A big thank you to this year's corporate sponsors! 

By Bethany Trull

     God’s character is trustworthy and steady as life ebbs and flows. I came into internship thoroughly believing that God somehow uses all of our experiences for good because He wastes nothing. Hearing stories of tragedy and trauma tested that belief. Rather than letting go of that concept, the Lord gave me the desire to ask Him for understanding in how He could use everything for good. Already, I have seen some of those prayers answered. But as one of my professors in college says, “Healing is heaven.” We will not be able to have all the answers we want on earth. But I keep praying expectantly for faith that God’s goodness is shown through pain and suffering.
  
     This year of internship is reflected in many notes all over my Bible. I now see God’s character and promises clearer and deeper. He can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). He gives wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5). He is unchanging (Malachi 3:6). I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to experience change only God can make in my life and the lives around me.
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     Internship has shown me how to give all of myself to one thing. Mastery of the role does not come all at once. There is always more to learn and grow in. That has been incredibly humbling. But I am learning that I must let God be God, and it is good for me to experience my human weakness. The phrase “God equips the called” comes to mind frequently. I hold onto what God said to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The more I lean into my inability and God’s omnipotence, the more I understand what it is to be God’s vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7).

​By Kendall Henson

     A few months ago, my intern team spent a portion of our “Intern Night Out” in prayer over our students. We delegated prayers to make sure everyone was covered, and I realized I would be praying for a student I had struggled with that week. As my turn drew closer, an image began to form in my mind. I stood in the throne room of God, surrounded by the light of His glory. The student in question stood behind me, and I realized I was there to present them to the Lord, and seek His love and mercy for them, as an ambassador. I took the student’s hand and stepped closer to the throne, and felt, in that moment, a new and precious love for this person, a child so desperately loved by the Father that I could no more protest that fact than deny His love for me.

     Author Francis Chan writes, “The theology that matters is not the theology we profess, but the theology we practice.” As an intern I have learned to practice my theology as I wipe crumbs from a table. I have learned to practice my theology as I gather yet another pile of brush on yet another rainy Wednesday. I have learned to practice my theology in every seemingly inconsequential moment spent in community with my students. Most importantly, I have learned to practice my theology by daily surrendering my students to the Father, and asking Him to reveal to them His heart of perfect love and mercy. I imagine my crucified Christ doing the same for me. This is the power of Christian Encounter Ranch.

By Rachel McCracken

     I am afraid I will be left alone. I sat in a staff member’s office last week and listened to those words roll off my lips and settle in the room. Yes, through many moments during my time at the Ranch, God has led me to realize this core fear of mine. It is a fear which deeply affects the way I live.

     Almost nine months ago, I entered internship crippled by the thought that my sin could, and probably would, hurt the students. They already bear many scars from people in their past; I did not want to add more hurt. I am currently reading Tim Keller’s book Forgive: Why should I and how can I? While reading it, I realized my fears of hurting others and being alone were deeply connected. They were connected in self-pity.

     Keller argues that we do not acknowledge the gravity of our sin against God when our motive for repentance is self-centered: I am sorry for what I did because of what it cost me. “Self-pity looks like repentance, but it is self-absorption, and that is the essence of sin,” Keller writes. “[It] arises chiefly from a fear of punishment, while true repentance arises from a consideration of God’s goodness and therefore a sense of one’s own ingratitude and lack of love” (pg. 146-147).

     As I carry out my days at the Ranch as an authority figure in our students’ lives, I am often shackled by the fear of making the wrong call or wrongly acting in my heart towards the students. I am afraid of sinning. Why am I afraid to recognize that I am a sinner? Running from this reality denies a core aspect of the gospel: my need for forgiveness and grace.

     Furthermore, I realized that my fear of sinning derives from my fear of hurting others, pushing them away, and being left by those I have wronged. There it is: my fear of being alone. My self-pity—my sorrow because I am afraid of how my sin could cost me—drives me to inaction. I am unwilling to acknowledge my sin and step into the freedom God offers me through repentance and grace. But praise God: He is freeing me from this. 
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     Learning this lesson in internship has deepened my humility, my relationship with God, and my realization of the freedom I have in Him to live and serve others. God is mightily using internship and the community at the Ranch to teach me this lesson and start to free me from fear’s hold on me.

     The Alumni Award for 2024 is in memoriam, given to Kim Baker, who passed away in 2017. 

