Ministry Stay Guidelines
What is a Ministry Stay?
A “Ministry Stay” is Cedar Springs’ gift of a 1-3 night free stay for individuals serving full-time as a pastor, missionary, or leader of a Christian non-profit organization. The purpose of the Ministry Stay program is to give Christian leaders, (and their spouses), a place to rest, refresh, pray, and plan. The Ministry Stay program is not intended to be used for family vacations, staff retreats, or meetings with other Christian leaders. This gift is intended to be used as an individual or ministry couple retreat. Staff retreats should be booked as a regular event. Cedar Springs is not able to accommodate family vacations. We hope that a Ministry Stay will provide rest and refreshment for Christian leaders to continue to serve God’s people well.
Do I Qualify?
You qualify if you…
· Serve full-time in a Christian church or Christian non-profit organization
· Serve in a leadership role (Pastor, Missionary, Director, etc.)
· Want a time of rest for yourself (and possibly your spouse)
· Your household, church, or Christian non-profit organization has not received a Ministry Stay in the previous 6 months
When Can I Book and How Long Can I Stay?
· We provide Ministry Stays Monday-Thursday
· Ministry Stays are 1-3 Nights (based on availability)
· We can only book a Ministry Stay within 30 days of your intended arrival date.
What are the Accommodations?
Cedar Springs provides the following amenities for your Ministry Stay: Queen bed, linens, in room bathroom with shower, dining room table, sink, microwave, toaster oven, mini-refrigerator, hot-plate, dishes, glasses, silverware, and cooking utensils.
Are Meals Available?
Cedar Springs does not provide meals for our Ministry Stay guests, unless we are already serving a group. If Cedar Springs is serving meals, you can purchase individual meals for $18 per person at the time of booking. Otherwise, you can cook for yourself in your room, or take advantage of one of the restaurants in Everson, Sumas, or Lynden. We have a list for you.
Are There Resources Available to Me to Assist My Retreat?
· There is a small library of great resource books for retreating located in the Cedar Springs office for you to borrow.
· A resource packet with selected spiritual exercises and prayer resources is available upon request.
· Our Executive Director, Dave Lindner, has 20 years of pastoral ministry experience and is a trained spiritual director. He would be happy to set up a free appointment to meet with you for prayer, and processing. You may contact him directly before, or during your stay at dave@cedarspringscrc.org or (360) 988-6674.
What is the Cost?
FREE! But we gladly accept donations for this program. You can give a donation on the home page of our website or in person when you come for your stay.
How Do I Book My Ministry Stay?
Fill out the form HERE, or contact Dawn at (360) 988-6674 or dawn@cedarspringscrc.org.
Because of demand, we are only able to give one Ministry Stay per household, church, or Christian Organization every six months.
FAQ’s:
Q. Can I bring my dog?
A. Cedar Springs does not allow pets of any kind on the property. The only exception is for service animals, who are functioning as service animals during your stay. Please ask for our service animal policy to make sure your animal qualifies and adheres to our policy.
Q. Can I bring my kids?
A. The Ministry Stay program is not intended to be a family vacation, but a personal retreat for the Christian leader (and possibly their spouse). The exception would be infants or toddlers that can’t be away from their mothers.
Q. Can I do a ministry stay with my adult children who also serve in ministry?
A. Ministry Stays are intended for individuals and their spouses, not as a family gathering time or vacation.
Q. Can I bring a member of my staff with me if they are also in a full-time ministry position.
A. Because of the high demand for these limited spaces, we only allow one ministry stay per household, church, or Christian non-profit at a time.
Q. What kind of activities are available at Cedar Springs?
A. There are about 8 acres of gardens, 5 miles (9 km) of hiking trails, and beautiful places to sit and reflect.
Q. What cooking/kitchen amenities do you provide?
A. Your room or cabin comes with a mini-fridge, hotplate, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, plates, glasses, silverware, pots & pans, and cooking utensils.
Q. Do I need to bring my own bedding, towels, or sleeping bag?
A. Cedar Springs provides all bedding and towels.
Q. I am a retired pastor or missionary. Can I come for a Ministry Stay?
A. Cedar Springs appreciates your service! But because of the demand for Ministry Stays, we must limit them to those currently serving the Church or a Christian organization in a full-time capacity.