Standing Stone Ministry – USA

Causes: Encouraging and Caring for Pastors and Ministry Leaders;

Jim and Debbie Hogan, Founders.

We met Jim and Debbie Hogan over 15 years ago when we were launching Genesee Home, the pastors’ retreat we started on our ranch in Northern California. We’ve always felt a strong calling to support and encourage pastors, and Jim and Debbie were just starting a similar ministry serving pastors. They were very helpful in providing insight for us as we developed our own ministry to pastors.

Standing Stone’s strategy is to raise up shepherds, who are veteran ministry leaders with years of experience “in the trenches” that have decided to invest their time and wisdom in the lives of other ministry leaders. We appreciate this strategy and their financial model, which calls each shepherd to raise individual support, thereby reducing the amount of funding needed by the ministry and moving the ministry ever closer to self-sustainability.

Vision and Mission

Most church members have no idea what is expected of their pastor. They are often expected to be a CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, CTO, Counselor, and Relationship Expert, all at the same time! Your pastor carries around the expectations of so many people – it is overwhelming, frustrating, and discouraging. Enough so that many want to quit!

Standing Stone’s mission is to significantly reduce the number of pastors and ministry leaders leaving their positions prematurely. Standing Stone’s field and retreat shepherds care for pastors and ministry leaders through safe, confidential mentoring relationships and week-long couples’ retreats.

It Began with a Story

After three generations of their family experiencing the pain and devastation of losing their pastors to burnout or moral failure, Jim and Debbie Hogan felt God’s call to create a ministry designed to strengthen and encourage ministry couples. In 2002 Jim and Debbie Hogan built a log home on the Navajo River in Southwest Colorado, using it to serve ministry leaders and their spouses. They named it Standing Stone Ranch, and each year they selected a number of pastoral couples to visit them for a week. In that process, they created a ministry for couples who desire a healthy marriage relationship, a more intimate walk with God, and a thriving, long-term commitment to ministry.

Now, eighteen years later, Standing Stone has a large national and growing international reach, with shepherds serving ministry couples coast to coast in the US, as well as in Latin America, the United Kingdom, Africa, and India. Standing Stone Ministries is committed to caring for and serving ministry couples who need to be supported, understood, and encouraged to find the appropriate balance for thriving while facing their unique set of challenges.

Pastors are supposed to help others when they are having trouble, but who do ministry leaders turn to when facing challenges in their own lives and families? Standing Stone believes that every pastor needs a shepherd who will pour hope and encouragement into them, allowing them to stay healthy and strong.

Standing Stone Ministry’s three-fold mission:

Care for ministry couples at risk of leaving the ministry.
Educate church boards and members on the challenges and needs of their pastoral teams and how they can be more effective in caring for them.
Establish mentoring relationships between experienced pastors and graduating seminary students going into full-time vocational ministry.

Healthy shepherds lead healthy flocks. Standing Stone helps strengthen ministry leaders and make sure they are healthy, facing and processing their own issues and challenges in a safe and caring environment. Strong and healthy ministry leaders develop strong and healthy followers of Jesus. Strong and healthy followers of Jesus change the world and advance the Kingdom of God.

Walk with Someone Who Knows the Path

Standing Stone implements its vision and mission through field shepherds and retreat shepherds.

Field Shepherds

Standing Stone’s Field Shepherds have years—often decades—of experience and faithful service in the Church. They know the challenges, difficulties, frustrations, and discouragement pastors have encountered on their ministry journey while trying to care for people in their church and community.

"My Standing Stone Shepherd has become my pastor, my advocate, my accountability partner, and my friend. He has experience I do not have. I’m thankful for him and highly recommend everyone in ministry seek out a shepherd to care for them as they care for their own sheep. Tom, Lead Pastor"

Retreat Shepherds

Retreat Shepherds expand on what God first began at Jim and Debbie Hogan’s home in Colorado. Replicating the key success factors of ministry leaders’ retreats at Standing Stone Ranch, retreat shepherds facilitate a time of deeply-needed rest and reflection for ministry couples. Retreat shepherds also offer resources for developing deeper intimacy with Christ, addressing personal struggles, and reengagement in thriving ministry.

Standing Stone uses vacation homes in beautiful locations generously donated by those God has entrusted with resources. Ministry couples are paired with retreat shepherds, trained to be both excellent hosts as well as loving and seasoned mentors.

"To have a place of respite where pastors can be replenished and encouraged is without question sorely needed. Standing Stone Retreats are that kind of place. They are a place where pastors can receive the kind of insight and wisdom that can help them regain perspective and equilibrium in their lives and ministries. Bob & Joyce, Texas Senior Pastor"

Testimonial Video

Women in Ministry

Standing Stone’s female shepherds are passionate about connecting with and serving women in ministry, many of whom feel overlooked and under-appreciated. Female shepherds encourage these unsung heroes in the church – wives of pastors and women in ministry positions.

Ongoing Challenge

Standing Stone Ministry is currently experiencing tremendous growth. Resources and prayer support are needed to help Standing Stone field and retreat shepherds care for more ministry leaders.