Luke Brouwer, a Nevada City native, joined the intern team earlier this year.

​Luke’s family has been involved with CEM for the past several years, and Luke himself has ridden in four Agony Rides. However, it wasn’t until after his first Agony Ride that Luke began to pick up the CEM newsletter and grow more acquainted with the ministry.

Though Luke would continue to ride in the Agony Ride, the thought of internship had never crossed his mind until he received a personal invitation last December.

Since coming on board the intern team, Luke says, “I’ve really fallen in love with this job. Living here has a way of grabbing a hold of your heart...It’s like God hitting you with a 2x4 of love.”

​Olivia Crissman came to us from Winston-Salem, North Carolina this past December after just recently returning from studying overseas for a year with Capernwray Australia Bible School. During her time in Australia, Olivia studied Bible, Discipleship, and Mission while living in a small Christian community, which she likens to CEM. Coming out of this season of personal growth and discipleship, Olivia is eager to pour into the students at CEM.

“I thought that control equated competency...but I’ve learned that when a student doesn’t respond well, it doesn’t mean my competency is called into question...God has been showing me that even when situations don’t go well, He can still bring resolution to things far beyond me...Most of the time there isn’t a quick fix or a miraculous change because you say the right thing, but you get to grow alongside them every day, showing them kindness, love, boundaries, and forgiveness: things I experienced growing up with two parents and a loving family…”
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​- Holly McClain, 4-month intern

“When I begin a relationship, I want it to be as long term as possible. I work for relationships and I want to show the people whom I have these relationships with that I care and seriously desire to have that connection with them. However, relationships at the Ranch are often cut short when a student leaves suddenly because of the choices they’ve made. I had to learn to be okay with that...I can love the students as much as possible while they are at the Ranch, but when they leave, I have to trust God and let them go, because I still have students who are present at the Ranch to invest in.”

- Emma McDowell, 8-month intern