Cultivating wholeness in new adults so they launch into the world thriving in purpose and responsibility

An intentional time of practicing HOW to be in the world before deciding WHAT to be in the world.

The culture and systems we live with prescribe a common approach to adulthood. But not everyone grows at the same pace, and there's no one size fits all path to maturity.

The Gap at Sawmill Meadow provides a space for discovery, practice and processing so that time in the gap, between now and what’s next, allows for holistic growth in purpose and responsibility. 

DISCOVER

  • Life of responsibility

  • Identity in Christ

  • Who God is

  • Deep relationship with the Creator

  • Life in healthy communities

  • Barriers to thriving

  • Habits holding you back

  • Intersection between vocation & calling

  • Life where there is freedom in boundaries

PRACTICE

  • A life of disciplines designed to grow one another towards Jesus

  • Allows for failure, then growth

  • Habit reformation

  • A life of responsibility and commitment to others

  • Without fear of failure

PROCESS

  • Through reflection with

    • the host couple

    • the community

    • mentors

    • guest experts

  • Wins and opportunities

  • Leads to self-discovery and awareness

  • Leads to others awareness

The 9-month experience

June 15, 2025 through March 21, 2026


The full experience is almost 10 months in length. New adults will leave the program more confident and practiced in managing life skills and more confident and practiced in what it means to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.

In addition to the benefits of the 2 month experience, the 9-month experience will allow each participant to:

  • Launch with a faith that is their own

  • Develop and practice deeply rooted habits of discipleship and life skills

  • Establish long-lasting relationships with mentors, peers, and industry experts

The summer experience

Summer 2025 - June 15 - August 16


The summer experience is an abbreviated, 2 month experience , available for those who are not able to commit to the 9 month experience. Both cohorts will participate in the summer programming together.

The 2 month experience will allow each participant to:

  • Learn to live in community

  • Find their identity and calling in Christ

  • Learn and PRACTICE key life skills

Both experiences allow the participant to:

  1. Earn wages by being employed in the community and learning to budget their way through the program.

  2. Serve the community through volunteer opportunities.

  3. Enjoy the mountain adventures right outside our back door!

man and woman sitting on steps outside a lodge

The Gap at Sawmill Meadow was founded by Matt and Tammy Dorsett through a series of God directed events and outcomes as they approached the β€œempty nest” phase in life. After decades of leading Bible studies and small groups for children, teens and young adults as well as through experiences with their own children, Tammy and Matt were called to create opportunities for the next generation to be discipled intentionally and strategically in order to launch into adulthood confidently secure in their unique identity in Christ.

WHO WE ARE

We are a 9-month gap experience for new adults offering Christian discipleship and mentorship while living together in a renovated lodge in southern Colorado. Designed for those new adults who grew up knowing Jesus and currently feel trapped by expectations of what β€œshould” come next, our vision is to cultivate wholeness for the mind, soul, body and heart that leads to transformed, confident, and abundant life today AND tomorrow.

It can be scary to take this step but it is a step forward in the right direction. The Gap was the best 9 months of my life. Take the step. If you have no idea what to do with your life, The Gap is where you can start.

- Katie

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I think is essential to anyone in their new adult years. It is fundamental to have this time to slow down and determine how to move forward in life with the Lord.

- Joshua

It’s okay to extend your time between high school to college and take the time to figure things out.

It was a wonderful journey and I enjoyed every minute of it.

- Eve

It was a great time for me to take a step back and relearn a lot of things I have already learned but at a different depth and a slower pace.

- TJ

Hear ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE GAP AT SAWMILL MEADOW

At the trailhead of launching into adulthood are questions and unknowns. The Gap at Sawmill Meadow might be an option to consider for any 18-23 year old who is stuck moving forward on the trail or unsure about their role in society. Hear from current gappers, the host couple, volunteers, mentors, pastors and industry experts about what The Gap at Sawmill Meadow is all about and how we cultivate an environment for new adults to be who they are.

buffalo in a field with mountains behind

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BUFFALO?

The San Luis Valley in southern Colorado is home to many Buffalo or American Bison. A unique characteristic of the Buffalo is the response to approaching storms. Unlike most animals, and some humans too, the Buffalo intentionally face storms - think β€œchallenges” - head-on. Not only do they face storms, they CHARGE them and they do it together. And the result? They are on the other side of the storm basking in the sunshine much sooner than animals who choose to hide in the storm, or worse, run from it. This is the β€œlean in” culture that we strive to live out every day at The Gap at Sawmill Meadow. LEAN IN to hard things. LEAN IN to new things. LEAN IN to challenges. LEAN IN to your purpose.