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A Christian Camping and Retreat CenterThe Wilderness Fellowship MinistriesFostering Godly Intimacy Since 1972
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Denny & Mary Stephany
The Hope prayer cabin.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again – my Savior and my God! (Psalm 42:5)
This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. (Romans 5:5)
Hope is a confident trust with the expectation of fulfillment. In 2020, after several years of declining health caused by COPD, kidney failure, and cancer; Mary Stephany crossed the finish line of life and went home to the Lord. It was the fulfillment of her often said and hopeful wish, “I just want to go and sit at the feet of Jesus.”
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. (Hebrews 10:23)
Mary’s faith in Christ was core to her hope, her identity, and her values. She wasn’t afraid to die – even at the end – because she remembered this world was not her home and she knew she’d be sitting with her Maker and Lover of her soul.
Remember Your promise to me; it is my only hope, for I have put my hope in Your word. (Psalm 119:49, 74)
The Hope Cabin is built in loving memory of Mary and to inspire hope for all who stay in this beautiful space. Her favorite color was blue, so she would have felt right at home here. As the ninth prayer cabin, Hope was funded by her loving son and daughter-in-law, Brian & Kate Stephany. Brian’s first prayer cabin retreat back in 2006 was filled with a supernatural calling to a vocational ministry position! Later, in 2015, he would begin serving the Lord and TWFM through the Board of Directors. Kate has joined him on numerous retreats and together they’ve witnessed the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Mary’s love for the Lord, her husband Denny, and her family were often expressed through her compassion, hospitality, empathy, and stand for God’s truth. She also loved needlepoint art and created beautifully detailed Christmas stockings and other gifts for her family and grandchildren. Some of her creations are displayed in the Hope Cabin including “Footprints in the Sand”. May these pieces and her hope help us remember that despite the circumstances of life, Jesus walks alongside us and carries us at key moments of need. He will never leave nor forsake us. Our hope is eternal in Him alone!
The Hope Prayer Cabin is a custom built, stick framed building tucked into the woods and set not far off the newly constructed road feeding the prayer cabin village. With its “single level” floor plan it feels roomy and is easily accessible. The screen porch is accessible from the inside of the cabin. It boasts white washed walls, a beautiful gas fireplace, a mini-split air source heat pump unit to provide both heating and air-conditioning, microwave, toaster, refrigerator, coffee maker, a few basic dishes, silverware, a sink and water jug for drinking and cooking needs, and miscellaneous utensils.
To make your stay as comfortable as possible a queen-sized bed, table and chairs, glider rocker and a comfortable twin sleeper chair are provided.
A very modern, well lit, heated pit toilet is close to the cabin but also a fully modern bathroom with shower is a few hundred feet away. View a photo tour of our shower house and outhouses.
Parking for your car is about 50’ from the cabin with a level path leading right to the front porch.
There is a fire ring area that the Prayer Cabin guests can share up past the shower house and firewood for campfires is available for purchase on site. Check with the office.
Many of the prayer cabins has been provided for by a specific family in honor or memory of a loved one. These families have provided/donated all the necessary funds and input to build the cabin. We work closely with each family to create a cabin fitting to our call and mission. You could also invest in hundreds of people’s lives by funding a cabin. Please contact Randy if interested.
Modern, lighted, heated, no smell outhouses are located close by. Also, there is a fully modern shower house and flush toilets that serves the whole prayer cabins village. See photos of the modern shower house and outhouses.
You are welcome to come enjoy The Wilderness, walk trails or sit by the lake, however, the earliest facility “check in” time is 3 pm. Please make every effort to keep the check in time you told us when you made your reservation and is on your confirmation email. If you are going to be late, please call and let us know your arrival time. (Please leave a message if no answer.)
We are able to keep your credit card on file in a safe, PCI-compliant manner. Rest assured the details of your credit card cannot be seen, shared, or accessed. We won’t make any charges to your credit card unless you incur a cancellation fee, and you will be notified of such.
No, TWFM does not provide linens. The bed is a queen size bed. You will need to bring your own pillow and as a point of health and consideration for all guests, please bring ONLY freshly washed and machine-dried bed linens, blankets, sleeping bag, etc. You must also bring your own personal towels. (A dish towel and a dish cloth are the only towels we provide.)
No pets or animals of any kind are allowed in any of our facilities. The only exception to this policy are ADA certified service animals.
Yes, the Prayer Cabins are heated with electric heat in the winter, and they are air conditioned in the summer. They also have windows that open, during those times of the year when neither heat nor cooling is needed.
No. Wi-Fi service is not available at the Prayer Cabins.
Yes, there is one campfire pit, not far from the Prayer Cabins, for the guests of the Prayer Cabins to enjoy. Wood for campfires may be purchased at the office, $4/bundle.
It is a short hike from the parking lot to the Prayer Cabins.
We ask for your credit card number so that in the event of a cancellation or no-show, TWFM has a way of charging you a cancellation fee, according to our cancellation policy. Other than the cancellation fee, we do not charge anything to your credit card.