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.
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.
The notion of summer camp quickly faded into the background. Prior to coming, Joseph had been on six medications. He was misdiagnosed as having intermittent explosive disorder. Joseph’s violent outbursts had been happening with greater frequency. At the Ranch, Joseph was adjusting to life without medication, and the sadness and anger resurfaced.
Despite this, Joseph’s tender nature and care for others was made apparent at the Agony Ride, where he manned his post faithfully at the Beckwourth SAG, never missing a bike that came into the station. A month later, Joseph persevered through the 15-day backpacking trip in Tahoe National Forest and even jumped off a 40 ft dam with his teammates. Through it all, Joseph was hearing the Gospel message and watching it lived out every day through his interns. But life had embittered him, and he continued to resist. “I kept toughening up against them, constantly doing my own thing, punching concrete, trees, plywood….” In November, Joseph was standing in the Ranch living room, surrounded by the people he had spent the last four months with, faced with the consequences of his decisions. He was to be suspended from the program for two weeks. As Joseph looked around the circle, his face wet with tears, he saw his own grief mirrored in the faces of his peers, of his interns, of the staff. Nate Boyd, Executive Director Over the past two years we’ve been tackling big infrastructure projects that will expand and strengthen the mission of Christian Encounter. These are long-term investments, but they’re already making a difference in day-to-day ministry.
The costs add up to about $930K, which is a huge undertaking for us. But compared to what we’ve received, this figure is almost inconceivably low. Major discounts from friends, massive volunteer efforts, and other forms of help have all driven the costs down and been affirmations and avenues of God’s grace. Almost all this work is already finished or fully funded! But we still need $60K to complete the full set of projects. We want to do this work “right the first time” in order for these investments to last long into the future. The future of this ministry is worth the expense. Teen statistics about school absenteeism, drug use, mental health, etc. are grim. In February, CDC.gov reported that nearly one in three teen girls has seriously considered attempting suicide.* This leads me to the conclusion that our teens are one of the most in-need populations in the world. Yesterday one of our students–with a smile covering her face–asked me if she could be baptized. She’s the third this month. The need is terrible. At Christian Encounter, we get to do something about it. Help us expand and strengthen–for today and the long-term! *https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0213-yrbs. html
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