Introducing Mountain Refuge
with Oasis Rest
Mike and Jessica DeJonge are about to embark on a new ministry adventure and we are excited to tell you about it!
As many of you know, hospitality is an important part of our lives. We enjoy inviting others for morning coffee in the garden, dinner around our table, evening conversations around the firepit, and hikes and picnics around beautiful Colorado…. Through those times, we’ve seen what happens when people feel truly seen and heard, and have allowed us to be with them in their struggles.
Over the past several years, we’ve sensed God inviting us to go further. Jessica and I are stepping into a new chapter by going on staff with Oasis Rest International, a ministry that provides a safe, peaceful refuge for Christian workers and leaders. This July, we will begin using our home and our charming cottage-style studio apartment (that we have operated as an AirBNB) as an official “Oasis Refuge” and will begin hosting guests.
Why Oasis Rest?
These days, many pastors, missionaries, and others in full-time ministry are quietly walking through seasons of hardship and discouragement. They are carrying burdens they feel they cannot safely share with anyone.
Pastors are experiencing burnout, loneliness, and high-stress demands.
Missionaries return to the states feeling grief, displacement and discouragement.
Many in full time ministry experience compassion fatigue and spiritual depletion.
The “REST” in Oasis Rest stands for: “Retreat. Encouragement. Safety. Transformation.” Guests stay free of charge, and we will provide meals, a space for rest, and most importantly, a safe place to share their story and begin healing. Their stay includes guided times of reflection and “debriefing,” helping them process what they’ve experienced so they can move towards wholeness and restoration.
Jessica is a licensed counselor who already walks closely with missionaries in difficult seasons. Mike will complete training as a debriefer and coach in the coming months so we can serve together in this ministry.
We will both continue working, Jessica in counseling and Mike in software design, while progressively moving toward making this our shared ministry focus.
We invite you to partner with us!
We believe our home and property will be a place of beauty, rest and deep renewal for leaders who have been carrying too much for too long. But we cannot do this alone.
We are building a team of committed prayer partners, volunteers, and financial supporters to help sustain this Oasis.
If you feel led to be a prayer partner, we will gladly add you to our team! If you would like to volunteer, we could use help with airport transportation, cleaning, baking and shopping. We could also greatly benefit from gift cards to grocery stores and local restaurants as we hope to take our guests out to eat for one of the meals.
If you would like to support us financially, we are hoping to raise $2,000 a month to cover our expenses for this ministry. You can give through Oasis Rest (a registered 501(c)(3); all gifts are tax-deductible):
Thank you for standing with us in this new season. We are happy to share more with you or answer any questions you may have!
With love,
Mike & Jessica DeJonge
P.S. If you know pastors or missionaries who may be in a difficult season, please refer them to the site, there are Oasis homes throughout the world!