News & Updates From The Ranch
CHRIST CENTERED. CHRIST HONORING.
In today's world to be Christ Centered and Christ Honoring can mean you have a "target" on your back. To trust the Lord to provide the wisdom, patience and resources is truly an act of faith. As a staff we are tried and tested daily. Our boys are tried and tested daily as they seek to sort out life and prepare for life after Salem.

It is our hope and prayer that this little e-newsletter both encourages you, our support team, and gives you items for prayer. In Philippians 1:3-11 Paul says, " I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy." We thank God for you and your partnership in the Gospel. Please read below and be encouraged. Bless the Lord!
"There's Still Some Ice In My Heart."
Day in and day out our boys are dealing with some of the tough issues that young people face today. Because The Ranch is a more "controlled" environment they come face-to-face with those issues and can talk about them and work through them.

One of our boys expressed this beautifully the other day to one of our staff. Each evening one of the cottage staff puts together a report of the evening activities and emails it to the rest of us. Here is an excerpt from one of this past week's reports:
"(Student) almost scored a 69, but he was very rude to staff and did not follow multiple prompts the last few minutes before bed. (Student) said at one point tonight, he is hoping to petition early October to be home by Christmas, but knows he's not ready to go home yet. He said, There's still some ice in my heart."

Thank you for your part in helping to provide a place where young men, by the Grace of God, can work on melting that "ice."
Where are they now?
This past week we received a copy of this card (to the right) with a photo of one of our recent graduates. He had just returned home from a missions trip. "CASAS por CRISTO" Houses for Christ.

Here is an excerpt from his ministry report letter that he sent to The Ranch:

"Our team mission was to build a house for a family but more importantly we were called to Mark 16:15 ' Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation .' We went and poured out God's love to the community and blessed the family with a house. I also was stretched to focus on seizing every opportunity God presented so I wouldn't leave with regret."

A life lesson learned and practiced!
To Learn and Improve
The vocational program is a big part of life here on The Ranch. Our instructor/mentors bring their skill sets to bear as they interact with the boys. The guys then take the new skills that they have learned and help each other improve. Here, as Shane looks on, one of our photography students shares some frame by frame sequences he shot of his fellow student roping. This is designed to help them both improve. One improving his photography skills and the other his roping skills. So it is with life here on The Ranch. Being intentional to improve through each and every interaction. Iron sharpening Iron. - Proverbs 27:17
ROI/Return on Investment
When most folks think about "ROI" they think of business, their 401K or some other investment made expecting a return. When the Lord blesses us He expects us to use what He's given us in a wise manner. To use our "treasure" to make an eternal difference, an eternal ROI. Here on The Ranch we understand that sacred trust we are given. These boys come to The Ranch struggling with life issues. Your investment allows us to "walk" with them, all the while sharing the Hope of Christ. God is using you to affect the eternity of these boys! An amazing ROI opportunity. Thank you!

Please feel free to forward this "Impact Report" on!