The Old Cox Barn

Just north of Mount Airy, North Carolina, in southwest Virginia, near Hillsville, there is a wonderful retreat designed for missionaries and ordained pastors.

Geraldine and Sam Smith host there a rest stop for Christian missionary workers and ordained pastors. Best of all, it is free to them.

They bought an old barn several years ago and remodeled it into a beautiful mountain retreat with lots of light and friendliness.

The Smiths live in the home, too, but you always have as much privacy as you want.

We had the privilege of staying there in 2013 after a very difficult period in pastoral ministry.

We weren't the best guests because we were not in a great place emotionally at that time, having just left a very difficult pastorate. However, we very much appreciated the hospitality at the Old Cox Barn, even if we had a hard time receiving it at the time.

The Smiths provided two meals a day for our whole family in a nice bed and breakfast setting -- at no charge -- because we were in full-time ministry.

Because of all the nice, fragile things the Smiths have in their home, it is not the best lodging for small children we discovered, but for a small group retreat for adults it would be awesome as well as for missionaries or pastors looking for a quiet (really quiet) place to go and pray or study or write.

Close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and in the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains, let me recommend this place to you.

I don't have permission to give out their phone number publicly, so you will have to find them on your own, but when you do, you will find a very kind couple and a quiet retreat.

There is a creek in the field below the house.

The creek and old field extend down to another old barn.