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COUNSELING / DEBRIEFING / RETREATS

In the process of researching a variety of practical missions resources, we came across many organisations with member care resources for debriefing, counseling, and encouragement for missionaries. These are being made available on the website, but please note that these resources have not been screened prior to their inclusion here. Please use your own discernment as you prayerfully seek help from these organizations, and let us know if you find any to be particularly helpful or if you have any concerns about any organization included.

MEMBER CARE CENTERS IN NORTH AMERICA: 

Servant Care, committed to serving missionaries and those in ministry, has regional centers throughout the U.S. offering "purposeful, intentional, and deliberate encouragement, lovingly directed personal ministry, and rest for the mind, soul, and spirit." At their regional CARE homes, missionaries can receive counseling for a minimal fee.

Barnabas International in Rockford, Illinois, seeks to "edify, encourage, enrich and strengthen servants in ministry" by offering pastoral and clinical counseling to missionaries and their families and by offering debriefing and renewal retreats to missionaries and ministers. Their organisation also serves missionaries worldwide with workshops and seminars.

Located in New Berlin, Wisconsin, Caring for Others offers debriefing and counseling for missionaries both at their offices and by Skype, telephone and email.

The Link Care Center in Fresno, California, offers a wide range of counseling services as well as a retreat house for a single or couple to spend up to two weeks. Their counseling center provides care for a range of issues from depression to marital distress to grief and loss to trauma to missionary preparation to re-entry to child behavior problems. Their Restoration and Personal Growth Program is a residential program (average stay of six weeks) for missionaries and ministers and their families who are going through a difficult time.

Located in Seminole, Florida, Comapss Ministries offers support and counsel for missionaries and their families at no charge. They provide a variety of services, including individual counseling, marital counseling, filial therapy, debriefing for individuals and families, MK coaching and mentoring, and counseling for children.

Fairhaven Ministries, located in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, provides residential counseling and sabbaticals to Christian workers and their spouses.

Valeo, formerly Godspeed Resources Connection, offers counseling, evaluations, and debriefing for cross-cultural workers in their Columbia, South Carolina, offices and through video-conferencing.

Recalibrate, a ministry of Parakletos, offers 5-day debrief retreats in Aurora, Indiana, which "provide missionaries with an opportunity to review, refresh, and refocus."

He Restoreth Ministries offers missionaries a 2-bedroom apartment in southern Oregon for a family retreat with or without counseling. They also offer an opportunity for missionaries to email in with issues they're facing (marriage, family, interpersonal conflict, trauma, depression), and they offer internet and phone counseling.

Alongside offers 3-week long Renewal and Growth Retreats, "specifically designed to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of pastors and missionaries who find themselves going through a difficult season of life and ministry," throughout the year at their retreat center near Richland, Michigan, with a combination of seminars, group sessions, and private sessions with counselors. They also offer 5-day marriage retreats and a 10-day program for healthcare professionals who are serving cross-culturally.

Blessing Ranch Ministries, located in New Port Ritchey, Florida, offers private and group counseling services for pastors and missionaries.

Heartstream Resources offers a residential counseling program for cross-cultural workers in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They provide debriefing, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, individual counseling, and intensive support for those who are suffering exhaustion, depletion, depression, or other crisis as a result of ministry.

Marble Retreat, located in the Crystal River Valley in the Colorado Rockies, offers an 8-day counseling program for small groups of tired and hurting Christian workers.

The Cottage on Coronado Island, located near San Diego, California, offers a one-week retreat for couples or singles in ministry with or without counseling.

Restoring the Soul in Lakewood, Colorado, offers one-week and two-week intensive counseling for individuals and couples experiencing sexual, relational or ministry brokenness.

The Minnesota Renewal Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, provides "services in the areas of preparation, problem resolution, reconciliation, renewal, consultation and training" for missionaries and others. 

Baan Sabai, the home of veteran missionaries in Aurora, Indiana, is the retreat center of Paracletos where missionaries can have a time of debriefing, counseling, rest and renewal.

Le Rucher East Coast USA  is an association of individuals on the East Coast of the United States, who are certified debriefers in the Le Rucher model of missionary debriefing. They offer a 5-day debriefing retreat several times a year in Clarkesville, Georgia, as well as personal debriefing in various locations in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Located in Georgetown, Texas, Oaks Counseling offers debriefing and counseling in person, by phone and online for cross-cultural workers and missionaries.

Located near Lake Elsinore, California, Rancho de la Paz offers a place of rest for pastors, missionaries, and other Christian workers for a low cost. In addition to the six bedrooms they have available, there are three spaces for RVs.

