Frequently Asked Questions

We are using the term monastery to describe a place where men and women live for a season to spend time with God, in nature and in community.

Location update!!!! We are excited to announce that the permanent location for the monastery will be on the island of Maui, Hawaii. We are currently in the fundraising stage of our process. After sufficient funds have been raised a location will be selected. Please be in prayer with us about this process. If you would like to donate to this cause, please go to the Support page to learn more.

A person must be at least 18 years old by the time they arrive to live at the property. 

Yes, both single men and single women are allowed to join the monastery. Widows are also encouraged to apply. Men and women will have separate living areas. Please see more about this subject below. 

No special clothing is required. Dressing in a religious fashion with religious clothing is discouraged. Clothing preferences are up to the individual. Very minimal requirements such as decency and modesty will be required. More details will be provided during the application process. 

Residents can stay at the monastery for a season.  A season can be more specifically defined as, much longer than a weekend retreat yet not a permanent place of residence. Each resident will work with the staff to find a suggested length of stay. This length of time may be 1 month, 2-3 months, just for a summer, possibly just a fall or spring season or even up to one full year. Our goal is for widows to be able to stay longer due to their unique situation. More information related to widows can be found below. Our goal is to work with you and see what length of time works best. 

For this program, a widow is an 18 year old or older female who has had a male spouse that has deceased prior to arriving at the monastery. 

This does NOT disqualify you from applying and possibly joining the monastery. This is a very unique situation which will be handled with care on a case by case basis during the application and interview process. We strongly encourage you to still apply. The application process is free. 

The maximum initial stay for any widow, is one full year from time of arrival. Each situation is unique. If a widow does stay one full year, and does desire to stay longer, an annual review will be conducted before the renewal of the following time period. This review will assist in determining if additional time on site will be granted or not. 

Families are not allowed to come and live at the monastery. If you are married and or have children under your primary care we do not believe it is right for you to leave those responsibilities of caretaking, to come and live at the property. In short, you must be single and or a widow as described above to join the monastery. 

Yes, absolutely! We will welcome family and friends to come and tour the property and visit with you on site. Visits will occur during the day and not include overnight stays. Visits by family will be planned in advance with set days and times so as to not disturb the other residents' time with God. For example, this might be one or two days of each month. You will be made aware of these available dates prior to joining the monastery. 

YES. Your time at the I AM LIFE monastery is expected to be paid in full prior to arrival. We will do everything we can to ensure that your payment, arrival, stay and departure are planned in advance. Please email us with any additional questions you may have. iamlifemonastery@gmail.com 

The cost of your stay will be more defined in the future. The total cost will be a combination of many elements that make up your stay. The number one factor that will determine the majority of your cost of stay, will be determined by how long you desire to stay. Right now; it is too early to guarantee the exact monthly cost. That being said; we estimate that at minimum a $1000 per month donation will be necessary. For example; if you desire to stay 3 full months, that would be approximately $3000 or more. You will need to make your total donation in full before your arrival. This will not include travel expenses to and from the monastery. It also does not include the money you will need basic necessities, meals, or any other medical needs you may have. 

PLEASE NOTE.  These totals are not set in stone and can change in the future. We will clarify all totals in writing before your first payment. We will reserve a spot for you after you complete the following 5 steps. 

1) Completed your application.

2) Complete a brief interview with one of our staff. 

3) Receive an acceptance letter 

4) Complete additional forms. 

5) Make your agreed payment in full. 

Please reach out to us with any questions you have: iamlifemonastery@gmail.com 

We are excited to see you there!!!

If you complete the application process, and are extended an opportunity to visit the property, we will arrange a time for you to come visit the property and see the living accommodations in person. 

Yes. Other people can help cover the cost of your stay. Please contact us with further questions about this process. 

If you are wanting to stay longer than you initially planned; a review will be conducted to approve or deny a longer stay. The length of that stay will be discussed and agreed upon during that process. Any extension of stay must be paid for in advance. Please reach out to us for more details. 

Once the property has been purchased, we will have a better understanding of what type of living spaces will be available. Our goal is to have a variety of living options that will accommodate various living arrangements. 

We will have a better understanding of how this part of your stay will work in the near future. Our goal is to make your stay as clean, safe, and enjoyable as possible. Please reach out to us with all of your questions.

Yes, there will be regular times of fellowship and gathering times. Some meetings will be required and some will be optional. The main purpose of your time is to have quality time with God, in the community and in nature. We believe that living with a community of like-minded individuals will be one of the greatest blessings of your stay. Your personal autonomy is important to us and mandatory times will be very minimal. 

 The main goal of the ministry is for you to be able to spend time with God, in nature and in community instead of work. We understand this may not be possible for everyone. This is why we safeguard your time at the monastery by requiring your payment in full before you arrive. Working while living at the property will not be allowed. Please reach out if you have any questions about this. 

No vows are required. This is one of the main differences of this ministry. We do not believe it is right for you to be expected to make any vows. Vows are between you and God. 

It is our goal to eventually have multiple forms of transportation available on site for residents to use at thier leisure. Having your own vehicle is strongly encouraged and can be very helpful although it is not required. We cannot guarantee at this time that transporation to and from the monastery will be provided for you. If you do not have a vehicle you will be at the mercy of asking other residents for help when you need transportation. You could use other paid transportation services such as shuttles, Uber or Lyft for example. If other residents at the monastery have the ability to assist their fellow residents with transportation; they will be encouraged to do so. Assistance from others is NOT guaranteed. If you are interested in purchasing a vehicle for the ministry, please reach out to us on the contact page or by emailing us at: iamlifemonastery@gmail.com

We hope to be a part of each residents journey and build lasting relationships with those we serve. We hope this never happens.... but residents are free to leave at any time. Unexpected life events can happen. Circumstances can change. If a resident does choose to leave, previously received donations for their stay will NOT be refundable. Residents will sign related forms in advance clarifying this understanding. 

At this stage in our development, no pets of any kind are allowed at this time. Fully trained and verified service dogs might be an exception to this rule. This will be determined on a case by case basis.