This year’s Alumni Award was given to Steve Neal (‘95-’96). Steve currently resides in Colorado Springs with his wife Jamie. They have two children, Fern and Jose. Read more below.
When I first came to the Ranch at 15 years old, I was filled with anger and fear. I remember a few months after going to the Ranch, I was mowing the lawn up at Angel’s Meadow and I was so angry at everybody there. Reflecting on things later, I realized I was really angry at myself. Truthfully, I hated myself and I hated the way I was living, but I felt powerless to change, which is why I acted out in anger. One night, sitting outside of the boy’s dorm, I finally broke down. It was when I reached the end of myself that I found God. I decided I wasn’t any good at living life my way, and I was tired of hurting everyone I cared about, so I gave up control and surrendered myself to God. From that point on, everything changed. Things were still hard, and I had a lot of pain and brokenness to work through, but I moved forward with peace and joy instead of anger and fear. Months later I was mowing Angel’s Meadow again, but instead of grumbling under my breath, I was singing songs of praise to God.
While visiting the Ranch this year, many people asked me what my favorite memory was from my time there. A current intern also asked if there was an event or a conversation which made the difference. These were impossible questions for me to answer. Why did I finally turn to God and surrender my life to him? What was it that made the difference between those two experiences of mowing Angel’s Meadow? It was no single event or conversation. It was the collective experience of life at the Ranch. It was meals, work program, schoolwork, fishing, hiking, games, music, laundry, outings, and downtime - all with people who showed me Christ. They were the hands of Jesus as they served with love. They were the feet of Jesus as they guided and modeled wisdom. They were the mouth of Jesus as they spoke the truth of his Word. It was the culmination of countless events and conversations during my time at the Ranch which helped me see and know Jesus, so that when I broke, I knew where to turn.
A couple of weeks ago, I also graduated, having just completed a Masters of Divinity. I am married to an incredible, godly woman. Together we have done foster care and have adopted two amazing kids. I shepherd, serve and preach as an elder in my church. And I’ve been blessed to travel to remote places to share the love of Jesus with people who have literally never heard his name before. I am passionate about sharing Jesus with others, and it’s because of how the staff, interns and many others at the Ranch shared Jesus with me. I have been continually overcome with emotion while visiting the Ranch. Mainly, my heart has been filled with gratitude. I’m just so thankful.
