Who we are.
They have traveled to the
Holy Land many times and still direct
tours to Israel on a regular bases.
recorded 2015
Mark and Sheila were married on June 27, 1981 and joy their 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. Mark was raised in a pastor’s home, was a youth minister for 5 years and has pastored for 25 years. Sheila was a stay at home mom and directed the Golden Corner Church Preschool for 10 years.
Mark graduated from Anderson College and Sheila graduated from Southern Wesleyan University. One of their top passions is for ministry leaders and their spouses. Their deepest desire is to help refresh and bless those that are on the front line in ministry.
Various locations will be used including Mark and Sheila’s home to allow the participants to achieve:
Rest and Relaxation – Casual atmosphere giving ample down time for physical and mental refreshing.
Spiritual Renewal – A quiet retreat offers the opportunity to commune with God and renew the passion for ministry.
Personal and Marital Restoration – Time to refocus on personal commitments and marriage.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Private accommodations provided for each ministry couple at no charge. This includes home cooked meals, snacks and/or local cuisine. Depending on the retreat location, local site seeing available.
Shade Tree Ministries recognizes the need for time away from the hectic schedules of the ministry profession. Being a senior pastor for 25 years and being raised in a pastor’s home, has given Mark first hand experience in the joys and hardships of ministry. Mark and Sheila are passionate to help other ministers remain healthy and focused on their calling.
TIME WILL BE ENCOURGED FOR
- Physical rest
- Spiritual reflection
- Unhurried personal time
- Possible sight seeing
- Time with retreat Hosts
Ministry couples of all Christian Denominations are encouraged to apply
Application/questionnaire required
(Mark has been certified in Transformation Prayer Ministry and will be available to minister to any participate that would like to)
What we do.
Why we do it.
STATISTICS IN THE MINISTRY AND BURNOUT CHARACTERISTICS
80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families. Many pastor's children do not attend church now because of what the church has done to their parents.
70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
50% of pastors feel so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living. 80% of pastors' spouses wish their spouse would choose a different profession.
50% of the ministers starting out will not last 5 years. Only 1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.
Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year.
Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month, many without cause.
Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.
Statistics provided by The Fuller Institute, George Barna, and Pastoral Care Inc.
www.pastoralcareinc.com/statistics/
People suffering from burnout generally have these identifiable characteristics: 1. chronic fatigue 2. anger at those making demands 3. self-criticism for putting up with the demands 4. cynicism, negativity, and irritability 5. a sense of being besieged 6. hair-trigger display of emotions. - When Executives Burn Out.
By Harry Levinson, Harvard Business Review