What is The Shepherd’s Refuge?
Pastors face unique pressures that can lead to burnout, exhaustion, or even moral failure. The Shepherd's Refuge is a ministry dedicated to providing care, coaching, and connection to pastors and ministry leaders—offering support when it’s needed most.
Our Mission
To provide proactive, preventative, personal care to pastors so they can continue their ministry with endurance, purpose, and joy.
Care - Support for spiritual health and formation - Burnout prevention and restorative retreats
Coaching - Mentoring and tailored growth plans - Modules for personal and ministry challenges
Connection - Peer support and shared encouragement - Ongoing engagement via meetings and cohorts
What Services Does The Shepherd’s Refuge Offer?
Individual Pastor Care
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A monthly personalized meeting, offering a confidential space to discuss challenges and receive prayer.
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These group sessions connect pastors in a cohort setting for a presentation and discussion around a relevant topic (e.g. ministry endurance, physical fitness, burnout prevention).
These sessions foster accountability and shared wisdom, allowing pastors to learn from both a knowledgeable presenter and one another’s experiences and progress.
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Biblical Counseling sessions are designed to address personal or family issues that often arise in a pastor’s ministry. These sessions offer a confidential space to explore struggles, find healing, and receive encouragement rooted in Scripture.
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A Focus Module is a structured program that targets a specific area of change or growth (e.g. screen/tech use, spiritual disciplines).
Each module is completed over one month and includes reading, reflection questions, and journaling exercises to encourage continual personal and spiritual formation.
Each module includes a debrief session with a Pastoral Leadership Mentor.
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This customized two-night retreat experience offers dedicated time for rest, renewal, and personal reflection. Pastors can use this time to recharge spiritually, mentally, and physically with prayer and counsel provided by a Pastoral Leadership Mentor.
Group Leadership Support
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A comprehensive retreat experience for church leadership teams at a location of your choosing. Through teaching and guided sessions, this retreat equips leaders to align their vision, strengthen their unity, and return revitalized for effective ministry.
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Practical, one-day workshops at your location covering key topics related to leading a church. These workshops can be customized according to your needs.
Make a Donation
For The Shepherd’s Refuge to accomplish its mission of providing care, coaching, and connection for pastors and other ministry leaders, we need your help. If you can give any amount, either monthly, annually, or just one-time, we’d be really grateful. You’ll receive a tax receipt for your donation.
Contact
Many pastors lead without friends, confidantes, mentors or counsellors. This is not a recipe for health! Pastoring can indeed be lonely, but you don’t have to lead alone.