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A ministry retreat centre, located just outside of Winnipeg's city limits, has announced they're selling the property in hopes that someone new may fill the role.
"Women Refreshed at the Well was never our dream," says Joy Klassen. "It was a call. I heard God say this is what I needed to do. That was back in 2000. We officially opened in 2013."
Klassen, alongside her husband Alvin and their kids, built a home with ministry in mind. They built a house with a big living room, dining room, and kitchen area alongside five bedrooms for mainly women to rent out at a reasonable price to get away from it all and be renewed. The couple made their home in the basement of the house.
"We offer a space for people to get away. The verse we lean on is Psalm 46:10 that says, 'Be still and know that I am God.' We offer space for people to come. I cook them a breakfast and a lunch, and they can come from six at night until four the next day. We provide that space and hold their stories too."
The couple made a big decision to hang up their hat with the ministry after 12 years in hopes of finding someone to continue it.
"We've been praying about this for a year," says Klassen. "The one thing we know about God, for the past 25 years, He leads, He directs. He says when to step forward and when you are completed. We felt God say it's time to wrap it up."
The nuanced aspect is that the Klassens are selling their home as well as a retreat centre, all in one. People interested in taking over the ministry or having a conversation about what that may look like can connect with the Klassens by calling 204-223-5467 or emailing womenrefreshed@gmail.com.
"It's our greatest desire if somebody else would come and do retreat ministry, or a silent owner would buy the house and then say, come and do it. They would have to form their own name and begin their own board, but we would love that."
Over a Decade of Memories
Retreaters at Women Refreshed at the Well could stay for one day or multiple days. At the end of the stay, there is a guest book for people to share a little something about their time at the house.
"The highlights are things we never thought of. The people who come in as strangers and leave as friends. People who came in because somebody sent them or paid for them. They've come in and burst into tears and don't know why. People who've come in not knowing Jesus and finding him."
The ministry gained donor partners who would pour into the retreat centre with donations and prayers.
"One woman became a donor, and she was sitting at the duck pond, and one of our postcards blew across. She sent in money, and we'd never met her."
Klassen, while sad to end this time in her life, has seen the blessings again and again over the time her and her family ran Women Refreshed at the Well.
"There is way too much to mention. Steve Bell did a home concert we hosted. The thing that really sits deeply with me is when people come in, settle into that quiet place, and say, 'I don't hear the voice of God.' Then, when they're leaving they're telling me stories of how God spoke to them."