Sanctuary Inn, located in Welches, Oregon, offers life coaching, debriefing, and counseling for individuals, couples, and families.

Excelling Leaders offers debriefing retreats in various locations around the United States for small groups of 5-8 people. They also offer a personal 5-day debrief for couples, singles, and families.

Located in Northeastern North Carolina, The Haven aims to provide a place of rest and refreshment for missionaries who are seeking personal and spiritual renewal. Guests are welcome to stay for between two nights and two weeks, with or without counseling and debriefing, for a small donation to cover costs.

Shelter Pines, located near Colorado Springs, Colorado, offers a four-bedroom home for missionaries in need of rest and renewal. There is a small fee, but financial scholarships are available. They also offer debriefing and life coaching to those who desire it.

Located near Kalispell, Montana, Emmaus Encounter offers debriefing to missionaries who are going through a difficult time or are in transition. They also offer the option of virtual debriefing.

Located in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Safe Place offers counseling and debriefing for missionaries as well as training on Trauma Informed Care and other issues. Counseling, debriefing, and some trainings are offered both in-person and online.

Located in western North Carolina, the Center for Intercultural Training offers cross-cultural workers in transition a one-week debrief retreat.

The Debrief and Renewal retreats offered by Mission Training International in Palmer Lake, CO, to adults, children and teens provide an opportunity to reflect on one's journey, gain perspective for the future, and process one's transition.

Located in Bend, Oregon, Keith Springs Lodge offers a pastor or missionary and their spouse "a place, a time, and an opportunity to rebuild their hopes, restore their vision, recapture their enthusiasm, and refresh their spirits."

BMI Oasis offers 2-5 day retreats to pastors, missionaries, and other Christian leaders, with or without coaching at their retreat center in Richland, Michigan.

Located in Iowa, Harbor of Refuge offers missionaries a place to retreat and renew for up to one week with the option of receiving debriefing or counselling while there. There is no charge for this, but donations are accepted.

A Gift From God is a ministry that offers fully-funded (including accommodation, airfare within the US, food, and entertainment allowance) 10-day self-guided retreats to missionary couples in Carlsbad, California.

Shekinah Ranch, located in Fraser, Colorado, offers a cabin for singles and couples in full-time Christian ministry for 5 or 12 night retreats at low cost.

Cleft of the Rock Ranch, located in Vilonia, Arkansas, provides missionaries "a trusted space to decompress, seek spiritual renewal, or simply rest." 

631 Solution offers debriefing, transition coaching, and spiritual direction for singles and couples at their base in Tennessee. They also offer whole-family debriefing and coaching, team trainings, and organizational consultation in other locations, with some services available remotely.

Located in Toronto, Canada, the Missionary Health Institute offers care at all stages of missionary service from preparation to re-entry, including treatment, training, and crisis response.

Located in Calgary, Canada, Beracah Counseling provides missionary care services including debriefing, wellness check-ups, counseling, and listening skills workshops. In addition, they run a debriefing retreat just outside Calgary in the spring and autumn.

Life Impact Ministries offers centers around the world for retreat and renewal for missionaries and ministers. Their centers, which offer optional coaching services, are in Italy, Greece, Germany, Slovakia, the Middle East, Costa Rica, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, and several locations in Oregon. They also ffer coaching services for those who need help in "being able to process challenges in a safe and constructive environment." 

His Secret Place, Ministry to Missionaries runs a retreat in NewFoundland "to equip, encourage, empower and refresh missionaries from around the world in order to help them remain in their fields."

Shepherd's Heart Ministry has retreat centers in Colorado, Michigan, France, Israel, Mexico, and Southeast Asia. "Each retreat center is carefully designed to provide an environment of confidentiality, safety, and acceptance to allow Pastors, Ministry Leaders, and Missionaries to find healing and restoration in their personal lives, marriages, and ministries." 

Barnabas Zentrum offer retreats in Croatia, Austria, and Grand Junction, Colorado. Their retreats include counseling, consulting, training, and encouragement. They also offer counseling, counsultation and training on the field.

Shunem House, located in Central Indiana, has eight bedrooms for missionaries in transition who need a place to rest and recharge.

Quiet Place Ministries provides free retreats for missionaries and ministers in vacation homes, resorts, and other retreat facilities.

The Brook at Bethpage, located in Southwest Missouri, provides 2-5 day retreats to pastors, missionaries, and other full-time Christian workers for no charge other than a cleaning fee. Additional nights can be paid for.

Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, BnB Healing Ministry offers a 5-day debriefing for missionaries at the Blue Rock BnB as well as counseling and retreats.

Twelve Springs, in Hixson, Tennessee, offers debriefing, coaching, and counseling for missionaries for individuals, families, and teams.

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