A REFUGE FOR PEOPLE GOING THROUGH
TOUGH OR UNCERTAIN TIMES
OUR CHARITABLE PURPOSES
OUR CHALLENGE
It’s not supposed to be this way. We believe that Songbird Abbey is an antidote to many of the sadnesses and sorrows of modern life.6
HOW WE’RE GOING TO HELP
We need true community in the midst of tough or uncertain times.
Songbird Abbey is a family based community, set in a smallholding, offering Christian hospitality to create a supportive environment for people going through tough or uncertain times, offering them the chance to rediscover peace, silence, and acceptance amidst the beauty and simplicity of a rural farm.
3 PRACTICES
OUR TEAM DISTINGUISHES US.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Michael Miller
STEWARD
Life Coach. Previously a partner at a specialty boutique brand agency. 30 years experience in the Graphic Design Industry. Co-Leads Hesed Discipleship Network creating emotionally healthy communities that help people live healed and flourishing lives together. Mike works with our teams to develop a healthy discipleship community among our residents and staff.
Jeremiah Davis, OMS
CHIEF STEWARD
Builder. Eagle Scout. Member of the Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS). Owner of numerous businesses. An Ordained Minister with a Masters in Christian Education, Jeremiah is currently getting certified as a Spiritual Director. Jeremiah runs the day to day workings of Songbird Abbey.
Tricia Davis
GOVERNESS
Teacher. Administrator. Started and led a successful Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Ministry. Co-Leads Adventure and Wonder, a homeschool network in KC. Homeschools her 4 children. Tricia keeps the administrative backend of Songbird Abbey running.
OUR TEAM DISTINGUISHES US.
Tim Holgerson
SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Tim is a Spiritual Director in Kansas City and has worked with hundreds of pastors/teachers..
Mike Miller
DISCIPLESHIP
Mike leads our ministry team and works with all our residents to create a healthy discipleship community.
Bryan and Cassie Dolinar
BETHEL CONTRACTING
Bryan and Cassie own and operate Bethel Construction LTD. They consult with Songbird Abbey on construction and contracting and help with the heavy machinery.
MINISTRY TEAM
PROPERTY TEAM
Pam Pickard
LIVING GREEN
A landscaping business owner. Pam consults on land, garden, and livestock.
Jeremiah & Tricia Davis
STEWARDS OF SONGBIRD ABBEY
Jeremiah and Tricia have been small scale urban homesteading for 6+ years keeping a flock of 15 chickens to lay eggs, co-managing a flock of chickens for meat, rabbits, backyard gardening, container gardening and more. They run the day to day operations on the property.
Jeremiah Davis
SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Jeremiah is currently being certified by Sustainable Faith in Spiritual Direction. He is an ordained minister and pastor with a Masters in Education.
OUR TEAM DISTINGUISHES US.
THE REST OF THE TEAM
(Members at Large)
[TBD]
MENTAL HEALTH
Advises on Mental Health at Songbird Abbey.
[TBD]
NON-PROFIT ATTORNEY
Advise and assist in running the non-profit.
[TBD]
CIVIL LITIGATION ATTORNEY
Advise and assist in litigation matters.
[TBD]
CPA
To record and write payroll, record and file taxes.
PAUL SIDWELL
SIDWELL HOMES
Paul is a real estate broker in KC with 10+ years experience in the real estate market.
FUNDRAISING TEAM
Justin and Shelli Jones
RIVER AND ARROW CONSULTING
Justin has a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management (Eastern University 2015) and currently serves as a Senior Philanthropy Advisor for Wycliff, one of the world’s largest Bible translation ministries. Justin and Shelli consult on projects with Songbird Abbey as the need arises.
Jonathan Klee
PERCEPTION FUNDING
The team at Perception Funding manages the online donations and overall funding strategy of Songbird Abbey
Jeremiah Davis
DAVIS MARKETING+
Creates content and marketing material, manages the website, email integrations, and overall marketing strategy.
TO BE DETERMINED
MEET OUR FIRST RESIDENT
“I do the breakfast dishes which gives me something to be responsible for, it is valuable to know I am contributing daily to the family rhythms even in something so small as clearing up after breakfast.
“The workday is a place to put my hands to the ground and work through the trauma. We discuss the future of family, work, God, and slow down when we need to.
“Family has become a safe place to enter into again. Never have I felt unsafe, rarely have I felt un-heard, and I always feel seen and cared for. This has become a safe haven for me, a place of refuge. Songbird Abbey is pursuing faith based living, heart driven habits. They have created an environment that someone like myself going through extreme trauma and pain can step into and feel completely safe to truly recover and envision a healthy future again.”
