A Response to Loss, Trauma, Pain
At Nicanor’s Gate, we are dedicated to offering restoration and healing to those facing life’s challenges. Our mission is inspired by a deep-rooted passion to help individuals and families find relief from adversity and embrace the tranquility and healing power of faith. Join us in creating a sanctuary where peace and God’s grace prevail, helping everyone to rejuvenate and regain their strength.
A Sanctuary for Renewal: Supporting Those Facing Life’s Challenges
Years ago, we journeyed alongside close friends grappling with the intense pressures of ministry burnout. For fifteen years, we witnessed their struggle, feeling often powerless to aid them effectively. This sparked a transformative idea: What if there was a haven for them to seek healing—a serene retreat where they could refocus and rediscover their calling? What if we could offer this sanctuary and essential resources at no cost?
These friends marked the start of many who have crossed our paths, each in dire need of a place to heal and rejuvenate. Driven by this need, our vision for such a sanctuary began to crystallize, growing into a commitment to provide a refuge where individuals can recover their strength and purpose.
Over the next several years, significant changes led our family to Blue Ridge, GA, where we embraced a pastoral role. As we settled in, we met an increasing number of individuals in need of support. This growing awareness reaffirmed our belief that our placement here was divinely timed—for “such a time as this.” We felt more convinced than ever of our purpose to aid and inspire our community.
A Providential Journey in Blue Ridge
In Acts 3, as Paul and Barnabas approach the temple for worship, they encounter a man with a disability begging at the gate known as “Beautiful,” or Nicanor’s Gate. This man seeks monetary help, yet the apostles discern deeper needs beyond the apparent. Recognizing both his physical and spiritual afflictions, they do not merely address his immediate plea for aid; instead, they heal him, uplifting him from his state of despair. His transformation is immediate and miraculous. However, the apostles understand that his journey of healing is not solely about physical restoration. They bring him into the temple, joining in worship, celebration, and fellowship. Together, they rejoice with a man once lost, now profoundly found, embodying the true essence of their faith’s transformative power.
Destiny Unfolds in Blue Ridge
Finding the perfect alignment of place, time, and community in Blue Ridge has been nothing short of serendipitous. Guided by faith and seizing the opportunities that opened before us, we began to realize our vision. After two years of persistent effort and “knocking on doors,” our perseverance paid off. We proudly secured 11 acres of land—an idyllic setting ready for the creation of Nicanor’s Gate, our envisioned retreat center.