Sabbath Rest Retreat

05/26/2026

John and Sharon Todd ( To Our Ministry Friends)

Our stay at Sabbath Rest was everything that we could have ever hoped for, for a TIME of REST. After not taking a time for ourselves for 15 years, a SABBATICAL was exactly what we needed. Brother Ed and Sister Karen Shirrell have opened their beautiful place out in the country with open arms and open hearts. They spoke into our lives, ENCOURAGEMENT, strength, and UNDERSTANDING. We will certainly be back as we have found forever friends. We recommend Sabbath Rest to ANY MINISTER who needs time to grow, strengthen and restructure in ministry.
PAUSING IN MINISTY does not mean you are lazy or selfish. Your mind, body and spirit needs time to be REFRESHED and rehydrated to CONTINUE pouring out into the lives of others! Check out the link!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1axPwqTHv5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

John & Sharon Todd are Pastors of the Church of God in Plano, IL (Near Chicago, IL )

MISSION STATEMENT – to provide a place for ministers and their spouses to experience a Sabbath Rest (Rest, Refocus and Renew) to accomplish their God-given calling.

QUESTIONS – who can come? Credentialed ministers (pastors, staff pastors, evangelists) who are currently in ministry and spouse ONLY, no children, family or pets. Cost is $ 50 per night.

HOW to make a reservation? Contact me at [email protected] 573-238-7769

1800 ministers leave the ministry “MONTHLY” in America = 21,000 “YEARLY”. There are over 2500 pastors within a two-hour drive of Sabbath Rest.

We have a LODGE with two identical suites “upstairs.” Each has 2 queen beds, kitchenette with microwave and fridge, full bathroom with shower. Downstairs has full-kitchen, large dining room, large fireplace room, library, desk and resources; and 2 bath rooms. For those who physically challenged, we just completed a COTTAGE with NO STEPS or STAIRS; king bed, full-kitchen and large bathroom with shower, library and resources.
Photos on FB - Sabbath Rest Retreat and our website….Sabbathrest.net

LOCATION - 3 hours South of the St. Louis Arch and 45 minutes West of Cape Girardeau. 45 minutes NE of Poplar Bluff, 90 minutes SE of Farmington And 90 minutes NE of Corning, AR.

Prior to founding Sabbath Rest Ministry, Ed & Karen have served as lead pastors for 36 years.

You can also follow us on Facebook @ Sabbath Rest Retreat

Sabbath Rest Ministry is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit corporation (non-denominational) and gifts are tax deductible. There are no salaries at Sabbath Rest and construction labor is provided by volunteers.

Lam 3:22-23 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. GREAT is HIS FAITHFULNESS; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Healthy Pastors Help to Create Healthy Churches

05/22/2026

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, CONTINUE to live your lives in him, ROOTED and built up IN HIM, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2: 6 - 7

05/21/2026

To My Ministry Friends (John Roberts)

I am so thankful for my time at Sabbath rest. When I REFLECT on my time there, I think of THREE WORDS. Pace. Prayer and providence.

PACE - First, let me speak of the pace. Life in this world, life in ministry, is pretty fast-paced. I love how being away from my commitments and nestled in the quiet woods of Missouri really helped me slow down and make more time to REST and RECONNECT with God.

PRAYER - I am so thankful for ALL THE PEOPLE who PRAYED FOR ME while I was on retreat. For me personally, it led to a lot of meaningful prayer time because I was away from home and the hustle and bustle of ministry. I felt that my family and I were being covered in prayer. Thank you. Thank you.

PROVIDENCE - I believe God works out everything for his will, and I'm thankful for TWO THINGS regarding God's providence and this retreat. Being at Sabbath Rest allowed me to read Mark Batterson's book, Whisper. It was on the shelf in my room, and it really spoke to my heart. The reason I went on this trip was to FIND A WYA TO SEEK and HEAR God's voice. This book answers the question, " HOW do I be the kind of person who listens to God?" It really was an answer to my own prayers.

