Our Approach
Philosophy of Ministry
At Seeds, we invite people to retreat into the beauty and quiet of wilderness, find hope and heart restoration with Jesus, and return home to revive others. Retreat, Restore, Revive, sums up our ministry approach with teens and families. We see this rhythm in the life and ministry of Jesus as well.
During his years in ministry, Jesus often retreated to “lonely and solitary” places to be present with the Father in prayer—lakes, mountains, hillsides, deserts, gardens, etc. After long, busy days in ministry, he was filled up again by connecting with God—you could say His soul was restored and renewed by listening to the Father’s voice and being reminded of His identity and calling. However, Jesus didn’t spend His whole life on the mountaintop; after prayer, He would leave these solitary spaces with fresh direction and purpose, ready to revive the hearts of the people.
Retreat
[Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” -Mark 6:31b
Restore
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. -2 Corinthians 5:17
Revive
[Jesus said,] “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” -Mark 5:19b
Retreat
Jesus used wilderness settings for both prayer and experiential teaching. Much of His ministry occurred in outdoor settings, where His disciples were dramatically formed through encounters with God (When they saw Jesus calm the storm or walk on water, guess who had put them on the boat?). At Seeds, we invite people to retreat into the wilderness, leaving distractions and temptations behind, and coming face-to-face with their Creator. The beauty and peace of the wilderness draw participants to reflect on their lives. The challenges and perceived risk of wilderness create opportunities to trust and grow in dependence on the Father. And the simplicity of wilderness gives ample space for relational connections to flourish, a necessary component of transformation.
Restore
Once in the wilderness, participants embark on a journey of heart restoration and healing with the Father. All people were created in the perfect image of God, but sin, addictions, mental health challenges, and harmful relationships cause damage to this perfect image. As we encounter our own broken places and God’s perfect love in the wilderness, we are restored more and more to how God intended us to be. At Seeds, prayer, discipleship, community, and Christian counseling all encourage this process of personal heart restoration and new hope for life. We aim to bring the restoration of Jesus not only to individuals but also to families through a family systems approach.
Revive
We hope each person who comes to Seeds will receive a strong sense of purpose for life from God. We commission people to return home with renewed calling, equipped to pass on what they’ve learned to others. Jesus told us seeds that fall on good soil will bear fruit 30, 60, or 100 fold (Mark 4:20). Our prayer is that people would leave Seeds on fire to launch revivals in others and multiply their own transformation, 30, 60, or 100 fold! For those we serve who will be called to ministry, we have great expectations for how God will use their growth and healing at Seeds to revive hurting people all over the world.
