Home : For Our Military

Sandy Cove Ministries has created Operation Oasis as a way to say thank you for the sacrifices made by our military. Our desire is that Sandy Cove would be an "oasis" for moms and dads and boys and girls – a place to rest and reconnect with one another after deployment.

Any service man or woman, including those in the Reserve and National Guard, returning home from deployment to the Middle East can come to Sandy Cove with their immediate family for FREE! This includes comfortable accommodations in the Chesapeake Lodge or Pioneer Campground cabins, all meals, recreation and program if scheduled. 5-nights for a family of four would normally cost up to $1800, but through generous donations, Sandy Cove is able to offer this as a FREE gift to military families to help you bond together and relax in a Christian atmosphere.

Reconnecting Military Families

Bring your spouse and/or children and join us for a Sandy Cove program…

Holiday Specials

• Memorial Day Weekend
• Labor Day Weekend
• Christmastide on the Chesapeake
• New Year's Eve Extravaganza, December 31 - January 1

Couples' Retreats
A romantic getaway for just the two of you at one of our Married Couples Conferences

• November 7-9, 2008
• Couples Retreat for Pastors: October 13-15, 2008

3-Night Family Vacations (Friday-Monday)

• Memorial Day Weekend
• Labor Day Weekend

Summer Together 2008 - summer fun, spiritual growth and a slower pace of life
5-Night Family Vacations (Sunday - Friday)

• June 29 - July 4 (Homeschool Week)
• July 6-11
• July 13-18
• July 20-25
• July 27-August 1
• August 3-8

Parent-Child Weekends

• Closer Moms and Daughters Weekend, July 25-27, 2008
• Father & Son Man Camp in West Virginia, September 5-7, 2008

…or anytime your schedule allows!
If no program or event falls during the time you wish to stay, join us for a two-night getaway together as a family or as a couple. It will still be a peaceful, quiet time regrouping together as a family on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay.

Soldier's Blessing

"When we come back from Iraq or Afghanistan we are expected to re-enter and adapt to a very different world. The transition from war to peace is confusing, at best, infuriating at its worst. Some of us have never left the desert. While in Iraq I had the opportunity to see the oasis visited by Abraham on his way out of Ur. The contrast is striking, even today, between the barren desert and the several dozen date-palms that get their life from the water there. But thanks be to God, there is a Sandy Cove Oasis that has given my family life. We have been loved by the staff and fellow guests with God’s love. This ministry, with all its wonders; the food, the pool, the boats, the pier, the river and most of all, the people all communicate the same message to us…that Jesus Never Fails… and that is precisely the message we needed to hear."

~ A soldier

I can do this...

"Today is Saturday and it’s our second day at Sandy Cove. During this entire deployment, it has seemed like hardly anyone cared about me and the children’s sacrifices that we have had to make in order to maintain our lives while my husband has been away with Operation Enduring Freedom.

Since my husband has been away, I have had a medical problem I had to deal with alone, my son has autism and had a very hard time adjusting to his Daddy being away (he tried to injure himself twice!), and my daughter’s kidneys have had a virus attack them and they are trying to shut down, and then she tore a ligament in her ankle!

They say the LORD does not give you more than you can handle, but I began to question that. With the normal day to day things it takes to run a home and keep a job, I had all of these extra things to cope with. I had to be both Mom and Dad and it all seemed to be getting more than I could handle. What’s worse is the Army would not help us at all! The Red Cross was called 4 times requesting my husband to come home and every time the Commander said, "no".

Regular civilians did not offer much help either. My children and I were running on empty physically, mentally and spiritually. We were broken. It seemed that no one cared about us and the sacrifices we were making to support and defend our freedom. People enjoy their freedom, but are not willing to help those that provide that luxury. That was until we were given this wonderful opportunity to get away from it all and come to Sandy Cove and for free too! The staff was so wonderful to us. There was a basket in our room full of things to make our stay just perfect. We had our own Operation Oasis dining table where people came up to us and thanked the kids and me for what we were doing.

Finally, someone cared about us and it feels awesome! We were able to rest, eat fabulous meals without cooking, have fun, and yes, hear God’s voice telling me I can do this. All the things going on in my life were so crazy that I could not hear or feel his voice or presence in my world. But, at Sandy Cove I have had my world slow down, see good things, experience appreciation and now know with His grace, I can do anything.

Thank you so very much for this unforgettable opportunity! It means more than words can say. Operation Oasis is a one of a kind program that I hope continues for many years to come.

Thank you again for letting us come here tired and lost, but leave rested and found!"

~ Kara

Sandy Cove Ministries is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal from the DC National Guard.

For members of our military deployed to the Middle East in recent years, stress has taken an immense toll on both the soldiers and their families. Chaplains, from all branches of the service, speak of withdrawal symptoms, increased violence, sleeplessness and other social adjustments as military personnel return home.

Sandy Cove has a history of providing our service men and women with refreshment of body and restoration of soul. After World War II, under the leadership of Sandy Cove’s founder, Dr. George Palmer, the needs of thousands of soldiers were met through "Welcome House" in New Jersey and "Victory Center" in Philadelphia. Operation Oasis Outreach has been created to offer a time of rest at Sandy Cove for those who have been involved in military operations in the Middle East.

Operation Oasis is made available by generous people who have donated to Sandy Cove. A week for a family of four would normally cost up to $1,800*. However, we offer this as a free gift to military families to help them bond together and relax in a Christian atmosphere. We are honored by their service and committed to making their re-entry a smooth process. *average family of four

• Read testimonials by those who have found a "Safe Harbor" at Sandy Cove here.
  
  
• If there are members of your congregation or community who would benefit from such a retreat experience, please e-mail operationoasis@sandycove.org or call: 800-234-2683.