ABOUT
Our Mission
Since becoming a nonprofit in 2020, Pinecrest has remained a place set apart for meaningful connection—with God, nature, one another, and ourselves. Building on the legacy of the Presbytery of Memphis, established in 1962, we welcome people of all faiths and ages to experience our camps and programs, fostering growth, community, and reflection in the beauty of creation.
GUIDING VALUES
At our roots, Pinecrest seeks to bring people to understand who they are in God’s world: beloved, important, valued, loved, responsible. Pinecrest welcomes all people, in any state of belief or unbelief, knowing that God works as God will. Our work is to make an experience available, to plant a seed so that, in God’s time, one is aware that they dwell in God’s love. We lean on these guiding virtues to direct our work, our ministry.
Hospitality
A comfortable bed, a satisfying meal, a sturdy rocking chair, a roaring fire and plenty of firewood, well-maintained trails, ample meeting spaces, tucked in spots for reflection, good coffee or tea…we crave spaces and simple amenities that rest our souls. The generous welcome creates an atmosphere of trust that takes away the worry and stress of the unknown so that our guests can more easily relax and be open to listening and receiving.
Balance
Our world is fast and busy. It’s technologically driven; creation is taken for granted. Humanity becomes an irritant. Pinecrest is committed to offering reasons to disconnect from hectic lives and reconnect to God’s voice. Perhaps by moving a bit more slowly or in the outdoors, our guests may find joy in exploration and discovery. We all need to find rich and stable ground so that we can grow.
Education
We have become reluctant to go outside. Safety, time constraints, and lack of familiarity make grounding with the earth dispensable. We aim to offer inclusive, educational programming that highlights and promotes awareness of this natural playground. Learning how we connect opens us to new possibilities for balancing our time, engaging our gifts, and celebrating our shared life on earth.
Community
Caring community is sometimes difficult to find. Pinecrest has a tradition of welcoming the stranger in the name of Jesus Christ. We are also intentional about finding value and common ground in others. It is important to belong, not only to ourselves and to each other, but also to the earth and to God. We embrace vulnerability and civility. We seek to build harmony.
Stewardship
“God saw everything God created, and, indeed, it was very good.” So much in nature awaits us. There are new surprises around every bend in the trail, under every rock. In humility, we listen and act on our call to take care of every living thing before us: plant life, water, earth, animal, and person. We branch out through our stewardship, our concern for life around us, and our involvement in restoring the world to ‘very good’.