Susan Schulz

Volunteers plant trees on the campus of the retreat and conference center.

A Place of Refreshment, Restoration for God’s People

BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

A hidden gem, the Land Christian Retreat and Conference Center in Woodstock celebrated its 40th anniversary serving the world’s churches last year.

The Land began as a dream of a humble couple, Paul and Mary Louise Storey. They were meeting in a small Bible study group in Marietta in the 1970s when Paul had a vision that included land with a large meeting house and homes. “My husband Paul heard a call from the Lord to provide a place for the body of Christ to come away and rest,” Mary Louise said.

It took a while for this idea to come to fruition. In April 1981, Paul and Mary Louise felt the time had come to search for property to fulfill their vision. A beautiful, serene 37 acres at 2135 E. Cherokee Drive was purchased, and a rich legacy of restoration and equipping of God’s people began.

Mary Louise said the Land belongs to the Lord under the direction of Christian Outreach Ministries, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that does ministry as the Land. Its mission is simple: to be “a gathering place for the body of Christ to be refreshed, restored and equipped to make disciples of Christ for his kingdom.”

The 40th anniversary celebration turned bittersweet when the vibrant, 93-year-old founder, Paul Storey, passed away on Sept. 3, 2021. “Paul’s legacy lives on here at the Land, and our purpose remains the same,” Mary Louise said. “Our desire has always been to implement in every way possible the answer to Jesus’ prayer that all be one in him.”

Construction on the large, two-story meeting and retreat house, which they call the Big House, began first. Other amenities were added including: • P. E. Storey Sanctuary: a place to worship and learn (maximum capacity 250) • Mission Campground cabins: for group retreats.

• Mission Campground kitchen and

meeting room: maximum capacity 80 attendees • Cottages: private getaway • Pavilion and fire pit: for outdoor gatherings. • Lots of nature and a small lake: for fishing, prayer and rest.

There also are six residential homes at the Land, where the leadership of Christian Outreach Ministries resides. All residents participate in the caretaking of the grounds and facilities, and serve as ministry to the guests. Besides Mary Louise, Deborah and Wes Durham are longtime residents. Wes presently serves as the CEO, and Deborah, the CFO.

“We got to know the Land in 2017,” said Pr Ari Alves of Heal Our Land Ministries. “And, since then, we have stayed there at least two or three times a year. We are grateful to God and the Land on this journey of our incessant search for God. Thank you for this incredible partnership.”

Another guest, from Cedarcrest Church in Acworth, said, “The Land is an oasis, where you can experience the Holy Spirit and have your soul refreshed!”

“God has shown us how important it is for his flock to come away from the world to find times of refreshing together from the Lord,” Deborah said. “Many of our guests have roots in every corner of our world: from the Far East, South America, Central America, Africa and Eastern Europe. We celebrate the multiplicity of ethnic backgrounds of our brethren who choose to follow Christ. All communities of faith are welcome at the Land.”

You can request a tour of the grounds by appointment. For more information, visit www.thelandwoodstock.org.

Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher and mentor who lives and plays on the Etowah River in Canton. Connect with her on social media or at susanbrowningschulz.com.