"You can have longevity..."

 At Broom Tree Ministries we offer pastors a chance to retreat, but really a better description of these free opportunities to encounter the living God, are spiritual advances.  If you have a moment feel free to watch this quick video. We would love to hear your comments! Have a wonderful Christmas.

A Fisherman's Catch!

Dorman and Cindy Pollet, from  Canada attended a Broom Tree retreat last spring.  Just like Peter and Andrew, God called Dorman from the fishing industry in Newfoundland to pastor in Wheatly, Ontario which he has been faithfully doing for over 8 years.  Now he is a "Fisher of Men".  We just received this wonderful testimony to what God is doing in his small town:


"GOD IS DOING GREAT THINGS  SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 115 PEOPLE GIVE THERE LIVES TO CHRIST PRAISE GOD . YOU SAID THERE  IS A LADY PRAYING FOR US CAN YOU THANK HER FOR US!  [ We did that right away] 
WE LOVE YOU AND   YOU ARE A BLESSING TO THE BODY OF CHRIST. HAVE A GREAT MERRY CHRISTMAS.    PASTOR DORMAN AND CINDY POLLETT CANADA

Why Do Pastors Need a Retreat?

Broom Tree Ministries provides these spiritual retreats for pastor couples with the sole purpose of strengthening the strong.  Many pastors and spouses today have been so busy 'doing' that they have not had the luxury of rest and reflection with Jesus.  Experts tell us that most are sleep deprived so all of the guides and tools we offer to them include proper rest, exercise, and plenty of time to process anything they are learning.  We encourage them to be intentional about slowing down.  Each pastor couple designs their own retreat using the materials Broom Tree provides.


Broom Tree retreats are as much for spouses they are for the pastor.  Strengthening the strong is a strategic effort to avoid burnout way before it is a possibility.  Prevention to insure that your pastor remains at his or her best.

Listening lessons

This past retreat has been a welcomed time to rest and listen.  This is what has been impressed on our hearts:
1. Humbly serve being strengthened by God
2. Go and minister God's grace
3. Always speak truth so that God may be praised


For the donors - Thank you for making this week possible not for just us, but for all the couples that were here in November and over the years.
May God provide refreshment for your lives as well -
Ed & Nan McCallum
Too visit their blog Press Here

The Last three years

Just sent the link to this Blog to all the pastors that have come to a Broom Tree Retreat for the last three years.  What wonderful memories as we saw all your faces!    This past year had a miracle happen each retreat as pastors heard God's still small voice.

An army of prayer warriors and volunteers also helped as did many who gave sacrificially so no one would be turned away in 2009.    Without the donors, prayer partners and volunteers it would be impossible.

Thank you.

Prayer Cottage

What a perfect spot for a Christian couple to reconnect with each other and with God! For more on this place go to www.broomtreeministries.org to see more photos of the inside. Glenn and Susan chose to use it for a morning but some couples have come to the cottage after going out to dinner. Better than a restaurant if you want to talk and pray!

November Testimony

“Thank you for making it possible for us to attend the November Broom Tree retreat at the Shack in Michigan. We had no idea what to expect, and were a bit anxious upon arriving. However, we were immediately put at ease.

The week was incredible. Wow!

When family and folks from the church ask what we did while we were gone we tell them:

We slept - watched the retreat videos - slept - listened to the retreat CD’s - slept - went for walks - slept - talked - slept - prayed - slept - did some serious reading - slept - listened to the quiet - slept - enjoyed banana splits - slept. Their curious looks turn into smiles. We smile too.

Friends, we knew we were tired, but did not realize just how bone weary we were. Broom Tree Ministries now carries a special place in our hearts.

There is no way the two of us could have afforded the cost of such a week, or planned and organized everything as wonderfully AS the staff and volunteers of Broom Tree did. Our weary souls were allowed to enter ‘His dwelling place’. What a restful and refreshing experience it was.

Our marriage and ministry are stronger because of your love and sacrifice. Thank you, thank you, so much for everything!

In deep and loving appreciation,

Tim & Jennifer Rohrbacher, Columbus, Ohio

The Shack

Each season has something special to offer at the Shack Country Inn. Located just 1 hour north of Grand Rapids Mi. Winter makes the in-room fireplaces and hot tubs very inviting, Springtime is the time to see maple syrup being prepared from gallons of sap. Summer brings the awesome display of “Flowers at the Shack” and fall is the time to enjoy the crisp air and the brightly colored maple leaves. This idillyic setting is home to a 100 acre country estate complete with log lodge and lake. Plenty of walking trails and places to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. The property abounds with gazebos and benches for times of reflection and prayer. There’s even a small prayer house on the lakeside trail. Each room is appointed with a two person hot tub, fireplace, fridge, coffee maker, private bath, king or queen bed, log rockers and study table. A perfect home away from home. For more information on how Pastor's can get away for a free retreat please see our web site for more information. Click here to sign up for a retreat

Stories From Under the Broom Tree

Isaak and Sara are Canadian missionaries who served in Bolivia for the last five years. They returned to Canada in December of 2008 after a very difficult term. Soon after this, the people in their church told them that they had arranged for the Ungers to go to a Broom Tree Retreat in February of 2009. Not knowing what that retreat would look like and being a little over whelmed with the culture shock many missionaries feel when they return to the US and Canada, they really did not want to come to the retreat. They were so overwhelmed with all that they needed to do, important things, and really felt the weight of these obligations. But their church expected them to come to the retreat and so they drove to ‘The Shack, in Michigan.

Click here for more...http://broomtreeministries.org/net/resources/docs/July%20News_v3.pdf