Shelter Pines offers families who are serving in
full-time, cross-cultural ministry:
a private and peaceful place to rest, reflect through intentional conversations, and space to have fun.
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Rest & Renew
The stresses of cross-cultural life and a ministry lifestyle can be heavy and paralyzing. One of the greatest gifts we can give a ministry family is a private and peaceful place to rest. Shelter Pines is a Christian, non-profit and donor-dependent ministry. Please GIVE the GIFT of REST by making a donation.
Donations can be given through PayPal. Please note that Shelter Pines pays PayPal a percentage for credit card donations.
Donations can be given through Venmo without fees.
Venmo Name: @Shelter-Pines
All gifts made out to Shelter Pines, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, are tax-deductible.
{Our annual 990 reports and budget are available upon request.}
ABOUT SHELTER PINES
Accommodations
The guest house is a 2100 square foot fully-furnished home. The house is designed to provide a peaceful place to rest and have fun. There is a master suite with a king-sized bed in addition to an ensuite 3/4 bath. There are three other bedrooms and a second full bath with a tub. The open kitchen, dining, and living room with a wood-burning fireplace allow for conversations and family dinners. Equipped with Wifi and SlingTV, games, puzzles, and books there are many activities to enjoy as a family. It should be noted that there is no air conditioning. We do have ceiling and floor fans. Additionally, if you have extended family coming with you or are planning a get-together with your adult children and families, we do have a separate apartment available with two bedrooms and a basic kitchenette and 3/4 bath. {Please note that we do not allow pets inside the house unless they are ADA Certified Service Animals.}
The Grounds & Beyond
Shelter Pines sits on 20 acres of land in Black Forest, Colorado at an elevation of 7400 feet above sea level. From the shade of Ponderosa pine trees to the open fields with trails there is plenty of space to enjoy Creation. There is a ground-level trampoline, swing set, and playhouse for the kids. There is a large patio off the house with a fire-pit for fireside chats and star-gazing. Shelter Pines also has a large barn with ping-pong, foosball, bicycles, and lawn games available for guest-use.
There are many family-friendly sight seeing options in the Colorado Springs and Denver areas. From museums and zoos to hiking and biking, there is an abundance of opportunities for fun and adventure. Follow this LINK to a list of Local Sights to See.
Intentional Conversations
Renewal often comes through intentional conversations. At Shelter Pines, guests are offered the opportunity to meet with trained staff members for debriefing, coaching, marriage intensive therapy, and trauma intensive therapy. Click on the SERVICES tab in the menu for more information. All Intentional Conversation Services are subject to availability of our service providers; there is not a guarantee that debriefing nor coaching services will be possible during your stay.
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GALLERY
{please scroll through to take a tour of Shelter Pines}
THE DETAILS
What are the Costs?
What's Included?
The suggested donation** is:
$70 per night
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We have a 4 night minimum and a maximum stay of 2 weeks for the main house.
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Our most popular months are between May and July. The summer months tend to fill up about 6-9 months in advance.
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We only accommodate one family unit at a time. There is NO host on site.
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For use of the apartment in addition to the main house, we suggest an additional donation of $40/night. There is a 3 night minimum.
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**It costs Shelter Pines $250 per night to host a guest unit. Much of the cost is covered by generous partners of Shelter Pines.
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Shelter Pines provides:
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linens
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fully-furnished four bedroom house & kitchen
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outdoor propane grill
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laundry facilities
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a bag of groceries
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coffee, tea & basic condiments
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Baby Gear (pack-n-play and sheet, booster seat, step stool, highchair, potty-seat, activity center seat combo for infants)
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Guests are responsible for:
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transportation
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meals
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PLEASE NOTE: there is no air conditioning in the house. While Colorado summers are typically mild, there can be some very warm days.
What about Intentional Conversations at Shelter Pines?
Due to the nature of debriefing and the marriage intensive, we highly recommend at least a 7-day stay if you are considering adding one of these services to your stay at Shelter Pines.
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Please click on the SERVICES tab in the Menu Bar to read more about what our Intentional Conversation offerings look like at Shelter Pines.
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Contact us directly at shelterpines17@gmail.com regarding the cost and availability of our Intentional Conversation Services.
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WHO WE ARE
Jeff & Bethany Bracht,
Stewards of Shelter Pines
Jeff and Bethany Bracht have been married since 1997 and have been soul-mate sojourners ever since! Along with their three children, they moved to Nicaragua in 2010 with plans to be there ‘forever.’ Following a dim and difficult year for Bethany, in 2015–after intentional rest, debriefing and re-evaluation–they decided to relocate in January 2016 to Colorado Springs with hopes of pursuing their passion for ‘providing rest, debriefing and coaching’ to cross-cultural workers who are serving around the world. In January 2017, Jeff and Bethany came on staff at Shelter Pines. The Bracht family stayed at Shelter Pines as guests back in 2015 and are excited for the plans God has for this needed ministry. They have a passion to walk alongside cross-cultural servants to help them live their lives abundantly and intimately with their Creator.
The History of Shelter Pines
After burning out while serving cross-culturally, a friend generously loaned Tim and Lynn a mountain condo in Colorado for a month. That space renewed and refreshed both Tim and Lynn, as they spent time with God and each other, in a setting of quiet beauty, with minimal distractions or responsibilities. While they did return to the field for several more years, the Lord impressed upon them a heart's a desire to help other families who find themselves in similar situations. Thus, they founded Shelter Pines in 2000 as a place, an experience, and an invitation to rest and be renewed.