   Kim was a student at Christian Encounter from 1985-86. After leaving the Ranch, Kim returned home to Huntington Beach, CA, and finished high school. She continued her studies at Hope International University, and graduated from Cal State, Fullerton in ‘91 where she studied Music Education and Mathematics. She worked at a school for five years and then as the Assistant Credit Manager for a manufacturing firm in Fullerton, CA. All the while Kim worked with high school girls in her local church.

     In April of 2010, Kim’s missionary dreams became a reality. She joined MAF, Mission Aviation Fellowship, as the finance manager in Maseru, Lesotho. Kim worked with MAF for 14 years. 
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     In November 2015, Kim adopted Wyleigh from an orphanage in Lesotho. They had a couple of sweet years together before Kim’s cancer diagnosis in 2017. She passed away that same year. Kim was singing worship songs with friends who visited her hospital bed up until her final days. 

Judah shared these words from the stage at graduation: 

     I was originally apprehensive about coming to the Ranch, a program for - as far as I understood it - troubled or misguided youths, neither of which I considered myself. However, in weighing my options, I figured that it would be the best choice regarding my circumstances. Regarding my circumstances, I lost my mother to Covid-19 on November 8th, 2021, at just 14 years old. After her passing, I entered a long period of numbness regarding my grief that lasted until midway into the summer of 2023. I would later learn that her passing would result in the onset of my - now diagnosed - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I also needed some method with which I could finish my high school education, and the Ranch seemed like a way to kill two birds with one stone.

     I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the choice to come here is one of the best decisions I have ever made. During this time I have had the chance to be surrounded by a supportive community to help me in the processing of my grief, and a wonderful group of teachers to help me finish out high school. I have had some of my darkest days here. Days when I was genuinely unsure I could go on through the onslaught of unbridled sorrow and the mental spiraling due to OCD I have been subject to. But it is with joy that I look back and see that not one of those days has lasted.
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     The interns and staff here have been an absolute blessing to me in the last eight months. I never thought I’d cry on the shoulders of more strangers than I can count on one hand, but I have, and not once did I hear a complaint in regards. Neither did I hear a complaint when I woke up the entire guys dorm at one in the morning, nor did I hear a complaint from [my intern] who drove me to the ER.

​To close out the school year, we have an “open house” where our students have the opportunity to display their work. Here are some snapshots from the evening.

​Addy stood before the congregation and shared these words at her baptism:      

     I grew up in a Christian home, and my dad is the pastor of my home church. I grew up hearing all the Bible verses and going to Sunday school and all that. I’ve never really thought about what it means to be a Christian. I’ve witnessed several baptisms. I knew that it was a good thing, but I didn’t really take time to think about it. I remember thinking that because I went to church I was already saved. I eventually learned that was not how it worked. I eventually decided I wanted what my parents had, which was a strong faith in the Lord. 

     They seemed happy and I wanted that. As time went on, I started to have a hard time at home and became very angry with everyone around me. I decided I wanted nothing to do with God and whenever my parents tried to mention something that had to do with the Lord, I would roll my eyes and tell them to stop or just walk away. 

     I refused to read the Bible, and sometimes refused to go to church. My heart was very hard towards the Lord. Sometimes, when I was forced to read something related to God, I would do it with no problem, but I wouldn’t actually pay attention.  

     A couple of months ago, however, Brent told me that I should read the Bible sometime. I said no, but that night I read it anyway. I ended up reading John 3-4 where it talks about being born again and when Jesus met and redeemed the Samaritan woman. That stirred something in me. I didn’t know what, and to be honest, I really didn’t care. 

     Two weeks later, tickets to a Lauren Daigle concert got donated and that’s where everything changed. I could hear the Lord calling out to me and telling me to come to him. As much as I wanted to, I felt resistance and I wasn’t sure that I could. 

​       A couple of weeks later, I sat down to journal and found myself talking to God. 

     He again spoke to me, only this time He asked me if I was ready to trust Him. After thinking for a couple of minutes, I said “yes” and gave my life to the Lord. 

     It took me a bit of time to decide to get baptized. I knew it was the next step but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to and again was struggling with resistance. After thinking about it  and talking to the Lord, I finally decided to take the next step. 
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     I am a bit nervous, but this is part of following Jesus.

