Rooted in a long history of God's faithfulness, join us as we look ahead to build a new home for our next generation of leaders.
Barnabas was founded in 1986 by young people with a steadfast vision to strengthen and encourage families.
As families have returned time and again, young people have expressed a desire to participate in the ministry and serve our guests.
"Developing and equipping young Christian leaders has become central to our ministry here at Barnabas. To strengthen a young person's faith through community, service and prayer is our way of helping set the table for their future. Having walked and worked alongside them as we have watched together what God can do; our desire is to then send them into the beautiful unknown with hearts full of expectancy, full of trust in a good God."
JONNY LOCHHEAD
Executive Director
There are currently two programs for young people at Barnabas. Each has a unique focus on leadership, practical skill development and discipleship.
Summer Staff
Each year we recruit around 40 young people to serve hundreds of guests and families who come to Barnabas throughout the summer. Ranging from 18 - 24 years old, our Summer Staff come to Barnabas for up to 4 months and serve in a variety of roles: from kids’ program leaders and kitchen, to farming and life-guarding.
The Crew
The Crew is our nine-month work placement and discipleship community focused on raising and developing rooted and flourishing leaders. The Crew participates in all areas of hospitality with our guests, and engage in a rigorous discipleship program, in partnership with our leadership team. With more accommodation, we hope to really grow this program!
Young leaders are the heartbeat of Barnabas' ministry.
Join us as we build them a new home.
The old Shepherd’s Inn was the home base for our young people throughout the summer. It was a safe haven, a home-away-from-home and the epicenter of community for generations of our staff.
Today, its capacity is now far too limited and in 2022, it became unsafe for occupancy. Since then the majority of our Summer Staff have been living in canvas-sided tents or in costly rented accommodations off-property.
“For me, The Old Shep was a hub of community for summer staff. At the end of a long summer day, it’s where we would debrief, be at ease, and be present with one another. It was a safe place, a free place, a sacred place. Within those walls is where I wrestled out the realities of life. In that space I could ask, "Is God real? Is Jesus real? How does this all work?" In The Old Shep I remember people sharing testimonies from the day serving guests: of marriages being saved, kids leaning into Christ and being baptized, and of God moving powerfully in and through the staff at Barnabas. And amidst it all, as young adults, we could begin to ask ourselves, "Now, what does God want from me? Does He have a call for my whole life?”
DAN CLOAKE
Team Ministry Lead and former Summer Staff
We envision the new Shepherd's Inn as a home base for Barnabas' young leaders and seasonal volunteers. Located below the grassy orchard by the General Store and a stone's throw from the farm pier, The New Shep will house up to 50 staff and volunteers during the summer. It will also provide more space for guests and long-term volunteers during the rest of the year.
Here's a snapshot of the building's highlights:
A 3-story building with a total floor space of 10,000 square feet.
16 rooms of shared-living quarters with en-suite washrooms, each housing 2-4 persons.
5 apartment-style double-occupancy private bedrooms with a sitting area and en-suite washroom for those staying longer or requiring personal space.
2 large sitting rooms with a kitchen, dining area and lounge, to provide spaces for relationships to flourish and deepen.
A large, Howe-Sound-facing exterior deck with unobstructed ocean views.
"Part of what supports Barnabas to cultivate such deep relationships among guests and staff is the physical environment…Creation of both a beautiful and functional space for staff through the new Shepherd's Inn will provide for the staff's needs and it will allow them to better meet the needs of the guests…Having a space for staff to be fully restored better equips Barnabas to set the table for everyone to share in the restorative beauty of Jesus!"
STEPHANIE WIEBE
Summer Staff 2021 - 2025
Timeline and financials for this capital project
With Barnabas supporters already jumping on board with their support for the new Shepherd's Inn, we are eagerly anticipating the day when we can welcome our first wave of summer staff and volunteers.
Our prayer is to welcome summer staff into the new Shepherd's Inn as soon as we can. This timeline is contingent on meeting our fundraising and construction goals.
The investment required
The new Shepherd’s Inn will be built using a hybrid on-site/modular construction method. The basement level and building core will be built on-site, while the bedroom wings will be constructed offsite as modular units and shipped to Keats Island fully built, to integrate with the rest of the building. This lowers costs and risks, and expedites the timeline while maintaining a high level of quality. Every part of the building is designed with flexibility in mind to provide for Barnabas’ needs well into the future, and built to a high efficiency standard that will result in lower operational costs than older buildings. In keeping with Barnabas’ value of beauty, the building will incorporate natural building materials, be sensitively set in the landscape, while also taking advantage of the sweeping view of Howe Sound.
To bring the new Shepherd's Inn to life, Barnabas is humbly seeking our community's generous support to raise $5 million dollars.
"The new Shepherd's Inn is much more than a replacement of our old staff housing. It is a significant step forward in hosting our staff and volunteers in the same way we generously host our guests. It allows us to accommodate more guests. It allows us to renovate older buildings to serve us in better ways. It allows us to increase revenue while keeping costs low. In the same way the Station transformed the guest experience, the new Shepherd’s Inn is a catalyst to transform the way we can welcome people into the Barnabas community."
THOMAS SANZ
Project Lead and 10-year resident of the old Shepherd’s Inn
The ripple effect of opening the new Shepherd's Inn will be significant.
When the new building is open…
Part of the old Shepherd's Inn can be renovated and transformed into a much-needed childcare center for staff children.
The Old Mill will be made available for future use as additional guest accommodations.
Relocating volunteer housing to the newly built Shepherd’s Inn will free up existing guest rooms currently used for volunteers — an especially important benefit during the high-demand summer season, when Family Retreats regularly have waitlists.
During the winter months, up to eight rooms in the new Shepherd’s Inn can be allocated for even more guest housing, further expanding the ministry’s reach and increasing operational revenue.
"A renewed Shepherd’s Inn would provide rest and comfort and also create an environment where community can flourish and deeper connections can be built…Investing in a new Shepherd’s Inn is, in many ways, an investment in the health, longevity, and spiritual vitality of the staff who make the ministry possible. When staff are cared for in tangible ways, their capacity to care for others increases all the more."
NOAH GRAY
Summer Staff 2017 - 2024
Since 1986, Barnabas has welcomed more than 20,000 people to the beautiful shores of Keats Island, setting the table for families to be more deeply connected and encouraged, and for leaders to be refreshed in community.
Raising up young leaders has been a central part of our ministry for 40 years. And it will remain a cornerstone of our ministry in the decades to come.
We invite you to join us today as we build the new Shepherd's Inn together.
"As we look back, so many stories could be told of God's people helping out to make things happen… God has something in store for people here on this property."
ROB BENTALL
Founder and Ambassador
How you can get involved
Pray with us
Your prayers are essential to us as we embark on this ambitious project. Join us as we pray over this new home for all of the young leaders and volunteers that will join us in the years and decades to come.
Give today
Your donation today will be 100% tax-deductible and will help lay the foundation for the New Shepherd's Inn.
Make a multi-year pledge
Your family's multi-year commitment provides us with support we can count on as we begin building. Talk to us today about how we can structure your pledge to maximize your family's impact and generosity.