After decades of declining attendance, Fort Wingate (N.M.) Christian Reformed Church is exploring a new ministry model that would transform its property into a community-focused retreat center.
Organized in 1982, the rural congregation located near the entrance to Cibola National Forest has about 20 members, with an average weekly attendance of about 10 people. Commissioned pastor Debra Chee said the church has been discerning how to remain faithful in its ministry while responding to its current size and capacity. “We’ve been asking what God is calling us to next, not just how to keep going,” said Chee, who served the church since 2017 and began pastoring Window Rock (Ariz.) CRC in January.
A key factor shaping those discussions is a land-use directive, in place since the ministry's founding on government-sanctioned land, that the church property be used to engage the community and share the gospel. That stipulation has prompted the congregation to think beyond a traditional congregational model.
In response, the church is developing a vision to repurpose the site as a place of rest, hospitality, and spiritual renewal. Chee is a member of the Fort Wingate Retreat Center board.
Located about 100 yards from a main entrance to the national forest, the property is situated in an area that already draws visitors for hiking, camping, and other recreational activities. “We are a rural church, right next to the forest,” Chee said. “This makes it an ideal place for people who are looking for rest. We see an opportunity to connect that with ministry.”
The proposed retreat center would create space for individuals, families, and small groups to gather for rest and reflection, while also providing opportunities for worship and engagement with Scripture. As part of that vision, the congregation is seeking a director to lead the ministry. The role would include preaching and worship leadership, either as an ordained minister or commissioned pastor, along with experience in community engagement and organizational leadership.
Chee said the church is praying for someone who can help develop the spiritual and practical aspects of the ministry. To support that transition, an on-site parsonage is being prepared for the future director.
While the long-term future of the congregation remains uncertain, Chee said the goal is to steward the property in a way that continues to serve the broader community. “We want this place to be used,” she said. “We want it to be a place where people encounter the gospel.”