     “One of the first times I overdosed, I was at a buddy’s house smoking. It was the 4th of July. I smoked the same amount as I did any other time. I don’t know if this stuff was stronger. Next thing I knew I blacked out. My buddy tried to give me CPR.... He threw me in the car as fast as he could and drove me to the hospital. I was dead for a couple of minutes. I woke up in the hospital.” 

     Brent’s life had been steeped in drugs for the past couple of years. He had gone to rehab a couple of times to try to get clean, but each time he would relapse. He had been stealing to sustain his addiction until one day a passerby caught him in the act and made a citizen’s arrest. 

     The first week in jail was sobering. Brent was going through withdrawals and coming to terms with the reality he was facing. After the first week, he was moved to a different pod, where he ran into a family friend who was a part of the kitchen crew. A familiar face put Brent more at ease, and within days Brent also joined the kitchen crew, which kept him busy during the day. In his downtime, the guys pointed him to the library where he picked up a book with an image of cracked concrete on the cover: “70x7 & Beyond.” 
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     As Brent read, he could see his own life reflected clearly in the author’s journey of addiction. He kept trying to get out, but he kept falling back in. Brent recognized his powerlessness to break the cycle. The author shared about his journey to faith - that Jesus was the answer. This man’s story impacted Brent, and he began asking questions. Christian Encounter had been presented to him several months ago as an option to get help, but until now, this option hadn’t seemed appealing or necessary. 

     When Brent arrived at the Ranch, he was missing his four front teeth, the effects of heavy drug use. At his first dental consultation, the dentist said that given the extent of the damage, the prognosis was multiple extractions and root canals, and ultimately dentures. Brent was given a referral to a specialist to begin his root canal treatments. 
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     When Brent went to see this new dentist, after one look at his teeth, the dentist asked a few more questions. Brent shared his story and what led him here. The dentist decided he wanted to prescribe his own treatment plan to salvage as many teeth as possible. The process of restoration began. 

     ​A couple of years ago, a girl at the Ranch shared with me how she felt wronged–someone in her life had failed her. She had tried to do the right thing and went to talk through it (there was no personal danger in this situation), but the other person did not make the changes she wanted. Along the way, she faced a decision: should she forgive this person? 

     She wasn’t sure what to do. These days our society seems to say forgiveness enables abusers, doesn’t hold people accountable, is self-degrading, and mostly just inauthentic posturing. Forgiveness undermines justice. If she forgave, would she be feeding the problem?
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     But what happens if we don’t forgive? Resentment–the result of not forgiving–affects us psychologically (unregulated emotions, anxiety, depression), relationally (loss of trust, built-up anger that redirects toward others), and even physically (issues with digestion, immunity, cardiovascular health, etc.). If we don’t forgive, we get stuck at that spot, essentially trapped in a prison under the power of the one who wronged us, unable to move on. Nelson Mandela, Carrie Fisher, and St. Augustine are all credited with the famous quote: “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” 

    Andrew’s family uprooted from Kansas to move to California at the start of the pandemic in 2020. They had lived in Kansas for ten years, where they had established a faith community and Andrew had a good group of friends. He was baptized in front of this community at age twelve by his father, an associate pastor at the church. “I think I really did have a heart for the Lord back then. It was really good to be raised in the church.” 

     The cross-country move took place as Andrew was entering high school and the family was navigating several transitions. Classes were meeting online and social gatherings were limited. His friends back in Kansas had been an anchor, and he was drifting now. Though Andrew continued to attend church regularly, the words from the pulpit fell on deaf ears.

     When classes began meeting in person again, Andrew gravitated toward the wrong crowd. His parents tried different measures to intervene, but Andrew was resistant and refused to engage with his counselors. His parents began looking into out-of-home placement for their son. 

     Andrew arrived at the Ranch just after Thanksgiving. There were a couple of students at the time who were constantly pushing the bounds of the program, stirring dissension amongst the student body. Though Andrew was not an active participant, he assented to their attitudes and behavior. 

     One night he was lying awake in bed talking with one of his roommates. He had been distant from God for so long he didn’t know how to pray anymore. Spiritual practices seemed hollow and strange. His roommate said, “Just treat God as your friend and talk to him.” 
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     Andrew began to build deep and meaningful relationships with the students and interns. “God started to work on me through these people. ​​I slowly started to change the way I did things and the way I acted. The healing and growth was from Him.” Whereas before coming to the Ranch Andrew maintained a different image at school than at home or at church, here all pretenses began to fall away.

