Category: Event Recap

YEAR-END CELEBRATION & GRADUATION 2023 - PART 2

7/26/2023

James

It’s been a long time coming. I’ve never really enjoyed school that much, but high school hit different in a harder way. I entered a dark spot in my life and one thing led to another and soon I was up to my neck in trouble, not knowing where to go. Not too long after, I was on a plane to this place called the Ranch.

For a long time I felt like I had something to prove, but the Ranch was something different. Nobody here expected the highest level of performance from me. When I struggled, they walked by me, helped me through it and then we moved on. It was this type of community that helped me take the steps forward in things like vulnerability, leadership, and becoming comfortable with using my voice. I decided that the environment that the Ranch had was something that I wanted to be a part of.

While I was growing in these areas, I neglected to grow in the area that brought me to the Ranch in the first place, and that was the desire to live in the dark. Once again, it got me in trouble multiple times. But the Ranch helped me back on my feet and gave me more grace than was deserved and we continued life. My love for the Ranch grew and what started off as an original 11-month stay turned into a two-year journey.... Thank you for helping me discover my purpose and encouraging me to seek the Lord in the good times and bad.

Levi

Coming to the Ranch was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I never cared about finishing high school until I got to the Ranch and Suzanne and Robbin, my teachers, encouraged me that I could do this. I could finish high school. It wasn’t easy, and even after all the help, I almost didn’t graduate. Something I learned through it all is that I really can do the things I tell myself I cannot do. Not only because I worked harder to get things done, but also because I asked for God’s help. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) That verse pretty much sums it all up for me. I told myself it was impossible, but when I asked for God’s help, it was possible. I may not have made the best grades, but I did it. I graduated high school.

Left: Sophie makes a public proclamation of faith through baptism on Graduation Sunday. Right: Student families and the Ranch community gather to celebrate the year's accomplishments.

Comments

YEAR-END CELEBRATION & GRADUATION 2023 - Part 1

7/21/2023

Comments

Brooke

Graduating class of 2023. Never thought I’d be saying that. So much has happened in these few months that I never thought I’d be experiencing. Throughout the three and a half months I’ve been here, I have learned so much, whether being educational or emotional. The people here have this inspiring passion that has taught me how to be more loving and caring than before, giving me one heck of a ride in realizing how love is so important. One of my favorite quotes from Ray Bradbury states, “Looking back over a lifetime, love is the answer to everything”. The hellos and goodbyes of this place have shown me that the special connection with other people makes life so much more worth it.

In my time here at the Ranch, it took me about a month to realize that this wasn’t just a simple program I could get through, but really an aid on helping me grow as a person. I came here to help better myself, but really didn’t know exactly how much help I would be getting. From the mentors that have helped me through my rough moments, to the group around me showing me love I can’t thank them enough. I can see the growth in not only myself, but in frankly everyone around me. Through the hilarious moments and hardships we’ve all gone through, I couldn’t be more grateful. So I’m up here, saying thank you, to my family, friends, and authority figures who have made it possible for me to be here today.

Katelyn

Flying 4 ½ hours to be here was the hardest thing I could ever do. I left my entire life behind to be in a foreign place.... But, when asked if I regret coming to the Ranch, my ultimate answer was no, because of how much I have grown... I have fought so hard to get to where I am and if it wasn’t for my mom and Elise (my counselor) I probably wouldn’t be where I am now....

I enjoyed the memories that I got to make here and I am definitely going to cherish them... I wholeheartedly believe that God was working through me this whole time... God was always there for me and He never gave up on me.

The obstacles and the hardships were just a stepping stone that He placed before me just to show me that He’s got me through it all. He wanted to see me overcome, and I did, I really did. And with that I will always put my worries on Him because I know that He will always get me through.

Board member Dr. Dave Heitman addresses the graduates.

Former intern Rachel Burdick presents former student Kayla with the Light in the World award.

See Year-End Celebration & Graduation 2023 - Part 2

Comments

Wilderness Trip 2022 - Part 2

10/19/2022

Comments

God is most clear in the uncomfortable: the suffering, the hard questions, the staring down a 45-foot jump into unknown water. I’ve spent enough of my life in the safety zone, and I’ve realized that it’s not truly living. I want to fully embrace the story that God is writing for me; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Wilderness gave me all of those moments.

Freezing cold NID water at 6am, watching the sun rise from the top of English Mountain, stumbling through a mineshaft while shouting out lyrics to whatever songs came into our heads, staring up at the moon and stars, jumping off rocks, cliffs, and dams, looking west over the mountains. These moments – all of them – are invaluable to me. Not just for the thrill, but because they showed me more of my Father. - Alec

I think along with learning the importance of communication comes learning humility. Communicating our needs and asking for things can be tough but I think it is necessary for growth. – James

Before we ran the 5k, Suzanne read to us from Hebrews 12, which speaks about setting aside everything that weighs us down or ensnares us, and running with endurance the race set before us, always keeping Jesus as the center of our focus. That last run for me symbolized how the pace I set in my life needs not to be one of speed or great form, but one that sees only Jesus and runs enduringly to Him. - Danika

I had to learn that I don’t stop loving others even if I am depleted or tired. Jesus never stopped loving others, even when He suffered ridicule, torture, and isolation. When did I start thinking I could stop loving others just because it became hard? Love looks like carrying two backpacks. Love looks like carrying a teammate up a hill even when my feet feel like they are going to fall off. Love looks like encouraging a teammate even when the last thing I want to do is speak to another human being. - Hannah

See Wilderness Trip 2022 - Part 1.

Comments

Wilderness Trip 2022 - Part 1

10/11/2022

Comments

I was not only encouraged by others’ words and actions, but I also learned it’s okay to be honest about the hard things you’re going through, because in the end, you’re not alone...When I prayed for God to take away my anxiety, He did for the time needed. All in all, I learned that anxiety may be a huge factor sometimes, but there is a way through it. - Levi

I believe Wilderness is designed to bring people to a place of self-awareness and raw vulnerability that enables one to seek God in true honesty. On this trip God revealed to me something that shook how I viewed my past and that opened a door of freedom for the future. God showed me how my fear of failure was preventing me from trusting in His sovereignty. - David

I learned that fear and anxiety can feel paralyzing, but they really aren’t paralyzing...In the future when I am scared I will be able to put one foot in front of the other and continue to persevere. - Ireland

Comments

Wilderness 2019 - Exposed

11/6/2019

Comments

In late summer, our students and interns were not only exposed on rock faces and exposed to the elements for 15 days, but they were exposed to the reality of God and to one another. Here’s what they learned.

Praying specifically each morning about my fears calmed me down and gave me a sense of peace, and I felt more ready to conquer whatever the day held for me. Meeting this goal each morning then helped me learn in a very real way that God is bigger than my fears and is present with me as I face them.
- Emma

In the past I’ve had the attitude of “yeah, God is real, but I need something to prove that. I need evidence. I see nature - I get that. But I need a personal experience.” And this trip hit me hard with that. Even though God pushed me to my limits, He showed me through that how real He is.
- Cassidy

Comments

<<Previous

News & Stories

YEAR-END CELEBRATION & GRADUATION 2023 - PART 2

YEAR-END CELEBRATION & GRADUATION 2023 - Part 1

Wilderness Trip 2022 - Part 2

Wilderness Trip 2022 - Part 1

Wilderness 2019 - Exposed

Categories