The Journey Here

Welcome!

I am Kimberly Smith; founder of Hope Replanted and am delighted that you are here!

For this inaugural post, I’d like to share a bit about the journey

that led me to create a non-profit focused on soul care, heart-healing, and flourishing in

wholeness with Jesus. As with all stories, this journey has been many years in the

making—decades, really.

Much of my vocational career has been in ministry arenas: churches, non-profits, and Christian

hospitality. Earlier years also included time as a restaurant owner and event planner. Suffice it to

say, anyone who knows me well is aware that my passion is to love on people deeply through

great food, create beautiful spaces, and invite others to enjoy intentional, lavish hospitality.

As 2019 was drawing to a close, I was working in a retreat ministry setting with a large non-

profit. Over the years, my roles there had shifted and changed, and I sensed God was moving me

in a different direction—to a new assignment. An extrovert by nature, the pace and demands of

my life at that time were slowly draining my energy, and it wasn’t being replenished.

During this time, the unexpected opportunity of a weekend retreat opened my eyes (and heart) to

the realization that I had been running on empty for years. Oh, I loved Jesus deeply, but I had to

admit that drinking of the living water He spoke of in the Gospels was not my regular practice.

For years, I had gotten by on being with people, pouring myself out in ministry, and skimming

the surface with the usual church sermons, worship, and small group attendance. All good,

certainly—but not enough to fill my soul properly or address the issues in my heart that kept

rising to the surface.

In early 2020, I transitioned to a new ministry position at the church I attended. While excited

about this change, the low-grade burnout I had been experiencing was still humming in the

background. Then, during my first full week of employment—along with the rest of the world—I

found myself in shock as COVID shut down life as we knew it. Suddenly, my new position went

completely online as we all began to navigate a new normal. This was, of course, completely disorienting, as our family faced a cross-country move for our son, quarantines, loss of income, travel restrictions, and much, much more. The stories my new coworkers and I heard from our church family were incredibly heartbreaking and difficult to comprehend. We provided support and care as best we could—but it was hard. Really hard.

With the world shut down, I began to pay attention to my own deep need for rest and time away

from being “on” all the time. Slowly, God began to teach me new rhythms and invited me into a

deeper space with Him. I became acquainted with solitude and silence. I stepped away from my

phone and computer regularly. I took time just to enjoy being outside and soak in the beauty of

creation. I listened to books and podcast messages that taught me how to rest in and enjoy the

presence of Jesus by just being with Him—not doing for Him.

And music—lots and lots of sweet music. For me, that meant worship and instrumental playlists.

This all began to heal places inside me. For a number of years, I’d had a dream to create a

Christian retreat-style house, similar to a bed-and-breakfast. During time in my journal, I filled

pages with descriptions of what that could look like, praying over it and releasing it back to the

Lord.

In the fall of 2020, our community slowly began to reopen, including churches. I went back to

work. Not long after that, my family and I experienced an event that shook us to our core. The

shock, devastation, heartbreak, and loss caused an excruciating pain that most days felt

overwhelming. I learned very quickly that when you enter a season of the "dark night of the soul", there are only two directions to turn: either run away from God, or cling to Him with everything in you. The

fresh lessons from the past year served me well. Living at the surface with God was no longer an

option. Only a deep intimacy with Jesus would carry me through the long healing journey ahead.

Over the past two years, I—along with the Hope Replanted board and dear friends—have spent

time crafting the vision and mission for this space. And now, it's time to invite new friends

(that’s you!) to experience Jesus more deeply than perhaps you ever have before. To choose

intentional time away with Him and drink of the living water He offers us.

We will offer weekend retreats, as well as full-day and half-day retreats, designed to encourage

people to tend to their inner life. Simply put, soul care is the intentional practice of nurturing

your inner self—encompassing spiritual, emotional, and psychological well-being. It’s about

adopting simple practices and rhythms that help keep these areas healthy and flourishing.

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord

    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

    with roots that reach deep into the water."

"Such trees are not bothered by the heat

    or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

    and they never stop producing fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

This passage in Jeremiah speaks to what Hope Replanted is all about. Planting our roots deep in the living water of Jesus, Not our striving, not our own strength or even our service. From this place of living in the overflow of the love of God, our hearts, souls, minds and body will flourish. Only then can we offer those around us the real and lasting hope that is found only in Him

Once again, we are glad you are here! Feel free to email any questions you may have or to inquire about retreats to: retreats@hopereplanted.org.

With deep hope,

Kimberly Smith

Founder, Hope Replanted