Pastoral Retreats

“Be still, and know that I am God!

    I will be honored by every nation.

    I will be honored throughout the world.” 

Psalm 46:10, NLT


A new ministry we are offering is the gift of pastoral retreats to other brothers and sisters serving God's Church, and their families. We currently have capacity to host 1 pastoral family a month for these retreats; priority will be given to Nazarene pastors.


We believe God is still speaking the very Good News of our need for intimate relationship with God, one another, God's creation, and self. In constantly serving, pastors often ended up in fractured relationships within one or all of these categories. We believe that in getting away from our normal rhythms, particularly in our area of the Big Island, Hawai'i, to "reconsider our strategy for living," in the words of Dallas Willard, is one of the greatest gifts that can be received. What if God is inviting you to come and be still, and to truly KNOW these things again?  


You're invited to prayerfully consider whether a 2-3-day or up to 1-month retreat in our parsonage is what you need right now in life and ministry. We are also partnering with our beloved sister and brother in Christ, Laura and Bruce Gilmore, and their prayer space located in Volcano, Hawaii called This Holy Ground as part of this exciting opportunity!


Please read the information below, and submit the form at the bottom if you'd like to request a time for pastoral retreat!

Parsonage Housing

We are offering our former parsonage as the home base for pastoral retreats. It's a simple setup, but has ample room to rest while you're here. The parsonage is located on the 2nd story of 1 of 2 of our buildings on the church property. 


Our area is rural, but within 15-30 minutes of driving to a few grocery options and small restaurants. Our area is also very multi-cultural, so guests should come aware and respectful of island living. We host a public charter school on our property during the week, so you'll hear some joyful noise during the school day, but most evenings and weekends are still and silent - aside from regular church activities. Kea'au is a jungly area so the noises you hear are mostly nature singing praises to our God!


Quick Facts About the Parsonage:

  • 3 bedrooms: master - queen bed with en suite bathroom, bedroom 2 - full bed, bedroom 3 - queen bed & twin daybed.
  • Bed linens and pillows are provided or you're welcome to bring your own.
  • Extra twin-sized and queen-sized air mattresses also available.
  • 2 full bathrooms both with shower-tub combos. One bathroom is attached to the master bedroom, the other is shared by the common space and other two bedrooms. All towels are provided.
  • Living room space with open concept to dining room area.
  • Attached deck/lanai with a hammock and some outdoor chairs and table.
  • Full kitchen with basic pots, pans, and dishes provided. Salt, pepper, and cooking oil also provided. First breakfast supply of oatmeal provided. Plan to cook many of your meals.
  • Coffee maker with first morning supply of coffee provided.
  • Laundry facilities are available downstairs for free use during the evening.
  • We provide toilet paper, paper towels, and basic cleaning supplies. 
  • Minimal Wi-Fi available on purpose - use this space to unplug. If Wi-Fi usage is essential, guests may access a slow connection from the attached lanai space or a better connection in the church sanctuary. 
  • Basic TV with DVD player, no cable; some books and games are provided to intentionally foster reconnection.
  • No air conditioning, but the parsonage gets great air flow most of the year. All windows have screens to keep out the bugs. This is the tropics and we are offering an island-style realistic experience rather than resort living.
  • We are located about 20-30 minutes from the Hilo Airport (ITO) or a 2-hour drive from the Kona Airport (KOA). We suggest flying into Hilo, though it may cost more.

Feel free to contact us with specific questions before you submit a pastoral retreat request if you have a question about the parsonage's housing details. Confirmed retreat guests will receive a welcome packet before arrival giving orientation details, and more specific information about our area so you're well prepared on what to bring or not bring with you.


Currently, pastoral retreats are run on a love offering basis. Please pray about what you could contribute if you come for a pastoral retreat so we may continue this ministry. We hope this enables pastors and their families to partake in retreat in a location they otherwise may not have been able to afford. We currently do not have a consistent vehicle we can loan out, so rental car, food, and flight costs all should be considered before submitting a pastoral retreat request. We do not operate as tour guides for guests, but rather as hosts providing space for you to meet with God and reconnect as needed with God, your family, creation, and self. See the options listed down below on the pastoral retreat request form for more information on what we can provide, or again, feel free to contact us.


If you are not coming for a retreat, but would like to contribute towards this ministry, you can make a donation here. 

This Holy Ground:
A place to meet with God

"For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
'In returning and rest you will be saved.
In quietness and trust is your strength.'" 
Isaiah 30:15


One of the things we are most excited about in embarking on this new ministry is partnering with the amazing work God is doing up the mauna (mountain) in Volcano, Hawaii at This Holy Ground through the Gilmores. Laura Gilmore is a trained spiritual director with a deep passion for God and helping God's people find quiet and stillness. Bruce has a heart for going deep in scripture, study, and music. Together, they steward the incredible native Hawaiian forest and property God has consecrated as This Holy Ground - offering it out to pastors and lay people like you for time with God. 

We hope that if you partake in a pastoral retreat, you will utilize this ministry as an integral aspect of your time in rest and restoration in Christ. Please explore their website to learn more about their ministry. Here are a few of the offerings available:
  • Spiritual direction with Laura - typically a 1-hour setting focused on guided listening to notice God's Presence generally or in a specific area in your life. We recommend a $20-60 love offering for this ministry.
  • Guided Retreats - Laura has created several different formatted retreats that are either self-guided or she can facilitate. Check out the page for more information or contact her directly. 
  • Sacred Space - This Holy Ground truly lives up to the name God gave it. Come and see what God has for you in the Hawaiian rainforest as you wander the prayer trails, sit in the Sugi tree sanctuary, or rest with the Word or a journal and listen for God's voice in the prayer shelter. 
For any and all of these, we ask that you would consider blessing our dear friends with a love offering that they may also continue this blessed and necessary ministry for the Church! 

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