Also, providentially, I'm glad I got to meet Ed Shirrell . His story and his walk with the Lord were a great encouragement to me. I found a new brother in Christ whom I really appreciate. And I so give thanks to God for all that Ed and his supporters are doing with Sabbath rest. Every pastor who can should make time to be there.

John Roberts

Senior Pastor
Eden Church
Edwardsville, Illinois

MISSION STATEMENT – to provide a place for ministers and their spouses to experience a Sabbath Rest (Rest, Refocus and Renew) to accomplish their God-given calling.

QUESTIONS – who can come? Credentialed ministers (pastors, staff pastors, evangelists) who are currently in ministry and spouse ONLY, no children, family or pets. Cost is $ 50 per night.

HOW to make a reservation? Contact me at [email protected] 573-238-7769

1800 ministers leave the ministry “MONTHLY” in America = 21,000 “YEARLY”. There are over 2500 pastors within a two-hour drive of Sabbath Rest.

We have a LODGE with two identical suites “upstairs.” Each has 2 queen beds, kitchenette with microwave and fridge, full bathroom with shower. Downstairs has full-kitchen, large dining room, large fireplace room, library, desk and resources; and 2 bath rooms. For those who physically challenged, we just completed a COTTAGE with NO STEPS or STAIRS; king bed, full-kitchen and large bathroom with shower, library and resources.
Photos on FB - Sabbath Rest Retreat and our website….Sabbathrest.net

LOCATION - 3 hours South of the St. Louis Arch and 45 minutes West of Cape Girardeau. 45 minutes NE of Poplar Bluff, 90 minutes SE of Farmington And 90 minutes NE of Corning, AR.

Prior to founding Sabbath Rest Ministry, Ed & Karen have served as lead pastors for 36 years.

You can also follow us on Facebook @ Sabbath Rest Retreat

Sabbath Rest Ministry is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit corporation (non-denominational) and gifts are tax deductible. There are no salaries at Sabbath Rest and construction labor is provided by volunteers.

Lam 3:22-23 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. GREAT is HIS FAITHFULNESS; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Healthy Pastors Help to Create Healthy Churches

05/02/2026

04/15/2026

To my pastor friends (Phil Nelson) I Just returned from five days of retreat at Sabbath Rest near Zalma, Missouri (45 minutes West of Cape Girardeau). It’s my SECOND time to be at Sabbath Rest for a spiritual retreat.
There is not a better place for PASTORS to INVEST in TIME with God. You will not regret it. Pastor Ed and his wife have gone the extra mile to minister to pastors; to ENCOURAGE those IN MINISTRY.

Phil has been in ministry for 48 + years and pastors in Carbondale, IL, and is an open air apologist on the SIU Campus. He also serves as DOM for SBC Nine Mile Baptist Association in Carbondale IL

04/13/2026

Inspiring Relationships Counseling (Advance, MO)

04/08/2026

Hey MINISTRY FRIEND - one of the greatest challenges in HEARING from God is our DAILY DISTRACTIONS.. The most current survey states: “average” 60-80 distractions from social media, texts, cell phones etc; 3 - 8 scheduled appointments, 5 -10 unscheduled appointments and 1 - 3 late or very early calls. May I encourage you to intentionally take a retreat for a few days or few weeks to REST, REFOCUS and be RENEWED to accomplish your God-given PURPOSE. May You Receive a “Fresh” word from the Holy Spirit.

04/06/2026

If you don't come apart FOR a while, you will come apart AFTER a while." Dallas Willard

04/05/2026

Jesus Rose PHYSICALLY, Not Just in Spirit: If the truth is that after death there comes a negatively spiritual life, an eternity of mystical experience, what more misleading way of communicating it could possibly be found than the APPEARANCE of a HUMAN FORM which eats broiled fish?…….CS Lewis

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples AFTER after he was raised from the dead. John. 21:13 -14