Friends, we wanted to offer you an on-line update to the progress happening at our retreat, Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge located in Divide, CO.

1. $225,000 has been raised and spent in the renovation of the 5,000 square foot big, red barn.

• The Barn--and future "Inn" has the following:
• Finished and in-floor radiant heat installed, and ready to be connected to the furnance when funds allow this...making "heat..."
• Most of the plumbing is "in" but there is still the need for more plumbing to be done so all the bathrooms are working and the heat is functioning properly.
  
• Electrical work is "roughed " in but needs the finishing work to allow lights and the furnance to operate.
• The required "firewall" separating the retreat area from the living area is now installed and nearly complete.

2. Our financial need at the moment is for $150,000 in further gifts to complete the phase 1 and 2 and allow the retreat to be up and running and ready for guests. Please pray with us about this need.

Our cozy log cabins are operational and being used by guests for retreats. We offer special rates for individuals working full time in a Chrisitian ministry. Please contact the retreat office for more information: Paula at 719-687-3158.

Here are some images of the barn's progress...


We also are building an Ebenezer Fireplace at the future "inn" as you can see from the plans. This stacked stone fireplace will be constructed one stone at a time by our Contractor. We are asking our friends and donors to please consider helping us by donating a stone to be place in the fireplace for a gift of $100. We'll send a beautiful card with both your name on it and the name of the person in your life you want to honor. This lasting legacy fireplace will be a place where 250 stacked stones are placed and raised like a Biblical Ebenezer-- or rock monument that the Scriptures speak of so often in the Old Testament. The Ebenezer's were built to signify that "thus far the Lord is with us"--which is the literal and Biblical meaning of the word "Ebenezer."

Please consider helping us. Email Rebekah at rebekah@pottersinn.com or call her at 719-264.8837. You can give your gift online at www.pottersinn.com (use the donate button) or call us for a Credit card gift or check donation.

go here to donate: www.pottersinn.com

Update: The Renovation of the Big, Red, Barn--our Retreat

Here's a look at what use to be... what used to be was a barn about 35 years old that was a place for horses and llamas. Now, it's being transformed into the retreat--and how appropriate! So much happened in barns, didn't it? It was the place where God chose to make his first physical appearance in the birth of the baby, boy named Jesus.

So, we're proud to have a barn for our retreat. This will eventually be a 5,000 sq. ft. retreat center that will have a great room with a stack stone fireplace,  a conference room for 12 people to meet for team meetings; a kitchen, two 1/2 baths, (one handicap accessible) and three breakout rooms up stairs where the old hayloft was. The floors already have in-floor radiant heating installed and are stamped, scored concrete in the shape of large diamonds.

The week of August 15, the septic system will be installed. The cost for the septic system is $22,000. We are taking a step-by-step way of making the progress. As God raises the funds through our generous donors, we are going to invest this into the retreat. Our goal is to have the barn winterized with heat and all windows and doors installed by October 15. 

We are so glad that two mission teams are scheduled to come now. One from Olathea Kansas is coming mid-September and another team from Wisconsin is coming from Elmbrook church October 1.

If you can help, please contact us: resources@pottersinn.com or 719-264-8837.

Pictures are worth thousands of words...

Around 130 people from across the United States gathered together on top of the 35 acre summit of Aspen Ridge to celebrate God's faithfulness and the generosity of God's people. A wonderful bar-b-que lunch of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs complete with all the trimmings were provided to all the guests compliments of the Potter's Inn.

Images of a Day of Dedication

Steve and Gwen cast the vision of how Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge will become an important "tool" for ministry in the larger vision of creating a "place" where people can come for retreats, soul care and vacations to rest and restore their hearts for the next part of the journey!

The Fire Ring near the Summit hosts 12 chairs made in Michigan from one of Potter's Inn ministry partners! From here and at night, the stars have never looked so big and clear. It seems you can almost see forever...

