our story | The Retreat House

The Road to The Retreat House

To really see the full scope of God's story of The Retreat House we need to start back in the summer of 2011 in a slum in Kenya. Lacey Stluka joined a trip that Britney Christie was leading, and it was there that God would ignite in them a desire to serve Him and to say yes over and over again to the callings He put upon their lives. That summer on Britney’s dining room table, Be Free Revolution was born and from that moment they would work hard to love well, create meaningful experiences, and point others to Christ. Since then they have led hundreds of people on global mission trips, collaborated with men and women from all over the world to learn trades and promote sustainability, empowered over 150 kids in Kenya and Uganda through education and sponsorships, and hosted camps, retreats, and workshops to foster spiritual growth and deepen individuals' relationships with the Lord. Additionally, they opened two locations of The Rev, a shop with products that supported charitable causes and a gathering space for learning, fellowship, worship, and community engagement. So much has happened through their humble yeses. Britney and Lacey have had the privilege to see, first hand, God move in people's lives through miracles and things that have absolutely no explanation other than the Holy Spirit.

Each time they boarded a plane, sat around a table, tied the shoes of a kiddo, watched an elephant family cross the Serengeti, gazed at a sunset, or listened to the stories of how God came in at just the right time, the fire of their faith was fanned and their love and trust for God grew. As their faith continued to grow, God began revealing himself in a more contemplative way. Teaching them to rest in Him and that they could trust God even in the quiet moments. Unbeknownst to them, God was providing and lifting a burden as they closed the doors of The Rev. Happening just within 18 months of the global pandemic, this provided protection for BFR and gave way for an even deeper perspective of God's plan and purpose for them.

In the months leading up to Covid, it became even more clear and their contemplative learning stretched to those around them. With this widened space, they began hosting silent retreats and book studies out of their homes for those that needed a way to connect to God and others within the uncertainty of the world. Learning to tether to the certainty of God and His sovereignty became a lifeline for them and others.

One yes turned into another yes. A small group at Britney's for a silent retreat turned into a group of 15 women for an overnight weekend retreat at a local retreat center, which turned into monthly retreats, and things continued to grow out of those yeses. As the need and desire for this grew, they expanded BFR's global work in Kenya to BFR Local, with a stateside focus on Christian spiritual formation.

All the while BFR Global and BFR Local are bustling, Britney had an ongoing friendship with Allison Bradsher. In a truly divine appointment, God orchestrated the Bradshers to be the family that welcomed the Christies to Westminster Academy back in 2017. What started as a friendship, centered around kids, turned to more and more spiritual conversations.

Allison's journey with the Lord was seeped with curiosity and led her to the contemplative path as God was growing her family. Teacher turned stay at home mom, Allison opened her heart and home in many ways, caring for those God brought along her path. Staying curious, she joined the Spiritual Formation and Direction program at Moody Bible Institute where she would learn and be deeply drawn to the practice of spiritual direction.

In early 2019, Britney, Lacey, and Allison all happened to be at a silent retreat at St. Columba and at that retreat Britney sensed the Lord giving her a vision. In this vision, she saw herself, Allison, and Lacey leading retreats similar to the one they were attending. Perplexed and curious when the retreat concluded, Britney mentioned the vision to Allison and Lacey not knowing what the Lord was planting in all of our hearts and how He would be moving in the years that followed.

As time went by, the overlap with Britney, Lacey, and Allison grew and the playground conversations quickly became planning and idea generating sessions. Things were building momentum and it seemed as though God was aligning our hearts and visions.

In November of 2022, while sitting on the porch by the fire, Britney and her husband Michael were talking and dreaming about this stirring and idea to have a place where people in our city could come to retreat, get counseling, and receive spiritual direction. As they talked, they scrolled Zillow and came across this unique and intriguing property. Britney immediately sent it to Allison and Lacey and reached out to a real estate friend, Tara Airhart, to see if they could see it. Next thing they knew they were standing in 10981 Macon Road talking and dreaming again.

Knowing that this would be a large undertaking and project, they began talking with a lot of people, looking at other properties, and praying to see the way forward. As they did this, they kept coming back to this special property nestled in Eads, TN. They put in an offer and in January, as they were hosting an overnight retreat back at St. Columba (the place where Britney got the vision), they got news their offer was accepted. Another "yes" that God was using.

From there the conversations increased, adding people on the train the Lord was driving called, The Retreat House. It is crazy to think back on all that happened in that year. Writing business and ministry plans, raising funds to secure the property, starting construction with Zanone Builders, opening the doors to friends and family and then hosting the first retreats on the grounds. God was at work and He was allowing BFR to be in the midst of it.

In December, conversations with Dr. Kevin Shelby were increasing. He went from being an excited member of our Board of Advisors to one in the nitty gritty. He took the leap of faith and joined the leadership team, which felt like another answer to prayer that the three of them didn't even know they were praying. With his background and expertise, he has been able to offer guidance and wisdom in the element of The Collective, ensuring that The Retreat House is truly able to offer amazing, full circle care.

For years, Kevin and his wife Melissa felt the stirring from the Lord to love others abundantly, to live a life of calling. The internal pull that the Lord had on Kevin to create "thin spaces" for people to meet with and experience the Lord was a thread that was woven through his life and it felt like a divine alignment as he was discerning the opportunity with The Retreat House.

To see God move through all 4 of these families uniquely, yet fluidly was such a testament to God's sovereignty and His beautiful planning. There is not a moment that passes that the staff at The Retreat House and Be Free Revolution are not humbled by the tangible presence of God and how He still uses everyday people, like He did in Scripture, to accomplish incredible things-not by their own hand but by His.

It is our deep hope and desire that The Retreat House is a place where people can experience God in the midst of all things. A place where you can lay down all titles, responsibilities, and expectations and be present to who you are in Christ, with God and where you can find healing, restoration, and growth.