“Mary” came to Still Waters for women’s retreat, desperately looking for relief from the effects of a lifetime of abuse, trauma, torment, and having been a victim of sex trafficking for years. And even though she had miraculously met Jesus years earlier, and had experienced layer upon layer of healing by the work of the Holy Spirit, she remained “locked up”, as she put it, in her mind, nervous system, and emotions.

After sitting in the teaching sessions, learning about a lifestyle of experiencing the Father’s love and healing presence, Mary joined eight other women along with our team of horses and humans in the pasture for some time to release, co-regulate and receive.

As she connected and interacted with Boone, one of our faithful old quarter horses, she literally felt the decades of constricting bands of bondage melt away as she leaned on Boone and sobbed into his neck. We watched him flex his head backwards towards her and literally embrace her as if to say, '“it’s ok.”

She later described, ”When I leaned into Boone in the pasture, I could feel his heart beat and his breathing and I began to weep. I felt him reach back with his head and literally lean into me like a hug. In that moment it felt like the Father was hugging me through Boone! Then I realized as I stood there with all my weight leaning on him that for the first time, maybe in my whole life, I felt safe.”

Dozens of people; individuals and couples, men and women, have come to Still Waters through our in person and online gatherings, personal and group retreats, and community events, looking for the kind of healing and experiences of the Father’s love and Kingdom realities that Jesus invites us into.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD”

Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18-19

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10b

As a place for gathering and unique opportunities for healing and restored hope, Still Waters provides a peaceful, Christ-centered setting for anyone navigating hard life transitions, deep grief, personal crisis, or just in need of quiet, peaceful reset. Along with our personal and group retreats, our Equine Assisted Ministry offers guests a rare environment to quiet the noise of life and experience the Holy Spirit’s gentle restoration.

Because of the growing demand for our equine-assisted ministry, our herd is expanding—and our ranch infrastructure must grow with it.

Where Your Giving Tuesday Investment Goes:

• Protected Tack & Feed Room: Enclosing our storage space to safeguard expensive saddles, gear, and feed from weather and pests.

• Expanded Grazing Land: Fencing and remediating adjacent land to give our herd room to thrive while reducing ongoing hay expenses.

• Pasture Run-In Shelters: Building durable outdoor shelters to protect our horses and feed from extreme Tennessee weather.

• Ongoing Horse Sponsorship: Partnering directly in the daily care, feed, and health of the horses at the center of this ministry.

Why Your Gift Matters:

Every dollar directly equips us to welcome more people like Mary—giving them a safe and secure space to process their pain, encounter God's grace, and move forward in freedom.

Come alongside people in need of restored hope.

Then I realized…that for the first time, maybe in my whole life, I felt safe.”