OUR INSPIRATION
Red Moon Rising
Pete Greig
“The Celts didn’t just plant churches in the sense we know of them today; they established complex, redemptive communities like little “colonies of heaven”. Known as muintir, ancient communities of prayer, mission, pilgrimage, care, creativity, and education……we drew up a simple, monastic “Rule of Life” to provide guidance for Boiler Rooms, defining three priorities common to every community and six practices by which these three core priorities can be earthed and worked out practically.” (271)
A Place of Refuge
Tobias Jones
“First and foremost we are a family home where we lay half a dozen extra places at the table and provide half a dozen extra beds…communal living offers the chance to find belonging instead of rootlessness, commitment in place of impermanence, and purpose rather than despair.” (8)
No Neutral Ground
Pete Portal
“The poor don’t need sandwiches and shoes, they need a place at your table for the next twenty years.” (206)
Adorning the Dark
Andrew Peterson
“As far as it was in my limited power to do so, I wanted to mend the world - one acre at a time.” (50)
OMS GUIDE
Order of the Mustard Seed
“We will work simply and quietly. Even if we never see wonders with our own eyes or hear them with our ears, we are planting the kingdom of heaven into the nations and will look for the fruit which grown from it.” (Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf)
OUR INSPIRATION
The Pilsdon Community
Windsor Hill Wood
Click the Picture Above to Learn More
Click the Picture Above to Learn More
Click the Video Above to Play the Interview of Windsor Hill Wood on the One Show
WHAT IT WILL BECOME
RESIDENTS AT SONGBIRD ABBEY
Farmhouse: The host family stays in the farmhouse with it’s common rooms (including the living rooms, community rooms, kitchen, etc) and bedrooms (private wing for the family).
Shepherd Huts: Residents have the option of staying in shepherd huts on site, mobile tiny homes constructed to provide privacy and functionality. 1 or 2 bedrooms in the farmhohuse may also be available as the opportunity allows (with BOD approval.).
Long Term Stays are our focus, allowing appropriate time for guests to become part of the rhythm of life and community, to have time away from their challenging situations and to have time for a certain level of recovery.
Short Term Stays, provide an opportunity for those guests to reflect on their next steps.
Wayfarers, those on a journey and intending to stay only 1 night or a weekend. These persons are not allowed to apply to stay again for 6 weeks to limit vagrancy at Songbird Abbey.
Intended Occupancy rate of 70% throughout the year, open most nights of the year, with a short closure at Christmas and up to two weeks closure in the summer.
WHAT ARE SHEPHERD HUTS?
"Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp so that whenever he comes to us, he can go there." Shunammite Woman (2 Kings 4:10)
Shepherd Huts have become a growing trend in glamping businesses and are one of the best options for tiny home living in colder environments. Each Shepherd Hut has a bed, compost toilet, kitchenette, a small fireplace, and more. Rustic Charm + Comfort
We are currently working with Plankbridge to create out huts.
Who Are We?
Tricia and I (Jeremiah) have been married since 2007 and currently have 4 children. Last year my wife and I opened our home to a bereaved, divorced parent who lived with us for ten months. Shortly after that, we formed a non-profit called Songbird Abbey.
The vision for Songbird Abbey started when I read A Place of Refuge by Tobias Jones, the story of Windsor Hill Wood. Moving to a homestead, he and his wife opened their home to people who were depressed, recovering alcoholics, soldiers experiencing PTSD, or were just plain odd, and discovered “communal living offers the chance to find belonging instead of rootlessness, commitment in place of impermanence, and purpose rather than despair”. Everything clicked - this is what the Davis’ are going to do for the next 30 years.
So, we’ve researched and learned how other communities across the UK, South Africa, and the U.S. formed similar nonprofits. We’ve worked with groups like 24-7 Prayer USA, trained with Hesed Discipleship Network, and taken up Urban Farming to become the kind of people who can accomplish this vision. We established monastic rhythms when I took the vows of the Order of the Mustard Seed; we became an extended household when a distressed friend lived with us for 10 months. Along the way, we’ve built a team who have the same vision. And we are ready for what’s next.
WHY ARE WE THE ONES TO DO IT?
OUR MODEL
A family based community, set in a smallholding, offering Christian hospitality to create a supportive environment for people going through tough or uncertain times, offering them the chance to rediscover peace, silence, and acceptance amidst the beauty and simplicity of a rural farm.
