SonScape Retreats. The Inn is a four-diamond bed and breakfast and part of the Southern Living hotel collection. The story of how this happened goes back almost a decade and involves a series of events so extraordinary only God could have orchestrated it. An Extraordinary Gift An Extraordinary Adventure - by Larry Magnuson big, so seemingly impossible, we could never have envisioned it. Beginning in 2011, God began to bring together the impossible and in December of last year, the gift became a reality. I am convinced the day is coming when SonScape Retreats will impact not 200 pastors and missionaries each year but Back in 2005, the SonScape board of directors met at Whitestone Inn and felt God s call to build a second retreat center in Tennessee. The call was so clear that the board members themselves gave over $100,000 to purchase land in the newly-developed Sanctuary at Whitestone. Then the economic downturn of 2008-2010 seemed to crush both the dream and the calling. While we wrestled with questions about the future, little did we know that God had a plan so Whitestone Country Inn 2,000 through retreats, short-stay get aways, and small conferences. The SonScape staff and board are working on a long-term plan for the property. There are many unanswered questions but this we know, God has opened a door to the expansion of SonScape Retreats for the sake of the pastors and Christian leaders He loves!
Rose Cottage Entrance Barn Lion & the Lamb www.whitestoneinn.com The Chapel Working Barn Rivendell Those who made it happen... Paul and Jean Cowell of Whitestone Inn Serving as a pastor for more than 20 years, Paul had a dream of building a first-class inn where people could come away for rest and renewal. A major part of the vision was offering rooms to pastors and missionaries at low or even no cost. Thousands of Christian leaders have been blessed by the Cowells generosity. Paul and Jean were willing to sell Whitestone Inn for far less than its value because they wanted it to be used for Kingdom purposes. They believe SonScape is God s vehicle to make that happen. The Cowells will continue to lease the Inn from SonScape Retreats, but a growing number of retreats and other SonScape events will be held there in coming years. The Green Family of Hobby Lobby None of this would be possible without the extreme generosity of the Green family. Few know how much the Greens have done for God s work. Many other churches and Christian organizations have been extremely blessed in a similar way. The Greens purchase property and then donate it to a ministry. David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, is the son of a pastor who faithfully served churches for many years. There are not words to express our respect for and deep appreciation to the Green family. 2
So what does this mean for SonScape Retreats? Can SonScape afford such a gift? Yes, but we are committed to move carefully and prayerfully. This is a gift of property and opportunity - not cash. We must work to live within our means while trusting God to expand financial resources and ministry partners. The lease from the Cowells will help to offset any additional costs associated with the gift. We will focus on expanding our donor base, especially in the Southeast. Does SonScape have a plan for this gift? The board and staff have invested much time and energy in a preliminiary plan for the use of the Whitestone properties. Now that the gift has been given, our goal for 2014 is to produce a strategic plan for the entire ministry covering the next 3-5 years. Five retreats are already scheduled for 2014. We will share our progress in each Update this year. We need our ministry partners to surround our efforts in prayer! Is SonScape able to manage property and staff in multiple locations? The scope of the gift and its possibilities is going to demand much from staff, board, and ministry partners. Mike and Sandy will be our boots on the ground in Tennessee, overseeing the Whitestone properties and leading retreats. Prayerful discernment will be necessary as we look ahead to the future. We are both committed to making this work and optimistic that it will. Many of you who are reading this Update have played a crucial role in bringing SonScape Retreats to this moment in history. You have hosted retreats, served on boards and committees, attended work weeks, sent your pastors and missionaries, given generously, and prayed faithfully. This is God s ministry and He is doing something new and powerful. We give Him praise and we give you thanks. In the weeks and months ahead, we will be asking you to join us in even greater ways as we embark on this new adventure! 3 Larry Magnuson, President
10 Years in the Making... This story is God s story! For over a decade, He brought together the right people in the right timing to accomplish His purpose. Many contributed... but this is His story! 2001 After speaking at a leadership conference, Larry and Barbara Magnuson are taken to Whitestone Inn and introduced to Paul and Jean Cowell. A friendship begins. 2003 Paul joins with two partners to launch a project called The Sanctuary where Christian ministries focused on spiritual formation and quiet rest could purchase pieces of property and share hundreds of acres of common space. 2004 Larry and Barbara join the Cowells in Hungary working with several hundred missionaries through their ministry called Christian Hospitality Network. 2005 The SonScape Board goes to Whitestone Inn for their annual board meeting and decides to purchase five acres of land in The Sanctuary with the dream of opening SonScape East. 2006 Larry and Barbara travel to Thailand with the Cowells serving missionaries from 12 countries in the region. The friendship continues to grow. 4
Paul Cowell with Larry View from The Sanctuary 2007 The Sanctuary begins development including lot layout, paved roads, and utilities installed. 2008 The economic downturn affects both property values and nonprofit income. 2009-2010 While these are difficult years financially for Whitestone Inn, SonScape Retreats, and other non-profits, it is The Sanctuary that suffers significantly with no new ministries purchasing land. 2011 Through a SonScape alumni, Larry and Barbara are able to meet with Steve Green, President of Hobby Lobby and son of founder David Green. Telling the story of SonScape Retreats, they asked if the Green Foundation would be interested in helping build a retreat center on the land purchased in The Sanctuary. Due to the economic obstacles, Paul and his partners need to get out from the under the financial burden of The Sanctuary. The Cowells, considering the long-term future of Whitestone Inn, enter into a discussion with the Green family of Hobby Lobby. 2012 In March, Larry takes a call from a member of the Green family asking if SonScape would be open to receive a gift of the Whitestone properties if donated to the ministry. In July, the board of directors consider the possibility and vote unanimously to accept. A significant part of their decision was Mike and Sandy Schafer s willingness to move to Tennessee to oversee the project. 2013 The SonScape board and staff invest much time planning and preparing for the potential gift. SonScape s first two retreats are held at the Inn. 0n December 20, the Green family donates the Whitestone Inn and The Sanctuary to SonScape Retreats and the adventure continues. 5
Mike & Sandy s Story When you are through changing, you are through. - Bruce Barton The two of us don t ever want to be through. Five and a half years ago we made the biggest change of our lives. We left pastoral ministry in the flatlands of West Texas where we had lived most of our lives and moved to the mountains of Colorado to join the SonScape staff. We thought this would probably be our biggest change until retirement. God had other plans. Next month we will journey east to the Knoxville, Tennessee area to begin this new adventure of establishing a second location for SonScape. There is a lot of sadness and grieving as we move far away from grandkids and other family members. We will also leave behind the SonScape staff and the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Change often comes with some pain. On the other hand, change also brings the possibility of a new future and exciting opportunities. The gift you are reading about in this Update is an unbelievable miracle. God is entrusting SonScape with an amazing resource. We can t wait to be a part of the transforming work God will do in this new place in the lives of ministry leaders. We begin this new journey as a walk of faith. We know we do not go alone. God is our rock in the midst of life s changes. We know all of you are standing with us as well. Pray for us, especially that we would clearly see God s vision for this new eastern site for SonScape. In a few short weeks, we will climb into the car and start a twenty-hour drive east. There will probably be some tears that day, but there will also be a lot of excitement. God is not through changing SonScape... or the two of us. CHANGE! You gotta love it! First SonScape Retreat at Whitestone October 2013 In His love, Mike & Sandy Schafer www.sonscaperetreats.org 888.766.7227 PO Box 700 Divide, CO 80814 USA www.sonscaperetreats.org 888.766.7227 6