Shepherd's Canyon Retreat

05/17/2026

Please share with someone who could use a Shepherd's Canyon retreat. 🧡

04/30/2026

May is a great month to show appreciation to school educators, teachers, administrators, staff and their families.

03/23/2026

Friends of the Ministry Celebration – Highlights Video
If you were unable to join us in person for this three-hour event, we invite you to watch this 75-minute highlights video.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

03/09/2026

Whoo? Whoo? Whoo do you know that needs to come to a Shepherd's Canyon Retreat? Whoo? Whoo? Do you know that can donate so others can come? Whoo? Whoo? 🌵🌴🦉

03/04/2026

Construction has finally started on the Bill & Lucille Sapp Lodge!

Because of COVID, necessary design changes, and layers of bureaucracy, the permit we first applied for in 2020 took years longer than we expected. But we are grateful to share that it has now been approved, and we can finally begin building!

As you can imagine, construction costs have risen dramatically since 2020. The funds raised back then no longer cover what’s needed today, so we’re asking you to join us as God moves this long-awaited project.”

What can you do?
- Pray for an outpouring of financial blessings!
- Give above & beyond your usual gift.
- Thank God for the progress that is begin made
- Pray for safety for the workers.

“Commit your way to the LORD… Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:5, 7

02/09/2026

You’re invited!
Annual Friends of the Ministry Celebration Luncheon
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | Noon–3:00 PM
Shepherd’s Canyon – Standing Stones

Enjoy a free lunch by the pool, meaningful music, powerful testimonies, and a ministry update as we celebrate what God is doing.

Please RSVP.

02/02/2026

Learn about "Living and Unoffendable, Non-Anxious Life" with Kevin & Tawn Bueltmann in their workshop on Friday, February 13th at 2pm - Best Practices for Ministry at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix, AZ.

01/07/2026

We are so grateful to God to receive a check for $50,000, the first half of the Lutheran Women in Mission - LWML grant for scholarships to help pastors, church workers, and spouses.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas! Video greetings from the Shepherd's Canyon Retreat staff.

12/15/2025

The Christmas Eve Candle That Wouldn’t Stay Lit

Imagine it's a snowy Christmas Eve. A pastor stands before his congregation, joyful, but weary from a year of service and the busyness of the Advent season.

The lights are dimmed for the final hymn-- Silent Night. The worshippers hold unlit candles with anticipation while the pastor begins to share his light with others, who in turn spread that light to those near them, creating an ever-increasing and mesmerizing glow in the room.

As the pastor stands in front, singing with everyone else, his own candle unexpectedly goes out! He stares at the darkened wick, stunned for a moment. A young boy sees his predicament. He joyfully steps forward and holds out his own candle so the pastor can reignite the flame.

As the sounds of Silent Night fill the room, tears form in this pastor's eyes-- from the beauty of the moment and the knowledge of God’s immense love, but also from the realization that just as others need his help, he needs the help of others. And they are happy to help!

At Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat, countless church workers experience this same gentle grace of someone leaning in to help them shine again. Every few weeks, weary ministry leaders walk through our doors feeling exhausted. Some are barely flickering. Others arrive convinced that their light is gone for good.

But what happens here through Christ-centered counseling, rest, a safe community, and the grace of God is that they begin to glow again as the flame is carefully passed from one person to another. God causes their light to be re-kindled, to burn brightly, able to be shared with more people. We reflect the light of Christ to others.

At a pastors’ conference recently, three pastors told my wife & me:
- “Shepherd’s Canyon helped me stay in ministry.”
- “Shepherd’s Canyon saved our marriage.”
- “Shepherd’s Canyon saved my life.”

This Christmas season, you can be that child holding the light that helps reignite the light of others!

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

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This is just one of the articles from our December Newsletter.
To read the rest of the newsletter, go to:
https://www.shepherdscanyonretreat.org/news

Merry Christmas! From Kevin, Tawn and the entire Shepherd's Canyon Ministry Team