Friends in Christ,
I’d like to share the story of our first official meeting with Monroe Township’s leadership—not just as a project update, but as a testimony to how clearly and powerfully the Holy Spirit has been at work, guiding every step along the way, even before we ever entered that meeting room.
This journey began in 2018 during a Taizé service at a St. Charles of Borromeo Roman Catholic church in Sicklerville, New Jersey. My dear friend Carla Hanley had invited me to join her, and I was deeply moved by the silence, the scripture readings, and the simple, sacred music. It was in the stillness of that service that I received a powerful vision that would change everything.
In that moment, I saw the interior of a chapel. The floor plan was circular. The seating was arranged in several rows forming a circle, evoking a deep sense of unity and invitation. In the very center of the chapel was a radiant beam of light. It was a space created solely for prayer and meditation. The words of scripture echoed in my heart: “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”
Our architect, Frank Rapisarda, later designed the exterior of the chapel with windows lining every wall, allowing the surrounding wooded landscape to become part of the sacred space—so that no matter where you looked, you felt completely immersed in the peaceful presence of nature.
Though the vision was vivid, I had no idea how to begin bringing it to life. At one point, I sensed I would need an architect, but I didn’t know who to ask. Then one day, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across some architectural drawings posted by Frank Rapisarda, a friend from my high school graduating class. I felt prompted to reach out and tell him about the vision.
To my amazement, Frank told me he had already designed a structure that looked strikingly similar to what I had described. As we spoke further, we began imagining a full retreat center alongside the chapel—a sacred space for solitude, silence, and spiritual renewal. It would support people in deepening their relationship with God by offering time away to reflect, rest, and reconnect with His truth.
Later that year, Frank and his wife Boyd visited our home. My husband, Bill, and I took them on a walk through a wooded property next door—the land Bill had inherited from his parents. He had recently donated it to the Christian Meditation Center for this very purpose. As we followed the winding paths through the woods, Frank was moved by the beauty and serenity of the land. He agreed to design the chapel and retreat center. We were deeply grateful.
You can view the concept drawings and a short video of the project here: https://www.christianmeditationcenter.org/about/chapel-and-retreat-center/
Once the designs were complete, we began meeting with representatives from Monroe Township and the Pinelands Commission. While no formal decisions were made in those early meetings, we were encouraged by the response. Still, as founder and president of the Christian Meditation Center, I felt strongly that we should not launch a major fundraising campaign until we had clear, ample support from both agencies. It was important to ensure the project had a solid foundation—legally, logistically, and spiritually.
Eventually, the Pinelands Commission advised us on what needs to be done before they could offer final approval. They also suggested we schedule a formal meeting with Monroe Township leadership to gain their feedback and input.
That meeting was scheduled for May 28, 2025—seven years after the original vision. Leading up to it, we saw signs that God was aligning the path.
Just two weeks earlier, on May 10, I was helping my mom at the Spring Arts and Crafts Festival in Williamstown. She was selling plants as a vendor when the mayor stopped by to ask her gardening advice—completely unaware of who we were. It was a brief but friendly encounter, and I had no idea we’d be meeting again so soon.
As we prepared for the meeting, our project team included Tara Vargo (our attorney), Bill Gilmore (our civil engineer), Frank (who joined by video), and Bill and me. Just before the meeting began, we discovered that Tara Vargo and Bill Gilmore not only attended the same church but also worshiped with the person who had purchased our former business. These connections were completely unexpected and deeply encouraging—another reminder that God was weaving all the pieces together.
When we entered the room, the sense of divine orchestration only deepened. Both Mayor Wolfe and a council member recognized Bill from the years when we owned our shop. That familiarity helped the meeting begin on a warm and positive note.
We shared the story and the vision. I spoke about the calling behind the chapel and retreat center. Frank presented the designs and the concept video, and Bill walked through the site plan. After a thoughtful conversation and a few questions, the meeting came to a close. Mayor Wolfe expressed enthusiastic support and offered to help in any way he could to see the project move forward.
It was a holy moment. We walked out of that room knowing—this is really happening.
Kindest regards,
Teresa Yerkes
Christian Meditation Center
856-404-5704
tyerkes@christianmeditationcenter.org
christianmeditationcenter.org
P.S. We are deeply moved by how the Spirit continues to guide this vision into reality—from the first moment of inspiration to our recent, encouraging meeting with Monroe Township. As we move into the next phase, the greatest need is financial support to bring this chapel and retreat center to life. If you feel called to help, there are two meaningful ways to get involved: by making a donation or by joining us in our fundraising efforts. Please visit www.christianmeditationcenter.org/chapel-and-retreat-center to learn more, make a contribution, or reach out with ideas and support. And above all, we ask for your continued prayers—that God’s hand will keep leading this project all the way to completion.