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Family | Lutheran Life Issue 121

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SINCE MARCH, 2009... OUR MISSION THE SHEPHERD'S CANYON RETREAT MINISTRY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALING TO CLERGY, OTHER CHURCH WORKERS AND THEIR SPOUSES WHO ARE IN THE MIDST OF VARIOUS STAGES OF BURNOUT, DEPRESSION, COMPASSION FATIGUE, AND CONFLICTS OF ALL TYPES, OFFERING THE HOPE AND RENEWAL FOUND THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. " " WHEN I ARRIVED AT SHEPHERD'S CANYON RETREAT (SCR), I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD EVER STEP BEHIND A PULPIT AGAIN. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF MY MARRIAGE WOULD BE RESTORED. I WAS IN A VERY DARK PLACE, SUFFERING FROM BURNOUT AND DEPRESSION. I HAD FALLEN DEEP INTO A TRAP OF LIES THAT I WAS A FAILURE, THAT MY PAST GUILT AND SHAME DEFINED WHO I WAS AND HOW EVERYONE SAW ME. MY PERSONALITY HAD BECOME ONE OF CRITICISM, CONTEMPT AND DEFENSIVENESS. AFTER SPENDING A WEEK WITH THE COUNSELORS AND FELLOW PARTICIPANTS OF SCR, I REALIZED THAT I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS DARK PLACE. I CONTINUE TO HEAR THE LIES, BUT THANKS TO SCR AND THE TOOLS I RECEIVED, I NO LONGER LISTEN. WHILE I STILL HAVE THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION, I AM MANAGING IT MUCH BETTER THROUGH CONTINUED COUNSELING AND MEDICATION. MY MARRIAGE IS FAR BETTER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. ALL THANKS TO GOD. SINCE BEING A RETREAT PARTICIPANT, I HAVE SERVED AS A CHAPLAIN AT RETREATS AND SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE MINISTRY WE HAVE AT STANDING STONES AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE IT AS A PLACE OF HOPE AND HEALING FOR MANY MORE YEARS. – Rich Steensma RETREATS CLIENTS 95 600 OVER For Church Workers and Spouses including: Pastors, Teachers, Missionaries, DCEs, DCOs, and Military Chaplains WWW.SHEPHERDSCANYONRETREAT.ORG WWW.STANDINGSTONESAZ.ORG INFO@SHEPHERDSCANYONRETREAT.ORG

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