Creating a Place of Rest for Those Who Serve

This 200 year-old farmhouse on Winton Estate in East Lothian, Scotland will be the home of Soul Care Scotland.

A Heart for the Weary

After two decades of caring for missionaries in Budapest, Chris and Debbie Gibson have seen too many faithful servants return home broken.

The statistics are sobering: nearly half of all missionaries leave during their first term, with 71% of these departures preventable through proper soul care. When crisis forces them home for help, 60% never return to the field.

Behind each number is a life—a called servant whose flame has dimmed not from lack of faith, but from serving without adequate support in some of the world's most challenging places.

Chris and Debbie believe these devoted workers deserve more than survival. They deserve to thrive.

Meet Chris & Debbie Gibson

Chris is an ordained Presbyterian minister and Licensed Professional Counselor with specialized training in Critical Incident Debriefing and Crisis Intervention. Debbie brings extensive expertise in Healing Care, Formational Prayer, and Spiritual Direction, with deep passions for intercessory prayer and hospitality.

Together, they've spent 20 years providing highly effective ministry care in Budapest, Hungary.

Now God is calling them to establish something new—a sanctuary where weary souls can find the restoration they desperately need.


The Vision: Healing for the Soul . . .


"He restores my soul..." - Psalm 23:3

In the quiet beauty of Scotland's countryside, Soul Care Scotland will offer what many desperately need: a place where missionaries and Christian workers can process trauma with trained professionals, rediscover God's voice through spiritual direction, and experience the healing power of genuine Christian community.

This isn't just counseling—it's comprehensive soul care that addresses the unique challenges of cross-cultural ministry, from the isolation of serving far from home to the weight of ministering in spiritually dark environments.

. . . A Refuge for the Weary

Soul Care Scotland provides a peaceful retreat where guests serving in hard places can find rest and renewal. Many of these faithful servants work in spiritually dark environments often marked by poverty and chaos and leading to depression and emotional exhaustion that strains relationships families and marriages.

Our vision is a sanctuary where workers can step away from difficult environments—a quiet place where souls are restored, hearts healed, and visions renewed through dialogue with caring professionals who understand the unique challenges of cross-cultural ministry.

We believe missionaries are most fruitful when they are whole—body, mind, soul, and spirit.

God Opens the Door

After 20 years working in counseling ministry centers in Budapest, Chris and Debbie felt God leading them to establish a new base for member care. With their organization transitioning to a broader vision for reaching unreached people groups, and their adult daughters settled in the United States, they sought God's direction for their next chapter.

When exploring possible locations, Edinburgh, Scotland emerged as the clear choice—particularly the area of Pencaitland in East Lothian, just a 15-minute train ride from Edinburgh. Here, they discovered this charming, 200-year-old farmhouse on Winton Estate, an answer to prayer.

The Need Identified

Missionaries serving in difficult places require safe spaces for rest, renewal, and professional care to prevent burnout and sustain their ministries.

The Door Opens

God provides an ideal property in Scotland's countryside—a 200-year-old farmhouse with space for guests, located near ministry partners.

The Vision Expands

Beyond individual care, the property's location near additional guest facilities creates opportunities for team retreats and group training.

Comprehensive Care for Every Need

Our individualized care plans address spiritual, emotional, and physical needs, offering missionaries the specific support they require during challenging seasons of ministry.

Professional Counseling

Licensed counselors provide evidence-based therapy for individuals, couples, and families dealing with stress, trauma, burnout, and relationship issues common to cross-cultural workers.

Pastoral Care

Ordained ministers offer spiritual guidance, prayer, and biblical wisdom to help missionaries process challenges during difficult seasons. We offer week long spiritual pilgrimages through the Scottish countryside where you can experience God's presence and Christian community.

Spiritual Direction

Certified spiritual directors create space for missionaries to notice God's presence and activity in their lives, fostering deeper connection with Him and direction amidst ministry demands.

Holistic Ministry Support

We believe restoration happens through many pathways, so we provide varied approaches to meet different personalities and needs.

Coaching

Certified coaches help Christian leaders make progress focusing on goals, growth, and future possibilities, emphasizing strengths, accountability, and personal development.

Creativity & Hospitality

Bible journaling, healing through art, and worship through music provide alternative pathways for processing emotions, connecting with God, and finding healing beyond traditional counseling.

Critical Evacuations

When conflict erupts and regions become unstable, missionary teams often face dangerous, rapidly deteriorating conditions. In those moments, we offer a safe place — critical for physical safety and essential for emotional and spiritual recovery.

Our Proven Ministry Team

Together, our experienced team brings decades of cross-cultural experience, professional training, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by missionaries and Christian workers.

Chris & Debbie Gibson

Chris is an ordained Presbyterian minister and Licensed Professional Counselor with specialized training in Critical Incident Debriefing and Crisis Intervention. Debbie brings extensive expertise in Healing Care, Formational Prayer, and Spiritual Direction, with deep passions for intercessory prayer and hospitality. Together, they've spent 20 years providing highly effective ministry care in Budapest, Hungary.

Chris & Kirsten Furr

Based in Scotland for seven years, the Furrs provide established pastoral care, coaching, and leadership training. Their ministry complements the Gibsons' work and helps create a comprehensive support system for missionaries in need of renewal. Both seminary trained (Chris is an ordained EPC minister), Chris and Kirsten successfully planted and led a church in France for 12 years.

Your Gift Makes a Difference

Please prayerfully consider investing in kingdom workers today.

Monthly Operations: $5,500

  • Rent & Utilities: $2,600
  • Tax & Insurance: $500
  • Food & Kitchen: $1,000
  • Household supplies: $200
  • Maintenance: $600
  • Office/services Equipment & Supplies: $250
  • Transport: $350

There is no cost for missionaries who come for care. Your generosity removes one more barrier preventing weary workers from getting the help they need. Your gift helps make this possible.

Give Online

Ways to Give and Partner With Us

Give Online

World Outreach:www.epcwo.org/chrisdebbie

Ministry Essentials International at https://meintl.org/give/wg(select "Gibson 450" under Designations)

Mail Your Gift

World Outreach/EPC
5850 T.G. Lee Blvd., Suite 510
Orlando, FL 32822
(memo: "Gibson 224")

Ministry Essentials International
P.O. Box 4947
Wheaton, IL 60187
(memo "Gibson 450")

Other Ways to Give

Donate Supplies: Contact Debbie for a list of needed items.

Give via stock, IRA, or make a planned gift: contact Chris and Debbie to learn more.

Contact: gibsongoulash@hotmail.com

We could not do this without your partnership.

This is About People, Not Buildings

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Your partnership makes it possible to provide vital care for those who have given so much to share God's love in challenging environments. This isn't just about furnishing a house—it's about building and restoring people for Kingdom impact.

The advance of God's Kingdom depends not just on missionaries going to hard places, but on their flourishing there.

Thank you for making Soul Care Scotland possible. May God richly bless you for your kindness and support of this important ministry.