     When Zaeda was twelve, her after school routine started with making sure her little sisters were fed and taken care of. Her half-sisters were two and four. Then she would mop the floor, fold the laundry, and consider the homework she had for the evening. Mom had to work late. She would fix a simple dinner, tackle the dishes and get the girls ready for bed. 

     Zaeda had just recently transferred to the public school system and was once more facing the daunting task of finding her place in a new school. She had moved schools frequently as a child, having to make new friends every year, never sticking around long enough to put down roots. 

     By the eighth grade, Zaeda mostly kept to herself, keeping others at a distance. Her anxiety was mounting from continued instability in the home, and worsened when COVID disrupted the school year. Zaeda needed an escape and began turning heavily to substances.

     Soon her dad realized what was happening and sent her to New Orleans to live with her aunt for the summer, hoping the change in scenery would do some good. When Zaeda returned to California a few months later, incidents at home forced her back and forth between her dad’s and stepdad’s houses until it was determined more serious intervention was necessary. 
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     Zaeda’s mom filled out an application for Christian Encounter, and Zaeda interviewed on a Monday and came that Friday. “When I got here, I was so hardened and cold. I refused to read the Bible. I struggled with authority and wanted to be defiant to anything that was asked of me.” 

     For several years now, I’ve put together a recap of the past year for this December newsletter. It’s a fun way to share with you some of what has been accomplished. It isn’t just for outward communication, though. I’ve realized this recap has been an important exercise for me. Jesus says in Matthew 5, “Every day has enough trouble of its own.” Many days I feel stuck in this trouble, and it’s hard to move my eyes up beyond the difficulties of each day. It’s too easy to lose sight of the bigger picture of what God is doing. After 365 days of “enough trouble,” it nurtures my faith to step back and observe. 
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     God doesn’t remove all trouble, but He does redeem it and work through and despite it. Writing this recap each year has pressed deeper into my heart the constancy of God’s help and work on behalf of this ministry. It helps train my mind and heart to remember and have hope even when I’m slogging through troubles.

January 
We started the year off by taking the young men into the mountains to build igloos. This annual trip is a staple of the Ranch calendar because it never fails to make an impact, both on individuals and on the group as a whole.

February
A few weeks later, the girls went on their trip. Speaking of impact, after a long conversation under the snow-covered pines, an intern walked with a student through the process of deciding to place her faith in Jesus. Her new joy was palpable as she told each person back at the Ranch over the coming days. Then in February the staff duplex rebuild was completed, and we gathered to dedicate the new homes with prayer and celebrate the impact on the ministry (right). Next we launched the long-awaited Girls’ House, which is a next-step ministry for our former residents focused on discipleship and growth. 

March 
A group of students from Patrick Henry College in Virginia visited to do service projects and invest in the students. This group was led by the president of the college, who found time to encourage and build up the Ranch staff and leadership too. Then, during spring break between school quarters, we set academic pursuits aside to dedicate a week to a series of sessions on these words of Jesus: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” We also began remodeling the admin office, improving efficiency, storage, and layout. We capped off the month by celebrating together as a young lady was baptized. 

April
The month began on a bittersweet note as we said goodbye to two interns who had completed the maximum two years, Faith and Aldin. Soon after, the whole Ranch family took time to have fun together and went bowling. This was followed by another baptism and more rejoicing. 

May 
Guest groups started arriving to use the campground facilities in the Angels’ Meadow Venue, which we offer at no charge. Another key infrastructure project was knocked off the list as the second asphalt project was completed. Once again, a couple of donors stepped up to shoulder the burden and give a profound gift to the Ranch. It is a joy both to give and to receive! 

June
At our graduation celebration four high-school grads–Levi, James, Brooke, and Katelyn–received their diplomas and gave speeches expressing gratitude for the dedication of the school staff, the support of the community, and the transforming work of the Lord. In a fitting conclusion to the weekend, after church the next day we celebrated another baptism. 

July
Our annual Family Camp was another great time of fellowship, fun, and families ministering to each other. Campers got to observe one of our young men who had completed over a year in the program get “prayed out” during church on Sunday. A couple of weeks later the new residence (ADU) was delivered for set up. At the end of the month we hosted the 41st Agony Ride. As always, it was an intense and impactful weekend of selfless service and sacrificing together. The all-time fundraising record was broken yet again, as our community of supporters gave so generously to the ministry of the Ranch. It was a special treat to have 20 former interns ride this year!

