Mentorship Program
There are no openings at this time. This program runs year-round and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please contact Pastor Corilee if you are interested in being paired with a mentor.
Please contact Pastor Corilee if you are interested in being paired with a mentor.
The goal of this program is to have each participant paired with a Christian mentor whom they will meet with on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. Their mentor will prayerfully seek to help you grow in your experience with horses as well as in your relationship with the lord!
Destiny Youth Ranch is providing individual riding sessions for girls and boys ages 6 years to adult. This program is designed for those who would like to have one-on-one training with horses while having a Christian mentor to spend time with, learn from, and look up to!
We will provide one horse and one mentor per person for sessions at the ranch. Our sessions are organized on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may sign up to attend for a shorter period of time, but your mentor needs to be aware of the time you are willing to commit, at we generally have a waiting list.
DYR does not have paid employees, so we want you to know that all donations will go toward upkeep of the horses and toward the growth of the ministry. We are so very grateful for our heated indoor riding arena to use throughout the year and are very excited for the improvements of a kitchen, tack room, bathrooms, office, and bunk area.
We will provide one horse and one mentor per person for sessions at the ranch. Our sessions are organized on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may sign up to attend for a shorter period of time, but your mentor needs to be aware of the time you are willing to commit, at we generally have a waiting list.
DYR does not have paid employees, so we want you to know that all donations will go toward upkeep of the horses and toward the growth of the ministry. We are so very grateful for our heated indoor riding arena to use throughout the year and are very excited for the improvements of a kitchen, tack room, bathrooms, office, and bunk area.
Please contact Pastor Corilee by texting her at (605)553-7422 or email us at destinyyouthranch@gmail.com in order to schedule your appointments!
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The only requirement to participate in this program is that you have an open heart and want to attend. Each session will look a little different. Some days, you may ride in the arena, while other days you may trail ride or assist with ranch needs. We will seek to make enough time for horse/ranch stuff as well as devotional time. We would encourage you to visit with and get to know your mentor and let them know if you have any questions or prayer requests.
Sessions will run approximately 1 hour. We will consider allowing two students to attend together with one mentor. We will also consider family groups depending on their ages, relationship, and how well they can focus during a session.
How you can help
We are currently looking for more interested Christian horse enthusiasts that would love to mentor young people. We need experienced Christian adults or mature teens that have (preferably) volunteered at DYR camps in the past--we are looking for gals AND guys to be mentors!
Our DYR Mentors
Beth StahleckerBeth and her family moved to Alvord in 2014. She was eager to begin working as a mentor in our program as soon as they got to town and we have been very grateful to have her on board. She has 2 sweet little girls (Ariel and Rachel) and a husband at home. She has always enjoyed being around horses.
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Teresa Ter HarAnna Harmon |
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A MENTOR
BY: LANA SNYDERS
Sometimes, as a counselor at Destiny Youth Ranch, I'm tempted to call my girls my "little ducks" or "lambs" since I am basically their caretaker for the weekend - helping them stretch their wings and continually making sure they are doing alright. I feel as though I am shepherding them through a life-changing experience... being around the horses & learning more about God... hopefully while having tons of fun & making new friends! Today I considered how I could compare nurturing relationships in animals with christian mentorship in our new Big Sister Riding Program :)
Cygnets = After they are about 1 day old, baby swans (cygnets) can follow their parents into the water. They already know how to swim. But they won’t be able to fly for 7 to 20 weeks. Until then, their parents swim or walk with them. Some swans even carry their young on their backs. Mentors encourage you to know God better, act more like Him &, never give up - even if you sink! They will cheer you on as you learn to fly...
Lambs = Baby sheep (lambs) naturally desire to be in groups & follow a leader. They get to know their shepherd's voice so that when he calls, they listen - they know he cares for them & protects them from harm - he will even carry them on his shoulders. Jesus is compared to a shepherd in the bible as he cares for each & every one of his children - He notices if even one is far from him. He would leave a large flock to find the one lost lamb because each one is so precious to Him. A good mentor will encourage you to pray & read your bible so you can learn to hear His voice and know for yourself what God's desire for you is on a daily basis.
Foals = A baby horse (foal) can stand up almost instantly after it is born, but it isn't very graceful! It will continue to follow its mother around and copy what she does for months/years in order to learn how to behave in the world. A horse goes through a season of training in order to become kind & respectful toward the wishes of his rider. All christians are growing from glory to glory - no matter how long they've been saved! Having a mentor/friend to be there for you regularly to teach, encourage, & pray with you is a beautiful gift. It is not to be assumed that your mentor is perfect, but they will do their very best to guide you & set a good example for you to emulate.
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DYR Mentor = In the beginning, it takes time to learn how to handle a horse safely & effectively, but even more important is that we learn to become more like Christ & seek Him out on a daily basis. Having a christian mentor is a great way to gain wisdom, encouragement, & accountability. You might think you know it all about horses... or about how to be a good christian, but Proverbs 19:20 says: "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future." Having a person you trust alongside you as you grow is a great help & makes it way more fun! "Whoever loves instruction/discipline/correction, loves knowledge..." Proverbs 12:1