A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Lindale · East Texas
Beside Still Waters
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” - Psalm 23:2-3
Serving those who serve us - before the breaking point
$750
sends one hero to a complete retreat: lodging, meals, activities, and a personalized resource package, entirely free to them.
60+ responders hosted to date
Every retreat 100% free to guests
Property owned in Lindale, TX
Some of the strongest people I know are also the most tired.
Dear Friend,
They’re the ones who run toward the emergency. Who sit with the family on the worst night of their lives. Who answer the call nobody else will. And then they go home and try to hold it together for everyone who’s counting on them.
Not a program. Not a pep talk. A real place where someone can finally stop, tell the truth about what they’re carrying, and remember they aren’t alone, and that God isn’t done with them.
+−Read Doug’s full letter
They serve as police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services, veterans, and pastors. They spend themselves on other people, and almost nobody ever pours back into them.
I’ve walked with them for years now. I’ve seen their strength, and I’ve seen what they carry when no one’s looking. I’ve sat across from people who were a lot closer to the edge than anyone around them knew. That’s why Still Waters is here.
What happens here is simple. People show up tired and guarded. We share a meal. We sit by the fire. They start talking honestly, sometimes for the first time in years. We pray over them by name. And somewhere in the quiet, something loosens. They remember who they are, and why they said yes to the call in the first place.
This isn’t a someday idea anymore. Still Waters has a home and a steady rhythm of retreats, and we’ve already hosted more than sixty first responders. But the need is bigger than we can carry on our own. Your partnership puts a real person in a place that can restore them before the breaking point, not after.
When you stand with us, the impact doesn’t stop with one person. It reaches their family, their community, and everyone they’ll ever contact on the job. Thank you for considering standing with us.
Doug Case
Founder & President · Still Waters Retreat
Doug & Laura Case
A place to slow down, be honest, and be restored.
Still Waters Retreat, based in Texas, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) for first responders. We serve Police Officers, Firefighters and EMS Professionals, Veterans, and Pastors and Ministry Leaders by providing intentional environments for rest, reflection, and renewal. A space to slow down, process what they carry, and allow God to restore clarity, health, and vision.
Our Mission
Still Waters Retreat exists to create a place where direction is surrendered back to God, where hearts are searched, and where leaders experience deep and lasting restoration.
Our Vision
To see those who serve others restored, sustained, and able to continue their calling for the long term.
Our Heart
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” - Psalm 23:2-3
The Back Porch · Beside Still Waters
They run toward what the rest of us run from.
Those who serve are exposed to pressure, trauma, and responsibility that does not end when the shift does. They are expected to stay steady, move to the next call, and keep carrying it. There is rarely time to stop, and almost never a place to set it down. So the weight stays. And over time, quietly, it compounds.
Police Officers
188
traumatic events in an average career, compared to just five for the average person.
Firefighters & EMS
3×
the PTSD rate of the general public, from chronic exposure to trauma and grief.
Veterans
17 a day
lost to suicide across the country, on average, every single day.
Pastors & Ministry
1 in 4
have seriously considered stepping away from ministry within the past year.
Most help only shows up after something has already broken. The crisis comes first, then the response. Still Waters is built to get there sooner, before the breaking point. That is the gap we exist to fill.
Why This Matters
Most who carry this weight will never ask for help. Asking can feel like admitting weakness, or like becoming one more burden for someone else to carry. So they keep going. And many do not realize how much they have been carrying until they finally stop long enough to feel it.
That is where we begin. Still Waters is a place to rest, where a person can slow down enough to be honest, sometimes for the first time in years, and recognize that they are not okay. That moment of honesty is not the end of the road. It is the start of one.
From there, we become an on-ramp. We do not provide counseling ourselves, and we are not trying to be the whole answer. What we do is open the door and lower the barrier, connecting guests to trusted counseling and the programs that can walk with them next. We help make that first step feel possible instead of intimidating, so the people who spend their lives running toward everyone else can finally take a step toward their own healing.
Rest. Connection. Resources. A model that works.
Still Waters is built around creating the right environment for real conversations, honest reflection, and meaningful renewal: restoration at the pace of God, not pressure.
01
Create a place to rest and reset.
A space where first responders can lay down the weight of their duties: to slow down, feel seen, and be supported. We share a meal, sit around the fire, and connect through real, intentional relationship.
02
Connect them to others.
Guests connect with others who understand the demands of their roles: friendships and a network of support that continue long after they return home.
03
Equip them with resources.
