The Blessing of Being Debt Free

Removing the burden of debt from a ministry is critically important. To quote an old mentor, “When you lose sight of your mission and focus on your survival you lose your authenticity.”

Being debt free allows us to do three things: First, it allows to keep our prices low. Right now we change just $40 per person per night. Our mission is to provide a facility for teaching, training and retreating and making that financially possible for as many people as possible is very important.

Next, removing a large chunk of overhead cost means we don’t have the pressure to fill each and every room. So whether your group is 4 or 40 you get the whole lodge to yourself. We will never combine retreats.

Finally, now everything we raise goes right back into the ministry to make this the kind of retreat center deserving of the One who created it. So make plans today to come and pay us a visit. The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau did and they wrote, “I think it is safe to say that everyone was blown away with your wonderful facility and scrumptious luncheon!”

The PAY OFF!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Thanks to the generosity of ministry partners like you just seven months after we signed the papers the CrossHeirs Retreat Center is now totally, 110%, bought and paid for!

The board members and I are so thankful to Conway, Arkansas’ Jim Rankin of Trinity Development company for loaning us the initial $200,000. At the time we assured Jim that God would be able to meet our need according to His riches in glory and we would pay him back within the year. We paid off half the note in just two months and delivered another fifty thousand just a month ago which left us just $20,000 short of fulfilling our promise. That’s when we set a time table to have the rest of the money to him by the end of July.

An anonymous donor issued a $10,000 challenge to get the note paid off and you responded. We were so close at the end of the month before we ran into some unforeseen operating expenses but we never lost sight that God would provide.

I want you to know I truly believe each and every one of you played a role in this incredible victory but the story of the donation that put us over the top is pretty cool. Early in July I met with the charitable arm of a corporation here in Little Rock where I shared the story of the ministry, asked for a donation then gave them a copy of my book. A week or so later we received a check from them for $5,000! I mailed a handwritten note along with a thank you e-mail. A few days later I got a phone message from the director of the fund that said she’s just read my book and it was very important that I call here as soon as possible.

Initially, I was afraid I’d made her mad and she wanted her money back but I called anyway. After clarifying for her a few things I’d written the book she said, “Well I just want you to know we loved the book and what you stand for and we are totally on the same page so we’re sending you a check for another $5,000.” And THAT put us over the top! Faith is just so fun!

7th Annual Elk Hunt — Wed., Oct. 19th–Wed., Oct. 26th 2011

The deadline is rapidly approaching and we only have four spots left for this trip of a lifetime. Take a look at the information below, grab a buddy and send in your deposit today!

The 2011 CrossHeirs Elk Hunt has been scheduled for October 19th-26th. You don’t want to miss this exciting time of fellowship, study and great hunting in the mountains just outside of Canon City. CO.

Once again this year we will set up our 16 x 32 GPC Medium Army tent at an elevation of 8,000ft near Westcliffe, CO. Space is limited to 10 hunters so get your deposit in today!

Cost:

• $150 non-refundable deposit
• $550 Bull Elk tag (although there may be some leftover Cow Elk tags and Mule Deer tags which
  may be purchased over the counter in CO for about $354 & 329 respectively)
• Transportation costs which include gas and a hotel room on the return trip which averages to roughly $3-400 depending upon gas prices and the number of hunters per vehicle.
• You provide your own breakfast and lunch and supply groceries to our camp chef Paul Uher who will prepare dinner.

Make checks payable to:
Beautiful Feet Ministries
3 Trent Jones Cove
Sherwood, AR 72120

Directions:

We will caravan out of Little Rock, AR on the afternoon of Wed., Oct. 19th, drive all night until we arrive in Canon City where we will set up camp then sleep!

Friday we will go out in pairs and scout locations to hunt.

Saturday the season opens. We will hunt before dawn until dark and return for dinner and devotions each night...followed by some serious card games and fellowship!

We will break camp and begin the trip home on Tues., Oct. 25th and return on Wed., Oct. 26th.

Download the 2011 Elk Hunt Registration Form (PDF).

CrossHeirs Dove Shoot — Friday & Saturday, September 2nd & 3rd

As you can see we had a bit of a problem but we did fix Mike Wallace’s tractor and we now have itty bitty sunflowers growing out of the ground. Which means we should have a rootin’ tootin’ dove shoot the first Saturday in Sept. And we’d love to have you!

This year the dove hunt, lunch and devotional will be on the property of the CrossHeirs Retreat Center and we have room for 50 people. We will begin our weekend on Friday with a dinner and devotional at Big Jim’s Lodge but space is limited to the first 30 people to respond.

The hunt will cost $50 per adult and $25 per child 12 & under. The overnight stay which includes your hunt and the Friday dinner will be $100 per adult and $75 per child 12 and under. Don’t wait! This is one of the most enjoyable ministries we do all year. Make sure to put ‘dove hunt’ on your check.

Download the CrossHeirs Dove Shoot 2011 Registration Form (.doc).

