October 2017 – “I thought I was ‘Mr. Invincible,’” Mike Jackson confessed. “I had the 17th largest sales force in the country. I was named Philanthropist of the Year.” Jackson was owner of EcoQuest, a flourishing $1.6 billion company marketing green technology products. But every businessperson knows success is never an unending series of mountain tops.

In the late 1990s, the Minnesota businessman and his wife Fortunata (Nata) moved to the rolling hills outside Greeneville, Tennessee, and built “The Mansion.” For a man who had grown up in poverty, the 22,000-square-foot home was a monument to himself and his phenomenal success.

Foundations – train up a child
The young Mike developed a strong work ethic, no doubt enhanced by his Swedish immigrant grandma who worked hard and taught him well. His mother had died at his birth, and Granny believed in the admonition of Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go.” She planted the seeds of faith in everyday ways. Christian teaching and music were part of his daily diet.

“KTIS, the Christian radio station, was always on in our house,” he recalls.

Mike and Nata met as teenagers working at White Castle fast foods, and they married at age 18. Nata was one of 14 siblings in a Catholic family, but not until Mike’s brother began witnessing to her did she find a personal faith in Christ. At her urging, Mike began going to church, and his grandma’s prayers were answered: He came to faith in Christ.

He quit his job to go to Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. After college, they moved back to the Twin Cities and entered the business world, which led him to EcoQuest. Then came the move south.

Failure – go stand on the mountain
A few short years later, Jackson’s business began to falter, and the banking and financial crisis of 2008-2009 saw his success crash to rock bottom.

“I couldn’t pay my debts,” he said. “The bank called in the note, and I was forced to sell the company I’d built my life on. I had $40 million of personal debt. It felt like my life had come to an end. When I turned over the keys, I cried like a baby.”

He soon sensed the Lord telling him to get away for a while. He said, “It was like the Lord told Elijah – ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence’” (1 Kings 19:11). He and Nata headed for the nearby Smoky Mountains to pray and seek God. Soon thereafter, they moved back to Minnesota, and no one who knows him well was surprised to see him rise to business success again with Vollara Corporation.

“I believe I have natural instincts for business and for people,” he said. “I’ll sweep floors and I’ll treat my employees well and do whatever else needs to be done – and I’ll do it all for the glory of God.”

Forward – get beauty for ashes
Ironically, the greatest part of Jackson’s success story is rooted in his 2009 failure. The scriptural principle of God giving beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3) played out in his life.

“In my deepest valley, God gave me a vision,” Jackson said. “He told me, ‘Turn your home into a Christian retreat center, a place for pastors to rejuvenate.’” Since 2009, the Jackson mansion has anchored a 200-acre ministry site called Elijah’s Harbor, a place of refuge for all who need spiritual refueling.

For a few years, the Harbor struggled along on auto pilot, serving too few guests. But Jackson realized he needed a full-time manager on site and shared that need with Pastor George Riddell, a guest at the Harbor. Immediately, the pastor thought of Joe and Pati Gatas, a couple in his congregation at Open Bible Baptist Church in Williamstown, New Jersey.

The Gatases were a seasoned business couple in the hospitality and restaurant field, having owned and overseen more than 50 restaurants. They also had 25 years of ministry – teaching, marriage counseling, writing curriculum – in Pastor Riddell’s church. He didn’t want to lose them, but he felt compelled to tell them about Elijah’s Harbor. They were intrigued with the potential for ministry.

After an initial meeting, Jackson invited Gatas to lead a pastor’s retreat. He immediately connected with the heart of servanthood he observed in Joe. Within weeks, Joe and Pati Gatas were pulling up stakes and heading for the Tennessee hills.

They hit the ground running when they arrived at the Harbor in 2015, and its impact has reached farther and farther ever since.

A visitor might think Joe and Pati had lived in this spacious mansion for decades – they’re clearly at home there, though their personal home is only a modest suite in the house that’s still called The Mansion. In addition to game rooms, the house has conference rooms, a fitness center, a coffee shop, a 1950s diner, and a number of guest rooms and suites that function as a traditional bed and breakfast.

Future – do all in the name of Jesus
Elijah’s Harbor hosts families and retreat groups in four additional houses on the property. It also offers a stocked catfish pond, a theater stocked with Christian movies, a dock and fishing on the Nolichucky River, hiking trails, and all sorts of animals – alpacas, donkeys, zebras, deer, and more.

“For retreats,” Gatas said, “we can house about 20 couples. And we’ll help groups with their retreats however we can. We’ll be part of the teaching team, I’ll lead all the sessions, or we welcome those who bring their own leaders.”

Jackson now rests easy, knowing that Elijah’s Harbor is a refuge that crafts its ministry to the needs of any group or any individual who needs a place to refresh, and recalibrate for their walk with Christ.

“My biggest thing,” said Gatas, “is serving my brothers and sisters in Christ.” He and Pati demonstrate true servanthood in the manner of Paul’s challenge in Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”   

A night at the harbor
Spending a night at Elijah’s Harbor last spring, I met Chuck Knoedler and Emily Mayhew, teachers at Cumberland Christian School in Vineland, New Jersey. I was a bit surprised to discover why they were there. They were with the CCS seniors, who had chosen Elijah’s Harbor over Disney World and other secular venues for their senior class trip.

It was inspiring to observe this group of atypical teens gathered around the Harbor’s stunning hillside pool for evening devotions. Of course they’d had plenty of fun – Dollywood one day, rafting another. And the Harbor’s game rooms offer pool table, table tennis, and more.

Still, it seemed an odd choice for a senior trip, so I grilled a few of the teens.

“Last year’s class came here,” Julia told me, “and they convinced us this was the place to go.”

“It’s nice here,” Nilson added. “The game rooms are great, but there aren’t too many distractions, and we can still connect in creative ways.”

Elijah’s Harbor is reaching every demographic with deep impact for Christ. For more information, visit elijahsharbor.com or call 856-465-7650.
Randall Murphree