Statements
Mission
Penuel Ridge offers sacred hospitality to people of all faith walks with an invitation to step away, slow down, and be immersed in the healing presence of the natural world. Located on 135 beautiful acres in Middle Tennessee, nearly 2,200 guests a year come to rest, reflect, and connect with the Divine.
Our Mission: We are a spiritual retreat center in Middle Tennessee, honoring our heritage and fostering values of contemplation, silence, hospitality, rest, social justice and communion with nature; nurturing the journey inward to strengthen the journey outward. Our Heritage Statement: To call people apart in a natural setting, to encounter in deep ways the love of God, neighbor, and self and to experience the integrity of all creation.
Background
The founding of Penuel Ridge Retreat Center in 1984 was the realization of a dream for Don and Joyce Beisswenger and their peers. What began as a need to strengthen the interior landscape of their contemplative lives has grown to encompass a place of respite where individuals and small groups may gather in a natural setting to experience the mystery of inner dialogue with self, God and others. Founded to provide hospitality to all, Penuel Ridge is open to persons of all faith walks. Penuel Ridge offers day and overnight retreats for up to 18 people. Accommodations are provided in the Main Retreat House and the Dorothy Day Cottage (a hermitage) nestled in the woods. Encompassing 135 acres, there is ample room to experience nature on our two hiking trails, the spring-fed lake, two meadows, a cascade and dry creek bed. A unique round chapel, built by volunteers and constructed of straw bales, is available at all times for individual and group worship. An 11-circuit labyrinth, added in 2011, provides a setting for prayer and meditation surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. Most retreats are self-directed, however staff and volunteers are available to assist in the creation of a retreat experience.
Impact
Penuel Ridge accomplished the following goals in 2022: 1) diversified and strengthened the Board of Directors with the recruitment of four (4) new members; 2) built on success marketing strategies and grew the number of groups retreating at Penuel Ridge by 190%; and 3) diversified income stream by building relationships with private funders. Penuel Ridge is poised to accomplish the following goals in 2023: 1) launch the celebration of our 40th Anniversary with a Fall Fundraising Event that will serve as a model for future fundraising events; 2) research and secure placement of alternative staffing (interns, national volunteer programs, etc...) to grow the capacity to create more programming and serve more constituents.
Needs
1. Volunteers to support the ongoing operation of the Retreat Center 2. Financial contributions to help underwrite the cost of bringing unique programs and services to Middle Tennessee 3. Leadership to serve on the Board of Directors 4. In-kind contributions of goods and services 5. Assistance in educating the greater community about the programs and services we offer.
CEO Statement
Penuel Ridge lives out its mission in three important ways. First, to provide a safe, sacred space for persons of all faith walks to be attentive to their whole self: body, mind and spirit through retreat; second, to be in solidarity with the poor, the homeless and the disenfranchised and finally, to be good stewards of the land. Penuel Ridge maximizes staffing, volunteer and fiscal resources by seamlessly integrating the three facets of the mission. For example, participants in the Work Dignity Program (Solidarity with the Homeless) help with maintenance of buildings and grounds projects to ensure a welcoming environment for all. Retreat guests may contribute in-kind wish-list items which helps to defray operational costs. Founded as an all-volunteer organization, Penuel Ridge continues to direct maximum fiscal resources to the delivery of programs and services to the public. With only one staff person, all governance, administrative, hospitality and facility grounds and maintenance duties are attended to by a dedicated corps of volunteers. Local vendors and service providers are engaged when a task or project cannot be accomplished by a volunteer(s), contributing to the economic stability of our community. As Penuel Ridge attracts visitors from across the nation, we provide tourism revenue for Cheatham County as our guests often purchase needed supplies at local stores and dine-in local restaurants. Penuel Ridge is committed to being good neighbors in Cheatham County. Whether helping a local farmer round up a wandering herd of cattle or providing shelter to neighbors flooded from their homes, Penuel Ridge connects with people in a meaningful way. We are also committed to the economic growth of our community. As a long-time member of the Chamber of Commerce, Penuel Ridge has also provided leadership for economic development initiatives in the area, including the Cheatham County Long-Term Recovery Unit which directed flood recovery efforts in 2010 and Cheatham Vision, a comprehensive economic and tourism development plan for the County. As in our founding days, Penuel Ridge holds true to our mission while being attentive to the every-changing needs of those who come to us in need of rest, respite and renewal.
Board Chair Statement
From the desk of Kathryn L. Mitchem - I consider myself lucky to have been at the right place, at the right time to be asked to join a small group of kindred spirits in the formation of a contemplative interfaith retreat center near Nashville. Nearly 40 years ago, we envisioned a place uniquely positioned to be welcoming of all people, where they could engage with nature, the Divine and self, to explore what they were called to do and be in the world. As one of the Founders of Penuel Ridge, it has been my honor to serve in a leadership role throughout its history. Equally, being a part of the operations team of the Retreat Center has positioned me to witness that indeed, our founding dreams and visions have been realized as we welcome nearly 2,200 people a year for retreat.
2024 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Penuel Ridge. Anniversaries are a natural time to look back at what's been accomplished, but more importantly, to look forward at where we, as a Board, intend to strengthen and nurture the mission to meet the needs of the public in ways that are needed, exciting, and sustainable. I look forward to joining my fellow Board members, previous leadership, and community representatives in the vision for a new decade.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Religion- Related - Interfaith Coalitions |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Homeless Services/Centers |
| Tertiary Category: | Environment - Natural Resources Conservation & Protection |
Areas Served
Located in Middle Tennessee, individuals and groups travel from throughout the United States and Canada for the retreat experience at Penuel Ridge.
| National |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Williamson |
