In 2002, burned out and struggling to find my soul working as a Creative Arts Pastor in one of America’s largest megachurches, I first dreamed of creating a space where encouragement is embraced. My wife Gina and I have purchased and paid for fifty-five wilderness acres in the Appalachian Mountains to provide a beautiful place of encouragement and solitude. We call it Kalien which means “beauty is calling”.
SEE REWARDS FOR GIVING BELOW AT END OF STORY
At Kalien we have set aside sacred ground so that one can find the time and space to reconnect with oneself and one’s ideas, a place where the sound of solitude has an encouraging ring to it.
Amid the bustle of our lives, it’s easy to lose sight of those moments of solitude that can be so invaluable and rewarding. “Solitude is a crucial and underrated ingredient for creativity. From Darwin to Picasso to Dr. Seuss, our greatest thinkers have often worked in solitude.” —Susan Cain (Quiet)
But the reality and demands of daily life mean we can’t just hightail it to a cabin in the woods like Thoreau for two years. And let’s be honest—many of us simply don’t want that kind of seclusion.
But moments of solitude—even small ones—when self-imposed, intentional, and fully appreciated, can have profound effects on our productivity and creative thinking. That’s why we have created “spaces within community.”
Each Kalien cabin will be at the epicenter of at least one acre to insure complete solitude. And a central gathering space will be provided periodically if community is desired.
Due to the affordability of labor and regional materials such as cedar, we are able to build and furnish a cabin in rustic elegance for the unbelievable price of only $15,000. Generous gifts from our Board of Directors and matching funds from Dell Computer and Health Corp of America (HCA) have enabled us to purchase tools and vehicles to facilitate the building.
My personal artist cabin “The Hawk’s Nest” at Kalien was built this past July 2015. We are now ready to construct the next cabin for our non-profit Creative Community. All donations are completely tax-deductible. We are proud to have been awarded the Gold Participant Standard by Guidestar.com—the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations.
Help us completely fund this first cabin by Dec. 31, 2015 and build and open it for use by June 2016 and together let’s provide real people that desperately need encouragement and solitude a place to stay by mid-year. Who knows? It could be you that stays here first.
REWARDS
Give any amount and your name will appear as a donor on a stacked stone plaque at the entrance of Kalien. Every donation helps us encourage and provide solitude for people who desperately need it.
Give $100
and guarantee One Day cabin rental to be used July 2016-July 2017 (day or week blocks) for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself.
Give $150
and guarantee Two Days cabin rental to be used July 2016-July 2017 for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself.
Give $500
and guarantee Seven Days cabin rental to be used July 2016-July 2017 (day or week block) for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself.
PRESALES:
Give $1000
and guarantee Fifteen Days cabin rental to be used July 2016-July 2017 (day or week blocks) for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself.
Give $1500
and guarantee ONE MONTH cabin rental to be used July 2016-July 2017 (day or week blocks) for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself.
Give $4000
and you will be featured (should you choose) in a leather bound guest book with the story of your family, why you built the cabin or a story of your choice
AND receive ONE week annual cabin rental to be used for TEN Years (July 2016-July 2026 in day, week or month blocks) for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself
AND enjoy a five course VIP meal and wine tasting at Kalien prepared by Randy & Gina Elrod
AND receive a limited edition giclee print of your choice from ElrodArt.com
Give $7500
and you will be featured (should you choose) in a leather bound guest book with the story of your family, why you built the cabin or a story of your choice
AND receive TWO weeks annual cabin rental to be used for TEN Years (July 2016-July 2026 in day, week or month blocks) for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself
AND enjoy a five course VIP meal and wine tasting at Kalien prepared by Randy & Gina Elrod
AND receive a limited edition giclee print of your choice from ElrodArt.com
Give $15,000
and name the cabin with your family name or In memory of a loved one or favorite artist, animal or leader. You will also be featured (should you choose) in a leather bound guest book with the story of your family, why you built the cabin or a story of your choice
AND receive FOUR weeks annual cabin rental to be used for TEN Years (July 2016-July 2026 in day, week or month blocks) for your church staff, your family, your business—clients or staff, designee(s) of your choice, or yourself
AND enjoy a five course VIP meal and wine tasting at Kalien prepared by Randy & Gina Elrod
AND receive a limited edition giclee print of your choice from ElrodArt.com
Any Amount Will Help Us Build The First Cabin At Kalien.
A Place of Encouragement and Solitude
Kalien.org