Brent and Michelle’s story is one of God’s redeeming love and beauty from ashes. Both grew up among the trees in different states and were raised with a strong value for working hard. Neither grew up in Christian homes but came to Christ in college. Their lives intersected “in the fullness of time” in 2018 when their paths crossed at church. Before then, their backstories unfolded on very different journeys.

In 2008, after a career as a teacher and children’s pastor, Michelle and her late husband Chris (a designer and dressmaker by trade) were appointed as missionaries with Africa Inland Mission. After training, they sold everything and moved to Lesotho, Africa in July of 2011 with their six children. At the time, they ranged in age from 8 to 18. Shortly after reaching Level 2 in their language learning, in January of 2013, Chris began experiencing flu-like symptoms and was later hospitalized and diagnosed with encephalitis. He passed away from that sudden illness in South Africa on February 16, 2013.

By God’s grace and provision, after a short Compassionate Leave – and LOTS of therapy! – Michelle was cleared to work at Rift Valley Academy as the 12th grade English teacher. In 2015, after two years in that role, she was asked to move back to the States to serve as AIM’s Southwest Mission Mobilizer. That role brought her and her kids back to San Diego and allowed her to see God’s hand in each of her seasons of service. As a widowed mom to six, she juggled parenting, ministry, and a busy speaking schedule. Her memoir, Worst Case Scenario, Finding Overwhelming Rescue in the Promises of God, recounts the details of her story and was published in 2023.

It was the movie Top Gun that propelled Brent into a 23-year career of flying in the Navy, living on an aircraft carrier, and traveling all over the world. He met his first wife in San Diego, CA, while he was finishing flight training. Unfortunately, their marriage was painful for both and was wrought with numerous emotional challenges. Despite their difficulties, they were able to live overseas in the Middle East for four years, travel extensively, and raise two wonderful sons. After many attempts to save their marriage, it ended in a painful divorce. Yet, God had a plan for redemption.

When the Lord brought Brent and Michelle together, Brent’s gifts of helps and administration as well as his desire to “do something for the Kingdom” began to come to the forefront. They married in 2019 and blended their families. When Brent began walking with Michelle and her children more closely, he was able to witness the fall-out of their trauma and grief as it manifested itself in profound ways. When Michelle was diagnosed with burn out in 2019, they sought help from a counseling intensive in Colorado. While there, Brent received a powerful confirmation from God that he was to join Michelle in her vision to minister to hurting global workers just like her and her family. It has been clear all along that God was compelling them to do that through a retreat ministry that incorporates rest, recreation, spiritual renewal, time in God’s creation, strategic prompts, and five-star hospitality to draw people into an intimate and safe place of healing.

Both Brent and Michelle know they have been comforted so that they may provide that same comfort to others. They now operate five-day soul care retreats for ministers to “come away with Christ” and be restored to wholeness and their full potential for the glory of God. In addition to the retreats, they also offer support services remotely (marriage enrichment and discipleship, coaching, sabbatical coaching, financial planning help, and more). Their prayer is that God will bring beauty from the ashes of their woundedness through the healing of the Body of Christ and the spread of the Gospel.