The Story of The Simple Farm
From Farm to Table to Soul Care.
Sometimes God prepares us for the work he has in mind by first inviting us into a phase of the journey which you didn’t foresee. For us, it’s about creating and cultivating. We have always been about people and cultivating relationships.
We began to cultivate a farm which in the right season turned into creating a space and place for soul care.
What began as a vision to reclaim a neglected piece of land in Scottsdale, Arizona, became much more than a farm. Over the years, God used gardens, shared meals, hospitality, and ordinary moments to shape not only a place but hearts. Looking back, we can see His faithful hand through every season.
From gardens, goats, and farm-to-table dinners...to The L.O.F.T. — the soul care extension of The Simple Farm unfolded.Read more below.
Phase One - Scottsdale, Arizona • 2012–2025
The Simple Farm began on a patch of weed-choked land owned by the house church I (Michael) pastored. I had a vision to reclaim it, and fortunately, Lylah has always been willing to jump into my ideas. While I built garden beds, planted trees, and put up fences, she imagined flowers, herbs, vegetables, and animals—and saw beauty where there wasn't any yet. Neither of us knew much about farming, but with prayer, a little help from YouTube and some friendly folks at Home Depot, we began. With no budget or funding, we took a costly leap of faith and sold both of our homes to make the vision possible. Over the next thirteen years, that little patch of land became The Simple Farm—an unexpected oasis in the middle of Scottsdale, filled with gardens, animals, farm dinners, workshops, and a table where people could gather, slow down, and reconnect with God, one another, and nature. Looking back, we were cultivating far more than gardens.
In May 2025, I completed a thirty-year pastoral assignment. For several years, Lylah and I had sensed God leading us into a new season. After thirty years in pastoral ministry and thirteen years stewarding The Simple Farm, we knew it was time for our own season of rest and renewal. We stepped away and spent a sweet, refreshing time near family in Southern California, praying, listening, hosting many around our Sabbath table and dreaming about what might come next. One thing remained clear: our desire to bring people around the table hadn't changed. But now we envisioned a quieter place, surrounded by woods and a creek—a kind of modern retreat house where weary ministry leaders could step away for a few days of soul care, rest, and renewal. That journey eventually brought us to Tennessee.
Phase Two - The L.O.F.T Unfolding