The Sights and Thrill of the Dedication Day

A wonderful day was enjoyed by many people who traveled to Aspen Ridge to share the joy of the dedication of the retreat. We hope these images will allow the many friends of Potter's Inn across the world to enjoy "from a distance" the joy of this great day!

Friends came from North Carolina to California all converging on the top of the mountains where we gathered to sing songs of praise and pray our prayers of dedication-- offering the entire ranch to God as a place of soul care and transformation for pilgrims on the journey.

With the completion of the Prayer Trail, the retreat now offers 1 day personal and self-guided retreats where people can use the newly finished "Loft" in the barn which is complete with a kitchen, bathroom and meeting rooms. An outside deck with a rocker swing makes the perfect place to spend a day alone or with a friend.

Dedication for Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge

Join us for a time of celebration and dedication for Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge. August 5-6, 2006 are the dates for a time of sharing, thanking God and celebration.

Schedule:
Saturday, August 5th: "Singing on the Mountain" with Bluegrass band, singing and praise. A catered bar-b-que lunch ($10 per person) and hiking the ranch and exploring the buildings. Special guests are invited and will be sharing throughout the day!

Sunday, August 6th: Worship and Dedication. Join in a time of outdoor worship at the summit with Communion and music! A luncheon provided by Potter's Inn will conclude our time of celebration.

Lodging: Make your reservations now. Two close by lodging options are available.
Country Lodge in Woodland Park with hotel style accomodations, outside pool, stunning views.
http://www.woodlandcountrylodge.com/
and Golden Bell Conference Center, 2 miles from Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge with a variety of accomodations such as cabin, motel style, RV park!http://www.goldenbellccc.org/
Golden Bell Conference Center

Please make your reservation with Potter's Inn now so we can plan. Also, it's not too early to make your lodging reservations.

We sincerely hope you'll make every effort to join us for this time of thanksgiving to God; the joining of our hearts in celebration and in the dedication of this wonderful retreat that God has so wonderfully provided.

All blessings, Steve and Gwen Smith
Potter's Inn website:http://pottersinn.com
Email us at resources@pottersinn.com

Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge Update!

Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge began as a dream and vision that we believe the Lord placed in our hearts to build and provide a place; a respite, a sacred retreat where small groups and individuals come come to renew their hearts and restore their souls. This is a place of beauty, intimacy and adventure.

We are grateful to share that our initial goal of asking the Lord to provide the funds needed to enter a legal contract to transfer ownwership to Potter's Inn is going to take place on December 15, 2005, Lord willing!

Join with us in thanksgiving as we share that over $300,000 has been raised and pledged in our intitial efforts. We are so very thankful.

You can take an on-line tour and see pictures, check availablity and a virtual tour of the property by going to: www.hvr.net The name of the property is called Heaven View Ranch. The current owners will continue to manage the property for us as we move into a transition plan. You can consider yourself invited at any time to come now to enjoy this sacred place.

Update November 27 on Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge

The total pledged and given to Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge is $292,500. Our goal by December 1 is to have raised a minimum of $300,000. The balance needed will be secured by a loan. Any amount given over $300,000 will allow us to do renovations to the barn for a meeting room and build an outdoor pavilion for meetings, outside dinners and sitting by an outdoor fireplace.

We sincerly appreciate your interest, your gifts and your enthusiasm. We are very, very close. Do join us in prayer in the next few days asking for the need to be met. We are thrilled with our progress. Every day, we hear from the Potter's Inn friends across the world who are joining the adventure. College students, a 94 year old woman from Washington State, friends from England and around the world are joining our invitation to help. We are so fortunate to hear from so many friends who want to help across the United States. Thank you very, very much.

To make a donation on line, please go to our home page at www.pottersinn.com and click on Donate to Potter's Inn. Or, you can mail your gift directly to Potter's Inn. Gifts received by December 1 will be applied to the closing on December 15th. Stock transfers are also accepted. Please call us with questions.