History

Capernaum Ministries has evolved over the past three decades while serving the continuing and changing needs of our local church populations. The Founding organization was named Renewed Life Ministries.

“In the beginning…”

In 1982…

Renewed Life Ministries was loosely formed to sponsor yearly men’s retreats at Dunklin Memorial Camp, a men’s recovery camp located west of Stuart, Florida. Shortly after at one of these retreats, one of the Pastors involved suggested that participating Churches close down one of their Sunday night services and meet for a “Celebration of Jesus” at the West Palm Beach Auditorium. Surprisingly, ten thousand people completely filled the auditorium. The keynote speaker was Pastor Tom Peters, from Trinity International in Lake Worth. Over a period of twenty-five years, Renewed Life Ministries, Inc. as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation sponsored hundreds of retreats and conferences, and tens of thousands of people gathered at various venues including the West Palm Beach Auditorium. Renewed Life Ministries began with six Pastors, and over a period of twenty-five years, five hundred and thirty churches joined Renewed Life Ministries in the numerous conferences and city-wide outreaches sponsored by RLM. Although RLM was formed in Palm Beach County, it began to establish outreaches in other counties north.

In 1990…

The Business, Civic, and Ministry Coalition in Saint Lucie County was formed. For five years, Twenty five multi-cultural Pastors met in prayer every Tuesday morning from six to seven o’clock. This prayer group gathered business men and woman, county and city officials. An extraordinary Spiritual impact influenced the renewal of Saint Lucie County, affecting the school system, political systems, downtown renovations. As a result, a complete physical and Spiritual unity occurred in the community.
In 1995, Renewed Life Ministries embraced and eventually absorbed into the fold Capernaum Ministries (formerly called Visitation House). Renewed Life Ministries restructured the Board of Directors, and for the next six years had a similar impact in Indian River County, bringing Pastors and Spiritual leaders together, sponsoring various activities (such as Spiritual Warfare, Reconciliation, and Outreach Conferences) which were attended by thousands.

2000 through 2001,

Renewed Life Ministries headed up two major programs. First, the Jesus Video Project, whereby one hundred and fifty Churches came together and sent four hundred and twenty thousand Jesus Videos into every household in Palm Beach County. Ten’s of thousands of people took to the streets asking “Did you get my gift?” Within the first week, twenty four hundred people responded by mail indicating they watched the video and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord! Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade spoke before thousands of people at the Coral Sky Amphitheater in Palm Beach County. He said “This was the largest Corporate Body outreach in the history of America”. Renewed Life Ministries has a twenty-five year history of bringing Pastors, Church, and Ministry leaders together seeking ways to establish ministries, from evangelical outreaches to drug and alcohol recovery facilities.

After years of presenting hundreds of conferences, retreats, and outreaches, the Renewed Life Ministries Board concluded that there was a great need for a place for leadership to gather as a contemplative laboratory for leaders to seek the Lord’s direction to meet the cultural dynamics of the 21st century. Knowing that land was not available on the east coast of Florida, our Executive Director and a small team moved to Central Florida to seek an ideal location. Capernaum Properties, Inc. was formed to build homes and provide income while a new location was researched. In the meantime, a Foundation presented a substantial donation to build Capernaum Inn.
In the summer of 2009, another substantial donation was given for a beautiful piece of property on Lake Pierce (approximately 20-acres) with six hundred feet of lakefront. The property has eight cabins, sixteen bedrooms, a two bedroom guest house, and is fully equipped with rooms for conferences, and meetings, including dining facilities.

March 1, 2010

Capernaum Ministries opened Capernaum Inn, a Pastor’s Retreat and Conference Center, and offers an array of planned seminars each year. The grounds include a one hundred and twenty-five foot dock, patio area, prayer garden, boats and water sports, lake tours, and nature walkways through the 20-acre grounds. Capernaum Inn culminates thirty years of ministry to Pastors and leaders to the Glory of our Lord, Jesus. Capernaum Inn is quiet and peaceful, Capernaum Inn is an extraordinarily economical getaway for ministry leaders. It is a unique place for God’s men and women to bring their guests and hold their own gatherings as well.
Capernaum Inn is here to offer a quiet place for sabbatical, help bring restoration to pastors, accommodate church retreats and conferences, and to reach out to our community by uniting the business leaders, the local government, and the ministry leaders to work together for the benefit of our city.

Today,

Capernaum Inn / Ministries has 5 employees to continue the work that renewed Life Ministries started. We have been able to serve hundreds of individuals, pastors and youth every year, providing them a place to go for help.

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Some highlights of Capernaum Ministries includes:

• Opened March 1, 2010
• Conducting Nine “Pastor Discovery Laboratories”
• The Uniting of nearly 20 Local Pastors for weekly prayer every Tuesday morning.
• The Purchase of Property that has eight cabins, a 2-BR Guest House, Several Meeting Rooms, and a Main Lodge area suitable for Larger Groups (up to 65).
• Reaching Five Local Schools and Impacting students, teachers, parents and community.
• Began “Women of Prayer” – and intercessory prayer ministry that meets the fourth Saturday of each month – to pray for the city and to minister to one another.
• Formed the “Business, Civic, & Ministry Coalition of Lake Wales”
• Bringing the Business Leaders together for a Bible Study & Prayer Breakfast every Friday morning at Chalet Suzanne Restaurant