The Vision of Fields of Zephaniah

In the rolling fields of East Perry County, on the grounds of the historic Saxon Lutheran Memorial, we are building something new: Fields of Zephaniah.

This ministry exists to meet one of the most urgent needs of our time, what we call soul fatigue. Pastors, teachers, families, and everyday believers are carrying burdens that noweekend away or quick rest can repair. They need a deeper peace, the peace promised in Philippians 4:7, the peace that transcends all understanding.

That’s the vision for Fields of Zephaniah: a Christ-centered refuge where weary people come to be restored. Rooted in Zephaniah 3, it is a place where God is in our midst, where He quiets us with His love, and where He rejoices over His people with singing.

And here, you don’t just find quiet or scenery, you experience Gemütlichkeit, that deep sense of belonging and warmth woven into the heritage of this community since the first Saxon immigrants settled here. Guests are welcomed like family, filled at the table of Christ, and sent back into their lives renewed and strengthened for their calling.

Our vision is clear: Fields of Zephaniah will be a ministry retreat center that restores the weary, fills the soul, and sends people home marked by God’s peace.

The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you by his love;

and will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

When the World Burns, God Hides the Humble

Zephaniah wasn’t the kind of prophet people invited to dinner parties. His words were fire, judgment, wrath, the unraveling of kingdoms. The world he knew was crumbling. Leaders were corrupt. Idols were everywhere. The faithful felt like a remnant… and a tired one at that.

But tucked in the middle of all that noise, God whispers something astonishing:

“Seek Me. Stay humble. You may be hidden in the day of My anger.”

The name Zephaniah means “Yahweh has hidden”, not hidden from God, but hidden by God.

God's Hiding Is Not Escape - It's Protection

To be hidden by God is to be tucked beneath His wing (Psalm 91:4), like a bird shelters its young in a storm. It means: You are not forgotten. You are not discarded. You are not exposed to every fire, even when it feels like it. God knows how to keep His own. He hides what the world might trample. He shelters what is tender. He treasures what others overlook.

The Fields Are for the Remnant

These retreats, these Fields of Zephaniah, are not for those who have it all together. They’re for those barely holding on. They’re for: The teacher who shows up every morning while her soul is frayed. The pastor who’s good at hiding pain in public but is tired of being strong in private. The leader who wonders if anyone sees them.

These fields are not just land, they are promises. You’ve been hidden, not lost. Preserved, not passed over. And now, brought here, not by accident.

He Will Rejoice Over You With Singing

The story doesn’t end in hiding. God doesn’t tuck you away and forget you. No, He hides you to heal you.

The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you by his love;

and will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

In the fields of Zephaniah, judgment gives way to joy, and the roar of the world is replaced by the singing of God.

Prayer

Lord,

When the world is loud, hide me in Your peace.

When I feel forgotten, remind me I am treasured.

Let these fields be more than a break from ministry,

let them be the place where I hear You sing again.

I seek You, humbly. I rest in Your hiding.

I wait for Your restoration. Amen.