Hidden in the quiet charm of Sungai Pelek, Sepang, is a cozy and comforting leisure farm that has made providing sanctuary for church retreats and spiritual leadership camps its special calling. My Nature Leisure Farm’s story is modest but it’s often within humble beginnings that God builds a calling. What is today a budding and sought-after retreat centre for churches across Malaysia did not begin with a grand blueprint or strategic plan. Instead, it started with a simple stirring in the heart of its founder, Alexis, who felt called to build a homestay.
Responding to that prompting, Alexis stepped out in faith. Just over a year of construction later, the homestay had grown into a 40-room farm resort. It was larger than she first imagined. “In the beginning we in fact did not envision that My Nature Leisure Farm would be called to serve the Christian community,” Alexis shared. “Somehow God directed our paths that way. We had our earliest clients from our circle of church friends, needs were aligned, and from there word of mouth began to spread. Eventually, almost naturally, our niche began to form and we found our calling as a church retreat venue. God works in mysterious ways.”
From these humble beginnings, My Nature Leisure Farm was gently shaped into a place where rest, renewal, and spiritual formation naturally take root. Since its founding in 2017, My Nature Leisure Farm has hosted 270+ groups with over 7200 guests.
A Mission of Stewardship, A Heart of Service
At the core of My Nature Leisure Farm lies a simple yet purposeful mission. Addison, spokesperson and Operations Manager from My Nature, expressed that the team is ever mindful of the resources God has blessed them with, striving to steward them wisely. They see the farm not merely as a business, but as a gift that has been entrusted to them, meant to be used to enrich and uplift churches and communities.
Sustainability is deeply embedded in My Nature’s operations. True to their philosophy of stewardship, they have made several commitments to reduce waste and care for the environment by Reusing plates, cups, and cutlery (no single-use plastics), Providing filtered drinking water instead of selling bottled water, Serving meals buffet-style to minimise packaging, and Donating all leftover food to a nearby Indian orphanage, Calvary Land elderly home, and local farm workers. These efforts reflect a simple principle that caring for God’s creation is part of caring for God’s people.
Addison explained that while My Nature does not conduct retreat programmes themselves, the team plays a crucial supporting role. Taking on the weight of the logistics, they ensure that accommodations, meals, seminar halls, and essential amenities are all taken care of so that pastors, youth leaders, and committees can focus entirely on what matters most to their ministries such as worship, teaching, fellowship, and spiritual formation. Their mission flows from a conviction to provide churches in Malaysia with a high-value retreat experience supported by dedicated service and comfortable facilities.
“We leave the specifics of these ministries to our guests. We aim to be non-intrusive yet we are always aware of the importance of the logistical aspects of such retreats. With this approach, we ensure the freedom and privacy of our guests, while making sure everything else runs smoothly. We let the guests focus on their programmes while we handle everything else,” he explained. This quiet but consistent posture of service has over the years become their ministry, and it has left a deep impression on church groups and families who return annually and leave positive reviews, trusting the team to care for their people with excellence.
A Place for Families, Youth, and Leaders to Grow
My Nature welcomes a variety of groups, from church family camps and youth gatherings to cell group getaways and corporate team-building events. Family camps hold a particularly dear place in their hearts. “I would say the most basic retreat – the church family camp, has the most significant impact, because it brings the whole church together with each other’s family members, spending a few days together conducting workshops, and playing games in the evening,” Addison shares. “To me, that works to solidify the family bond that is highly lacking and very much needed in our current society.”
Addison explains that a distinctive aspect of My Nature is the farm environment itself. Where traditional retreat centres may be set in conference-style buildings, My Nature’s surroundings immerse guests in greenery, fresh air, and the rhythms of rural life. For the team, this natural setting isn’t just a backdrop, but a purposeful aspect of the farm. “Retreat participants often describe how being in nature allows them to slow down, reconnect with God, and engage more meaningfully with their group. The simplicity of farm living helps strip away the noise and hurry of city life, creating room for reflection, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.”
Whether it’s youth encountering God during worship under an open sky, leaders renewing vision during morning devotion, or church members reconnecting over meals and games, the farm’s environment naturally encourages moments of depth and discovery. The natural surroundings enhance this atmosphere. Surrounded by greenery and open fields, guests find a rhythm of rest that is harder to come by in urban settings. The space offers quiet corners for reflection, fresh air for walks and conversations, and an environment that invites the heart to slow down.
At the same time, My Nature ensures guests do not have to forgo comfort. Amenities such as air-conditioning, water heaters, private bathrooms, and accessible facilities provide a balance of rustic simplicity and modern convenience. “Our goal is to provide our guests a safe space away from the city – a much needed respite from the hectic lifestyle of urban life – and to bond with each other and expose themselves more to nature, without sacrificing the amenities, comforts and facility convenience of the city life.”
Created with Ministry in Mind
Though the farm was not initially planned as a retreat centre, its facilities now reflect a deep sensitivity to the needs of ministry and group gatherings. “We have ensured that the essentials are all present. We endeavor to make sure our cabins are cozy and comfortable, and we have a fully-equipped seminar hall and a welcoming dining hall with catering provided,” Addison describes. “All of this is set in a green landscape with tall trees surrounding the camp site and beside a spacious field for group games and team-building sessions. These form the backbone of the retreat experience.”
Accommodation options are practical and thoughtfully designed for groups, with 40 individual cabins supporting a total capacity of 120 guests. Sorted into two different types, Double Rooms with a Queen bed, perfect for couples or speakers, and Quad Rooms with two double-decker bunks for groups of four, each room includes air-conditioning, an additional fan, an en-suite bathroom, and water heater, ensuring guests rest well during their stay.
