Sabbath Center Ministries: Who We Are
The Sabbath Center began as a vision of Steven R Myers while he was Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Park Ridge. In 1989 he purchased 9 acres with a house, barn and several other outbuildings adjacent to Lake Carroll in N.W. Illinois. Throughout the 1990's he retreated there with his family and friends. He began to envision the property becoming a retreat center for others to experience the peace of God that he experienced there. His initial vision was to promote the importance of Sabbath-keeping for ministerial health and wholeness.
In 1999 he began serving Living Lord Lutheran Church in Bartlett, IL as part-time Assistant Pastor, and several members of the congregation volunteered to help the vision become a reality. Since then the 100+ year old barn has been remodeled into a lodge with beds for 20 in a bunk-room and 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, meeting space for 30 with multimedia projection to a 6' x 8' screen, internet connectivity, and resource center. The house has beds for 10 in 4 bedrooms, with 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room and a large deck. Several acres of native grasses and wild flowers provided habitat for wildlife.
Since 2000, the Sabbath Center has hosted retreats for a variety of church groups: professional Church workers, church and school staffs, church councils, men's groups, women's groups and youth groups. Many of these groups came not only to rest from their labors, but to work on key elements of their ministries in an environment free from the many distractions of their busy lives. Many came not only to be served by Sabbath-keeping, but sought opportunities to serve others as disciples of Jesus. So the Sabbath Center began providing such opportunities on site and in surrounding neighborhoods.
The original vision of Sabbath Center Ministries was expanded to include social ministries of justice and peace. Sabbath Center Ministries was incorporated in the State of Illinois as a Not For Profit Corporation in 2006 and received 501(c)(3) status as a religious organization in 2007. In 2009 we became affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as a Social Ministry Organization. We have also become members of Lutheran Services in America - a network of organizations who have been called to serve their neighbors in love - and a Life-Long Learning Partner of the ELCA.
We are committed to the following Social Statements of the ELCA which further define who we are:
- Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice
- For Peace in God's World
- Our Calling in Education
- Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All
Reference Materials in PDF format:
Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All