     Sophie arrived at Christian Encounter in the fall of her freshman year of high school. Starting at a new school meant a clean slate and new beginnings. Sophie’s father had recently suffered a stroke and his recovery process had greatly altered the family landscape at home. Her mother had homeschooled all five children until now.

     Sophie entered the public school system for the first time as an eighth grader. Adolescence can be unforgiving and middle schoolers even more so. Sophie felt alone in navigating this transition and oftentimes sought solace in going to the public library after school. Her school work sat neglected in her backpack as she buried herself in distractions. 

     Sophie’s bubbly personality became hidden underneath her anger and the shame and guilt of her behavior during this time. She was also mourning the loss of the father she once knew. Sophie cherished the 
memories of daddy-daughter dates when she was a part of the American Heritage Girls, but those days now seemed a part of the distant past. 
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     When Sophie arrived at the Ranch, she saw a wide open door to finish high school. Though she had just begun her high school career, she felt she was in an environment where she could learn and succeed. Her first quarter grades reflected this and boosted her confidence in what she could achieve. Sophie began acclimating to Ranch life and before too long the holidays arrived. At Christmas time, she saw piles of gifts deposited under the tree during the days leading up to the banquet. ​“It was eye opening how much people love me. I used to think I had to work for everything, but there are people who just give freely and don’t ask for anything in return.” 

"It was an incredible trip to celebrate others, many of them doing things they would have never done but showed that they are capable of much more than they thought. We came back stronger because of it. Strength is looking beyond your own nose to see the people around you. Strength is utilizing others’ strengths and talents. Strength is cheering people on even when you are struggling. Strength is finding refuge in the Lord Almighty." - Bethany

​"The lesson I got from climb day is to trust people and trust God. If I didn’t decide to trust the people and the equipment then I wouldn’t have even hooked myself on. Doing things that we really don’t want to do or are scared to do has great rewards because it pushes us to do harder things on a daily basis. It makes me think: am I more scared of rock climbing or having this hard conversation?" - Andrew



CER’s annual 15-day backpacking trip serves as an opportunity for our students and interns to unplug from the responsibilities and distractions of daily life and experience the great outdoors. CER has been leading wilderness backpacking trips since the 1970’s.

"The trip helped me grow in my faith as I was able to realize that praying and just sitting still long enough to talk and connect with God really does have a positive effect. Countless times we would be hiking through rough hard terrain, and I would think I couldn’t keep going but would stop and pray to God to give me strength.... Every time I prayed about one thing, the Lord helped me in other things as well, things like appreciation for the beautiful nature we were surrounded by, as well as appreciation for other people in the group going through the same hike and probably struggling with some of the same things as me." - Brent

"He was definitely out there walking alongside me, showing me endurance that I never thought that I had."
- Sophie

"Not relying on people and not trusting has been a thing I’ve struggled with my whole life. I have always had the mindset that I had to do things myself because there never really were people there for me when I needed someone to rely on. This trip helped me learn that I have people to rely on in times of need." -Addy



CER’s annual 15-day backpacking trip serves as an opportunity for our students and interns to unplug from the responsibilities and distractions of daily life and experience the great outdoors. CER has been leading wilderness backpacking trips since the 1970’s.

"One of my favorite things to have witnessed while in nature was the beauty surrounding me. When I was hiking, I would usually just keep my head down and stare at my feet, making sure I wouldn’t lose my balance... However, I remembered on occasion to look up and take in what surrounded me.... Sleeping under the stars, seeing the Milky Way, the shooting stars and satellites making their way across the sky, all of it had my awe." - Brooke

"When I started to rely on the Lord and let go of my pride, things got easier. I wanted to help and stay in the back; I wanted to cook dinner, and I wanted to talk and hear about the struggles that my teammates had. I suddenly had the genuine want to help people.... This trip is one I’ll never forget, even though it rained...It didn’t grow me in the ways I thought I wanted to grow, but instead, planted the seeds, and cleared the dirt for real growth to take place." - Zaeda



CER’s annual 15-day backpacking trip serves as an opportunity for our students and interns to unplug from the responsibilities and distractions of daily life and experience the great outdoors. CER has been leading wilderness backpacking trips since the 1970’s.