Curated materials and personalized gift baskets for rest, leadership, and emotional health that extend the impact of the retreat into daily life.
Covered in Prayer
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” - Romans 8:26
Prayer is the foundation of everything we do. Before a single guest arrives, we pray and fast, covering the property, the retreat, and every person who will walk through the door by name. And when a guest finally begins to share what they are carrying, we pray over them personally, trusting the Spirit to intercede for what words cannot reach.
Not counseling. Not a big program. A place to be still.
A Still Waters retreat is small and unhurried. A few days with a handful of guests who carry the same weight. There is no agenda to perform and no curriculum to finish. Just space to slow down, breathe, and finally be honest. Each person gets the chance to put words to what they are carrying, the weight on their own heart, the weight on their family, and the weight in their career, and then to be prayed over, by name, for every bit of it.
Arrive and exhale. No schedule to keep.
Shared meals and long evenings around the fire.
Honest, unforced conversation, often for the first time in years.
Prayer, when they are ready.
Rest beside the water.
Somewhere in the quiet, people stop performing long enough to admit they are not okay. That honesty is the beginning. We do not provide counseling, and we are not the program. We are the on-ramp to it. We are the door, not the destination.
Built on conviction and experience, not theory.
Still Waters Retreat was born out of a growing reality we kept seeing up close: the exhaustion, burnout, and unprocessed trauma carried by those who serve others in high-pressure roles. What began as a need we could not ignore has grown into a mission, supported by a widening network of donors, partners, and advocates who believe in long-term restoration.
The leadership behind Still Waters has spent years working alongside and serving these communities. We know the pressures they face, and we have seen firsthand how few places exist where they can be honest and restored. We are supported by people with real experience in spiritual leadership, healthcare, and community impact.
This is not built on theory. It is built on conviction and experience. We have seen that those who serve cannot keep pouring out without being poured back into, and that when they are strengthened, the impact never stops with them. It reaches their families, their teams, and entire communities.
This is not a distant initiative. It is a response shaped by real relationships, real conversations, and a deep respect for those who serve.
Retreat Support Gathering · East Texas
Prayed Over, By Name
A dedicated property, designed to host and care.
Still Waters owns a dedicated property in Lindale, Texas, and we are still building it. Inside, every space is ready to host. Our next work is outside: full landscaping, a retaining wall, and an outdoor gathering space, creating a calm, beautiful environment worthy of the people we welcome.
The Back Porch · The Gathering Room · Kitchen & Dining · Guest Rooms · Front of the Retreat
The inside is done. The outside is next.
The inside of the retreat is complete and hosting heroes today. The outside is next. These concept renderings show what we are working toward at our current property: full landscaping, a retaining wall, a pool, and an outdoor gathering space where guests can breathe, connect, and rest. These improvements that serve responders now and become a lasting asset for the mission’s next chapter.
Today
The Plan
Concept renderings: planned improvements at our Lindale property.
The model is already working.
What began as a vision has become an active, growing organization, with a permanent property built to host those who serve.
52
Responders Hosted
In the first half of 2026 alone
Nov 2025
Property Secured
A permanent retreat home in Lindale, TX
$107K+
Raised & Growing
Early days. $75,000 bought and furnished the retreat. Help us close the gap.
60+
Hosted Since Opening
More than sixty first responders welcomed to date
Each number is real people. First responders who finally stepped away, and partners who chose to stand behind them, supported by a growing base of churches, businesses, and individual partners, and we are still early.
We report impact to our board of directors every quarter, the number served, and when a guest chooses to share it, one story. We always protect the privacy of those we welcome. People are not numbers. They are individuals who have trusted us with their story, and we never take that lightly.
“He leads me beside still waters.”
Building enough places, with enough trust, that no one carries the weight alone.
From the beginning, this has been about creating something that can actually reach the people who need it, in a real and accessible way. The need is too big, and the people we serve are everywhere.
East Texas
Operational & Proven
- Finish the retreat center - landscaping, retaining wall & outdoor space
- Pay off the retreat loan
- One hour from DFW Airport - centrally located
- Hosting police, fire/EMS personnel, veterans & pastors
A Larger Space
Room to Grow
- Secure a larger retreat center for more guests
- More space, more room, greater capacity
- Ponds, walking trails & side-by-side trails
- Acreage dedicated to activities & recreation
National
Five U.S. Locations
- Five retreat centers across the U.S.
