Founder's Vision

Jonathan and Chrissa Edwards have had a long-standing burden for a place of help, hope, and healing for the Christian community. More and more pastors and Christian workers are experiencing extreme stress in the ministry, and some are bailing out under the pressure. Christians in general need strengthening and encouragement as the world seems to become more and more difficult to navigate as the days go by. The Edwardses desired to create a place where God’s people could be helped and ministry personnel especially could find the respite and resources needed to carry on, a place where conferences and retreats would be held to help build faith through the ministry of God’s Word, the Bible, and where godly friendships could be forged to provide support.

After two church planting endeavors, one in Salt Lake City and another in Salina, Utah, the Lord moved them to Marysvale and provided them with a ranch where they have kept horses that have been used at Utah Independent Baptist Camp.

While involved in planting a third church in this new locale, Marysvale Baptist Church, they formed Eagle’s Nest Baptist Ministries, Inc., and hired a lawyer to help them draw up the papers to apply for 501(c)3 status in 1999. To facilitate this vision, they donated 29 acres of the ranch to the new Ministry in 2000 and asked God for the wisdom, finances, and help to build it. Over and over, they saw the Lord send just the right people at just the right time. Early on, Jonathan and Chrissa were talking one evening about where on the property to locate the building and the best route to bring a road up to the building site. There was a knock at the door. When Jonathan answered, there stood a faithful Christian friend from Wyoming who “just happens” to have extensive excavation experience! He was seeking lodging for the night on his way home from visiting family in Phoenix.  They welcomed him in and, of course, sought his helpful input about their excavation project.

Over the next few years, as the Lord provided the funds, they trenched in water, electric, and phone lines along the new road and carved out a 60x100 building site in the hillside. Finally, in 2007, with the help of the Bob Jones University Mission Building Team, the first concrete footers were poured.  The leader, Brad Slocum, was an experienced contractor, and the Lord blessed again by bringing his team first. He caught some errors on the plans that he believed would have compromised the structural integrity of the building. He and the architect came to a good agreement, and the work progressed. 

Many mission teams and individuals have come over the years. Hundreds of God’s people from all over the country have had a hand in building this structure. The Edwards’ had purposed to build without debt, and by God’s grace, they were able to do just that. Most of the donations that came in were not large or from large corporations. For the most part, average Christians sent what money they could. Eagle’s Nest stands as a tribute to those people who have given their money, time, and talents to the Lord to build it. Every worker has expressed a desire to see this ministry be used of God to bless scores of lives.

Board Members

Dr. Jonathan Edwards was raised in a Christian home, saved as a young boy, and called to preach as teenager. He graduated from Bob Jones University with a BA in Bible and joined Northwest Baptist Missions. In May 2018, he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from BJU. He and his wife Chrissa have been used by God to start three churches in the state of Utah. He serves on the executive board of Northwest Baptist Missions and the advisory board of Grace Reigns, an outreach to polygamous communities in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. He helped start Utah Independent Camp and directed the camp horsemanship program for 25 years. He pastored Marysvale Baptist Church for twenty-five years and delights in mentoring young pastors in other parts of the state. Currently, the Edwardses are anticipating a more itinerant ministry, through which they hope to challenge younger people to give their lives to serve Christ.