16-Week Hesed Discipleship Network thrive community training.
Perception Funding partners with Songbird Abbey.
First financial partnership formed with Songbird Abbey.
Songbird Abbey hosts the first nationwide USA OMS Vow Ceremony in Kansas City.
Davis’ move to Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Jeremiah reads A Place of Refuge by Tobias Jones.
Jeremiah takes membership vows to enter the Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS)
Jeremiah takes OMS initiate vows for the year of preparation.
Legal formation of Songbird Abbey by Mike Miller (Hesed Discipleship Network) and Jeremiah and Tricia Davis.
Davis’ open their home to a bereaved, divorced friend in need of a place of refuge.
2016
2018
2019
2022
2023
2023
2020
2023
2023
2024
BUILDING & GROWING SONGBIRD ABBEY
CURRENT FORMATION (2023)
GROWING & INVESTING (FUTURE)
BUILDING & FUNDING (2023-2024)
CREATING A PLACE OF REFUGE
PHASE 1: Planning and research to purchase a Homestead in Kansas City through Mortgage Partnerships and/or online giving.
PHASE 2: Build out the Homestead with prayer silo and gathering/fellowship areas, paths, and landscaping. Establish animal fields, purchase farm implements and livestock including Jacob's Sheep, pigs, chickens, and rabbits. Dependent on PHASE 2
PHASE 3: Build accommodations for people. We are working with a contractor to determine costs to build Shepherd Huts on site. TBD
2024-2030
We are excited to build Songbird Abbey together to help people in this critical time in history.
Heirloom Seeds and Heritage Breeds
Shepherd’s Huts
Retreat Center
FUTURE
Build monthly partnerships with Songbird Abbey to help fund the day to day expenses of running Songbird Abbey including insurance, applications, online giving platform, staff salary, and more.
NOW
Property Example
13771 Robinhood Lane, Kansas City, MO
YOUR INVITATION
GROUND BREAKERS
Our desire isn’t to build alone and realistically we can’t. We need an army of people, sowing their time, and funds into this with us. So, we want to personally invite you into this with us. Here are some ways to you can help us reach our goal and giving incentives.
LEGACY BUILDERS
Those who give any amount.
- Invited to the first Songbird Abbey gathering and tour.
SONGBIRDS
Those who give $1K+
- Invited to the first Songbird Abbey gathering and tour.
- Invited to the ground breaking ceremony.
- Engraved Songbird Wind Chime placed on property.
BUILDERS
Those who give $10K+
- Invited to the first Songbird Abbey gathering and tour.
- Invited to the ground breaking ceremony.
- Engraved Songbird Wind Chime.
- Invited to quarterly luncheon at Songbird Abbey.
Those who give $50K+
- Invited to the first Songbird Abbey gathering and tour.
- Invited to the ground breaking ceremony.
- Engraved Songbird Wind Chime.
- Invited to quarterly luncheon at Songbird Abbey.
- Planting a tree in the orchard as an act of legacy and harvest for the future.
- Invitation for weekend stay at Songbird Abbey
HELP SONGBIRD ABBEY
Songbird Abbey is a registered 501c3 charity and any donations made will be tax deductible as allowable by law according to the IRS.
ASSET TRANSFERS
Songbird Abbey has partnered with Perception Funding for Asset Transfers including:
PARTNERS
Partnerships to build the future:
GENERAL FUND
Donate to the general fund to cover the day to day expenses of Songbird Abbey through:
SOCIAL GOOD BENEFITS
A family based community, set in a smallholding, offering Christian hospitality to many.
Songbird Abbey exists to create a supportive environment for people going through tough or uncertain times, offering them the chance to rediscover peace, silence, and acceptance amidst the beauty and simplicity of a rural farm:
WHY ARE WE SEEKING PARTNERS
1
So we can create space for more people.
Right now we’ve maxed out our space. If we expand our space we can help more people.
2
To step into our potential.
We’re ready to have the resources backing us so we can step it up a notch. It’s time to make this into what it can be.
3
To form partnerships into the future.
We have a big vision and we want to expand with partners that believe in the vision, who we like to work with, and with mutual trust in each other. Let’s form those relationships now so we can take big strides into the future.
Thank You!
Jeremiah Davis
WEBSITE: https://songbirdabbey.org
TEXT: 682-365-4383
EMAIL: Jeremiah@SongbirdAbbey.org
DONATE NOW
Become a Partner!