2011 Elk Hunt — Space is Limited!

The 2011 Elk Hunt is just four short months away so send in your $150 deposit today! This year we’re hunting on Westcliffe which is just outside of Canon City, CO. Total cost of the trip is right around $1,000 and that includes your $545 dollar bull elk tag. The trip will be Oct. 20th–26th and we have room for just 10 hunters...so don’t miss your chance!

CrossHeirs Challenge!

I’m so excited to tell you about the most amazing news we just received from a major donor to our ministry…but before I do let me update you on the progress of our new retreat center.

When we purchased Big Jim’s Lodge back in December – with the help of friends like you – we hoped we could have ten retreats before the end of this year. Well, to date we’ve already had ten retreats with 20 more on the books! And listen to what Karmen Fegtly with RAP Ministries had to say following her stay back in May —

“I want to thank you for the most amazing weekend. It was “more than we could have hoped or imagined.” We truly met God face-to-face at Crossheirs this weekend and we are sooooooo excited about what He showed us. The environment that you provided for us contributed to our fabulous experience. I am so grateful for what you are providing for ministries like ours.”

Isn’t that great! And she’s booked another retreat for November! Providing a facility where churches, ministries, families and individuals can draw closer to the Lord, develop ministries, and begin the journey toward fulfilling their God-given potential is why we felt so strongly that God wanted Beautiful Feet to move in this direction. I’m also hoping you will see why this type of ministry is so crucial in this day and age and why we need your help.

Back in December we were able to purchase this 1.6 million dollar facility along with 60-acres of land for only $200,000. Through love offerings, fundraisers and donations we’ve been able to pay back nearly $180,000 of that in just five months plus put more than $40,000 back into the building for repairs and upgrades. I know! God is so good. But now we really want to take care of that loan.

This is important to us for three reasons. First, it means we can keep the cost of an overnight stay to a very low $40 per person per night. Next, without the high overhead we won’t have the pressure to mix retreats. Which means whether you have a group of 4 or 40 the entire lodge is yours. And finally, it means we can focus all of our resources on continuing to make the necessary repairs and upgrades to make CrossHeirs the showplace it deserves to be.

I want you to join me in paying off the remaining $20,000 before July 15th. And here’s where that amazing news comes in…

A very generous and anonymous donor has just promised if we can raise $10,000 before the end of the month he will match it! That means your gift has just doubled…and it’s 100% tax deductible.

You can find more information on Facebook at Crossheirs Retreat Center or online at www.crossheirs.org. If you would prefer to first pay a visit and personally check out Big Jim’s Lodge just let me know. I would be more than happy to set up a tour. Otherwise just make your donation payable to Beautiful Feet Ministry 3 Trent Jones Cove Sherwood, AR 72120 or donate on line at www.beautifulfeetministry.com.

Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Retreat Center Projects …and Praises!

1. Pay Off Loan — $18,000

2. Repair Sporting Clay Range — $7,500
This is a big draw for retreats and possibly a site for high school events and fundraisers.

3. Build Storage Shed — $5,000
We want to dismantle two of the large dog kennels and put a boat shed there.
Then pour another concrete slab for a permanent storage shed.

4. Finish 3rd Floor Bedrooms — $10,000
The rooms have all the bathroom fixtures, are already plumbed, and have electricity.
We will need these rooms for the fall.

5. Fire Pit — $5,000
Every Retreat Center needs two things: Fire and Water.
This is a prototype of the fire pit we'd like to build ...wonderful place for fellowship!

June 10–11 Work Weekend

For the past six years CrossHeirs has hosted an opening day dove shoot which usually falls around the first weekend in September. This year we plan on hosting that hunt at the Retreat Center. To do so we need to begin our preparations now. So on the weekend of June 10th and 11th our primary project will be disking and planting several areas around the pond. But that’s not the only project. Here’s the plan for both Friday and Saturday:

Friday: Disk Field for Dove Hunt
Fri & Sat: Split & Stack wood, Drain water from Pond
Saturday: Build Back Deck, Landscape, Build Book Shelves, Repair thresholds around doors.

2011 Elk Hunt—Register Today!

Don’t wait! Register today for our 2011 Colorado Elk Hunt. This trip of a lifetime will take place from Thursday, Oct. 20th-Wednesday, Oct. 26th. We will hunt near Canon City, Colorado this year which is a new area for us but we’ll have a good guide. Tim Molitor, whom we met on last year’s hunt, will host us on his turf this year!

Cost for the trip includes a $150 deposit, the price of your elk tag, plus the cost of food and fuel. We only have room for 10 people so don’t delay, sign up today!

If You Build It: a retreat update

As with any step of faith we wondered if we stepped out, bought this place and began rebuilding would anyone come. Again...God has provided more than we could ask or think. Initially, because we had so much work to do, we felt we would be optimistic in thinking we could have 10 retreats this year.

Well, we had 9 before the grand opening and at the present time have 13 more scheduled before the end of the year! We’re now hoping to have 40 by the end of the year. Praise God! We were also told, “It’s a great guy place but you’ll never get any women’s groups out there.” Somewhat surprisingly, of the 22 retreats we’ve had or have scheduled 13 of them are women’s or couples retreats!