Adding yet another distinctive touch to the farm are the hand-painted floral motifs on each cabin. A local artist was invited to live on-site for two weeks, painting each exterior by hand according to a floral theme envisioned by the team. These artistic details give personality and charm to the resort, turning the grounds themselves into a welcoming backdrop for ministry.
Excellent Service as a Spiritual Practice
More than buildings or fields, My Nature’s greatest strength is its hospitality representatives. The entire team works on-site during every retreat, ensuring that any request is addressed within minutes. This responsiveness has earned them a reputation for reliability among church organizers, who often juggle multiple responsibilities during camps.
“We handle issues immediately,” Addison says. “We want every camp to be memorable and impactful to the spiritual journey of our guests.” This eagerness to serve is not just about providing good service to clientele. It forms the authentic heart of their ministry.
Strategic Location, Accessible to Many
The farm’s location in Sungai Pelek, just an hour from Kuala Lumpur and 30 minutes from KLIA, makes it incredibly accessible. Addison shares that most of their guests travel from surrounding regions like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Seremban and Melaka, but some have come from as far away as Perak and Johor.
This proximity is a double-edged sword. It enables them to serve a wide circle of churches in the central and southern regions, though it naturally limits reach to those in the northern states like Penang. Nevertheless, this strategic location allows many churches to plan retreats with minimal travel time, a blessing especially for families with children and elderly members, something which the team at My Nature Leisure Farm is fully appreciative of.
To enrich the retreat experience, My Nature not only provides comfort and hospitality but also offers guided farm tours featuring dragon fruit and passion fruit orchards. These small activities add an educational and wholesome dimension to camp life, helping participants reconnect with nature and appreciate the beauty of creation.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Strategic Partnership and the Next Generation
As My Nature continues to serve churches, youth groups, and ministry teams across the country, the team is mindful that their calling is not only to meet today’s needs but also to invest in the next generation of Christian leaders. Looking toward the future, the team’s vision aligns closely with their hopes for the next generation. They see My Nature becoming a spiritual and leadership hub; an accessible, supportive space for church camps, youth retreats, and ministry development.
When asked about their hopes for the future, Addison shared a vision marked by both humility and long-term faithfulness. This vision also includes the desire to build stronger partnerships with churches. “Yes, we want to collaborate more,” Addison admitted. “We’re not always sure how to start, but we’re open. If anyone has ideas, we’re happy to hear them.”
“We aim to continue running this retreat centre to the best of our ability,” he explained. “But in a broader sense, we hope that one day My Nature can be included under a church denomination or Christian organisation. With stronger networks and shared resources, we could reach more Christians and offer retreats at friendlier rates. Right now, because we run the business ourselves, we still need to maintain a margin just to keep operations going.”
Addison relates that My Nature has also explored the possibility of hosting more structured programmes such as nature therapy, children’s outdoor education, or guided spiritual formation events. However, as he clarified, such expansions require careful discernment. Event-based ventures may mean turning away existing guests to reserve space for new programmes, creating risks that the team is still evaluating. For now, their priority remains stewardship: caring well for what God has already placed in their hands.
My Nature’s heart reveals a humble vision to be more than a venue, but a partner in discipleship. “However, we need the support from the church community,” Addison explains. In their eyes, the sustainability of My Nature is not about expansion for its own sake. It is about providing an ecosystem infrastructure that will strengthen the spiritual formation of Malaysia, especially for youth and emerging leaders.
Lessons Learned and Advice for Retreat Planners
Running a 40-room farm resort that hosts large groups week after week has brought its fair share of surprises. According to Addison, one of the biggest learning curves has been learning to receive challenges, and even criticisms, with grace.
To those planning retreats, the My Nature team offers two pieces of advice:
- Communicate clearly and honestly with your venue.
This helps the team prepare better and ensures your retreat runs smoothly. Even if you end up choosing another venue, they appreciate being informed instead of “ghosted” – it’s simply part of good stewardship on both sides.
- Always conduct a site visit before booking
Price is important, but the cheapest option may overlook value, convenience, or accommodation needs crucial for your retreat’s success.
What Success Looks Like for the My Nature Team
“For us, success is both practical and spiritual,” Addison expresses. “On the business side, success means being consistently occupied, not just during public holidays and long weekends, but throughout the year. This stability allows the team to continually maintain and upgrade facilities, ensuring guests have the best experience possible.
“Spiritually, success looks like impact: seeing churches refreshed, leaders renewed, and youth encouraged; creating space for the Holy Spirit to move; and knowing that every retreat held at the farm has contributed, in some way, to the strengthening of the Malaysian church.”
A Quiet Ministry Making a Lasting Impact
Over the years, My Nature Leisure Farm has become more than a venue. It has become a sanctuary where churches reconnect, families strengthen their bonds, youth encounter God afresh, and leaders rediscover clarity and unity. Through simple hospitality, reliably provided and consistently refined, the team has helped shape countless retreat experiences across Malaysia.
In a world that moves quickly, My Nature offers a different pace, a space where people can breathe, reflect, and draw near to God and one another. That, perhaps, is the beauty of its story: what began as a simple homestay focused on providing an accommodation service for families in the surrounding region has taken on a ministry built and developed with intent and in faithfulness.
Christianity Malaysia would like to thank Alexis, Addison, and the team at My Nature Leisure Farm for their hospitality and kind assistance throughout the production of this article. May it go out to bless many others. For more information about My Nature Leisure Farm, you may visit their website at https://mynature.com.my/ and their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mynatureleisurefarm
All photos kindly provided by the team at My Nature.
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