A missionary retreat center that provides a pause from all the voices, commitments, and stresses of missionary life - giving room for rest, refilling, and a healthy reset.
Rest for your soul,
for the rest of your journey.
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14
What We Do
Beginning of the Rest is a Christian non-profit that is all about missionaries being refreshed in their relationships as family, well rested in their souls, renewed in their walk with God and ready for the rest of their journey. To this end we desire to create a quiet place for rest, stillness before God and soul care. A welcoming space for all to have a chance to be heard, unpack the realities and paradoxes of missionary life and gain the tools to live and lead from a healthy soul.
“Listening is the highest form of hospitality - not to change people but to offer them space where change can take place.” - Henri Nouwen
Meet Your Hosts
Carl and Kathy Most have walked many ministry miles (25+ years) that first began for them and their two sons in New Zealand and later included a variety of ministry opportunities in other countries like Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Bahamas. They have wrestled with many of the beautiful and at times heart-breaking paradoxes of life on the mission field. This has given them a special love for those in cross-cultural missions. With beautiful questions and giving space for personal reflection, they desire to help others unpack their stories and step into the next mile on the rest of their journey.
FAQ
If you have other questions you don’t see answered on our site, we would love to hear from you.
Located just 30 minutes from Chattanooga, TN
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Beginning of the Rest desires to come alongside missionaries serving God in cross-cultural settings. This may occur at times within the US, but more often, outside of the US. Each stay requires an application. Please fill out the form found under the “apply” button, or email us at: beginningoftherest@gmail.com with any questions you might have.
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It takes time for people to slow, unplug and just be. With that in mind, a 3 night minimum is preferred, with a maximum stay of up to 2 weeks.
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Beginning of the Rest provides a private 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, fully renovated house that can sleep 6-8 people. Large open kitchen, den with fireplace, and game room will all help to make each visit a beautiful experience. Set on 35 acres - our property has light walking trails, fire-pit & quiet pond-side seating.
Basic home essentials are provided: linens, fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, baby gear, a starter bag of groceries, tea, coffee, and high speed internet.
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Our desire is that each missionary receives the rest and care they need. While Beginning of the Rest does not "charge", we kindly suggest a donation of $90 per night. Any gifts over the minimum are appreciated and will assist those who are struggling financially and you will join our generous donors who enable us to provide this home to so many servants of our King.
If the suggested donation poses a financial struggle for you, please feel free to start a conversation with us.
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We are a Christian, non profit and donor dependent ministry. We are asking God for generous partners who are committed to the vision of Beginning of the Rest to help cover the ministry expenses and future dreams for expansion in the form of smaller cabins for single missionaries and missionary couples.
Consider sponsoring a missionary family for a weeklong stay ($490).
When you give the gift of rest and get involved with Beginning of the Rest, it sustains the care each guest receives, enabling them to continue making their vital Kingdom impact around the world.
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Although nearby when needed, no host is on site. The place is all to yourselves.
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“Missionary debriefing is a relational and intentional process that provides an opportunity for a missionary to tell their story - verbally processing past and recent events from their point of view, complete with their emotional responses at the time and since then.”
-Jeff Jackson; Shepherd’s Staff
Debriefing helps put your experiences into the context of your life, allowing the teller to rightly see God in their lives, & enabling them to move towards living and leading from a healthy soul.
Who needs it?
Every missionary. Every person who has served in a cross cultural context for at least a year.
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We would love to have at least one connection point with you by way of intentional conversations or debriefing. This can be tailored to your need during the application process.
We offer the listening ears of veteran missionaries.
Although we do not offer professional counseling services, we would be happy to help you connect with or find counseling services off site.
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In needing to protect all our guests from animal related allergies on our premises, we do not allow pets.
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Within 10-20 min drive: Red Clay Resort, Enterprise South Nature Park, Imagination Station, Veteran’s Memorial Park of Collegedale.
Within 45 min drive: TN Aquarium, High Point Climbing, Creative Discovery Museum, Ocoee River, Cloudland Canyon, creeks, hikes, the blue hole, and the list is endless.
Chattanooga may be famous for its Choo Choo train, but it is a city worth exploring.