Rest, Renew, & Refresh

Footrock is a nonprofit organization that provides rest for international ministry leaders, Spanish-speaking pastors, and missionaries with the goal of alleviating vocational burnout through global retreats, coaching, and curated experiences.

We believe rested leaders lead differently, decide differently, and love the communities they serve differently than leaders who live depleted.

We believe good old-fashioned hospitality refreshes the soul, and disconnecting digitally to reconnect relationally can be healing.

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Danny & Stephanie Gutierrez have been married for 26 years and have two daughters. They served as missionaries and staff pastors in Lima, Peru for 10 years. They have led marriage retreats for the Winshape Foundation and various mission organizations in Peru, Mexico, and Thailand. Stephanie is a life and leadership coach and holds a master’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Liberty University. Danny works as a pre-licensed therapist in a clinical setting and holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s University.

Danny serves on the board of Modern Day Missions, and Stephanie is a missionary care manager and the host of the “Modern Day Missionaries ” podcast.

They currently reside in Osseo, Minnesota.

What Our Guests Are Saying

"Without a doubt, this retreat has been one of the best experiences of my life. It has been an encounter with God, with myself, with my essence, with friends. I feel that my soul has been healed. I have experienced unparalleled love, generosity, unity, kindness, and fellowship. As the hours progressed, I felt that I was saying goodbye to pain, memories that hurt me, frustrations and tears that penetrated me. But at the same time, I embraced dreams, challenges, projects and above all the sisterhood between women in the ministry."

Karen, Mexico
"As a senior pastor, I know that in ministry we sometimes feel very lonely and tired, it seems that the endless list of responsibilities never ends and it seems that it is forbidden to stop. Personally, I would feel guilty for doing it, thinking about the lives and people counting on me not to stop. But at the same time I also felt like I was drowning in everyday life. Tiredness began to overshadow my joy in serving Christ. Those days in the cabin I felt that we could give ourselves permission to stop, to laugh, to talk. They treated us with so much love and there were so many kind gestures that charged the batteries of my heart, helping me to remember that stopping and resting is not only important but also vital."

Emanuel, Peru
"I found real women that didn't judge me when I expressed my deepest fears, friends who gave me their shoulder when all I wanted was to cry my frustrations and who were willing to laugh at my nonsense. I was able to be genuine without the weight of being up front. I was able to cry without fear of being exposed beyond my circle of safety. I found friends who were willing to walk with me a little further on the path of being a pastor, I found a support network and not just someone I knew from around there."

Mishel, Mexico
"It was an amazing time to really connect with other peers who were also pastors with no agenda, which for some was a challenge, but a welcome challenge that we all benefitted from and were thankful for. We ate well, laughed well, prayed together, and started to build relationships that will last for a long time."

Mark, Peru
"I had wanted for so long to have friends with whom I could laugh and open my heart up to. I wanted to experience living a moment without filters, being vulnerable and genuine. I felt safe and identified with many of them. I was able to laugh, cry, share my fears, insecurities, the most painful experiences of my life and also my desires and dreams."

Monica, Mexico
"It was so great to spend time with other pastors, not only to share the expereinces we all go through, but to connect as friends and family. To be able to relax without having a specific agenda and just be there receiving from and also giving to one another was refreshing. We had an amazing time!

Israel, Peru
"This time at the Minnesota retreat was a time of return to my life, where I not only laughed, rested, but also met friends with whom I could be vulnerable and grow."

Ramiro, Mexico
"This time was a gift from God. I felt honored, loved, sheltered. The greatest thing was that I met new pastor friends, new friends that we can support each other for life and learn from each other. A time of rest, food, fun, reflection, learning and listening to God. Many thanks to the organizers and donors. Thank you for investing in the pastors."

Luis, Mexico