- Reachable in hours - not a full day of travel
- Drivable access from anywhere in the nation
- A replicable model people trust
“Still Waters Retreat exists to serve those who serve. And the future is building enough places, with enough trust, that no one who carries that weight has to carry it alone.”
$750,000 a year to fully care for those who serve.
To staff the mission, keep every retreat free, and steward the property well, our annual budget goal is $750,000. Here is how every dollar is invested.
70%
of every dollar goes directly to caring for first responders: staffing, retreat resources, and the retreat itself.
Directly Supports First Responders (70%)
Sustains the Mission (30%)
Everything Beyond the Funding Goal
Anything raised above our annual goal goes to future property savings, toward a larger property and the first additional locations.
Your investment, stewarded with integrity.
Still Waters Retreat is an active 501(c)(3) nonprofit, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Because the ministry is largely volunteer-led, resources go directly to the people we serve. We report impact to our Board every quarter and are happy to share it with partners on request, always protecting the privacy of every guest.
Board of Directors
Doug Case
Founder & President / CEO
James Williams
Laura Case
Heath DeGarmo
Zach McMillian
Guided by a board that brings real experience in leadership, ministry, the first responder profession, and organizational growth. We work closely with organization heads, department leads, and chaplains.
Accountability
- 501(c)(3) public charity
- EIN 99-2980520 · TX File #805515804
- Established April 2024
- All gifts are tax-deductible
- Quarterly impact reporting to our board and partners
- Supported by volunteers in the field
- Pursuing the VA SSG Fox federal grant
Let your team serve those who serve.
Your involvement allows your company to give back to the people who give everything. By partnering with Still Waters Retreat, you stand behind the police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel, veterans, and pastors who carry the weight of our communities every day. Please consider one of the following ways to invest:
$50,000+
Founding Partner
Name a primary space or the home for a limited term (3 years). Spots is limited · lead recognition on the Heroes Wall · social media recognition · an on-site team experience · featured recognition at events · impact report updates
$25,000
Sustaining Partner
Name a guest room for a limited term (3 years). Spots is limited · Heroes Wall recognition · social media recognition · an employee retreat experience · impact report updates
$10,000
Retreat Partner
Sponsor a full group of heroes · Heroes Wall recognition · social media recognition · impact report updates
$5,000
Community Partner
Sponsor retreats throughout the year · social media recognition · impact report updates
Ways Your Company Engages
Workplace & Payroll Giving
simple, recurring employee deductions for the mission.
Matching Gifts
your company matches what your employees give or raise.
Name a Room or the Heroes Wall
limited-term recognition; spots are limited.
Team Day (at $25,000+)
tour, dinner, and a fun experience on-site.
Naming opportunities are held for a limited term (typically three years) and the number of spots is limited. Every gift is tax-deductible and stewarded with impact report updates.
Start a Partnership ConversationIn their own words.
Space to Breathe Again
“We simply gathered, shared stories, and laughed harder than I had in years. My guard came down.” - A retreat guest
Not Meant to Go Alone
“What I left with was more than rest. It was friendship, healing, and a powerful reminder that men are not meant to do life alone.” - A retreat guest
Refueled from Running on Empty
“You cannot keep giving if you are running on empty. That is exactly what Still Waters gave me.” - A retreat guest
I Am Not Alone
“I almost said no to going, but by the end of the first night I was thinking, ‘I cannot believe I almost missed this.’” - A first responder guest
Friendships Formed Beside Still Waters
Questions donors ask
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes. Still Waters Retreat is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are fully tax deductible. Our EIN is 99-2980520.
What does it cost a guest to attend?
Nothing. There is absolutely no cost for guests. All meals, lodging, activities, resources, and gift baskets are completely covered by donors.
How are guests chosen?
All nominations are prayerfully reviewed by our board and leadership. We also consider referrals from chaplains and from ministry networks who know the people they are recommending.
Can I nominate someone for a retreat?
Yes. Complete the nomination form on our main site and our team will review it and contact those selected.
Can my company sponsor retreats?
Yes. Companies partner with us at several levels, from sponsoring a single group of heroes to naming a space at the property. See the partnership options above, or reach out and we will walk you through it.
More questions are answered on our main site.
Send a hero to Still Waters
Your gift does not fund an idea. It sends a real person, exhausted and carrying more than anyone sees, to a proven place built to restore them. Every gift is tax-deductible and goes directly to support the rest and restoration of those who serve.
$750
sends one hero to a complete retreat, lodging, meals, activities, and a personalized resource package, entirely free to them. Our annual budget goal is $750,000 to keep every retreat free and for those who serve.
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