Jon Norsworthy, the founder of the Sanctuary, first received a vision for the concept on May 7th, 2003. On that evening, Jon envisioned a reflection and healing retreat in the mountains for people who experience trauma while defending our way of life.

In the vision, the facility consisted of the lodge retreat itself, a debriefing center and a multi-media room where visitors can visualize others' problems as well as create presentations for proposed solutions. Jon envisioned visitors to the retreat coming from the military, law enforcement, national security, and first responder communities. At the Sanctuary we refer to these personnel who regularly put themselves at risk on our behalf as the “Guardians of Our Way of Life”. Since that night, Jon has been dialoguing with military, law enforcement, national security, and first responder personnel to find how this envisioned facility can best serve their needs.

Jon placed the Sanctuary charity under his existing 501c3, Agapao Center, Inc. , which was founded and incorporated in Florida in 1979 and has been serving other troubled people groups, addicts, single parents, and the abused.

Jon partnered up with Tony and Lisa Cross to conceptualize and implement the vision. Tony is a retired Special Forces veteran, and his wife Lisa was married to him for over twenty years of service. Lisa will be using her background by heading up an auxiliary outreach to spouses and family members of visitors to the Sanctuary.

Jon also partnered up with LCDR Kevin Baugh (USN, Retired) a former Navy SEAL, who has processed through the pain of seeing his own colleagues fall in combat. Kevin will be using the history of his own experiences as a spokesperson for, and mentor to, the facility and its visitors.