Here at Destiny Youth Ranch we have a heart for youth and hope for their future. Our program is geared toward those who would like to learn more about God & would appreciate being able to spend time with horses.

"I have been working with kids and teens for around 21 years now. I have directed our community Vacation Bible School for 10 years, led praise and worship in our church, worked with our church youth group, led and assisted leading First Priority at our local high school, participated in puppet ministry, clown ministry and most recently I am on the board at Crossroads TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) an interdenominational group that is an outreach to teens in our area.

I have seen a common trend in our teens over the years that seems to be progressively getting worse. A great number of teens are bullied, teased and made fun of at school. Eating disorders are common, such as bolemia & anorexia. Kids and teens are hurting themselves by cutting and disfiguring themselves. There has been an increase in teen pregnancies and one of the most alarming trends is the increase in teen suicide and attempted suicide. It is heart breaking to me that so many are lost, confused, feeling  utterly alone, helpless, and worthless... So much that they attempt - and often succeed - at suicide.

My heart has been to love every child and teen I come in contact with. My goal is to share the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate Friend, One who will never leave you, One who died for you and loves you more than you can ever imagine. After all, how many of your friends would lay down their life for you? How many would endure unbearable agony and torture for you? We have prayed for years and have opened our home and property to kids, teens, and adults of all ages. We purchased some of our first horses in the fall of 07' and rescued several horses after reading a book called, " A Bridge Called Hope" by: Kim Meeder. We invite you to join us at the Ranch & see what God has in store for you!"

Did you know???

* Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among youth ages 15-19

* Alcohol kills 5 times more teenagers than all other drugs combined

* Before reaching adulthood, 20% of teens will experience depression

* On a regular basis, 10% of children are bullied at school

First for a little background info: I am 22 years old and happily married! I did a discipleship training school and youth leadership training school at Youth With A Mission in Denver, CO (http://www.ywamdenver.com) and served on staff for a year and a half. I have done mission work in Mexico, China, Thailand, Bosnia, & England. After seeing the world I moved back home, married the man of my dreams, and settled into my home-town of less than 200 people! The Lord works in mysterious ways... : ) 

"The only reason I feel empowered to reach this generation for Christ is because of the strength He has given me. I know that I am nothing without Him.

I feel led to involve horses with this ministry because I have personally experienced the healing these gentle giants can offer & even how we can bring healing to them.

After experiencing some traumatic events growing up, I had a very hard time trusting people. I had a lot of anger and thought I'd never be able to forgive the people that hurt me.

It was God that brought complete healing into my life. He showed me unconditional love through my husband Steve, and showed me my specific calling through the first horse I ever had an emotional bond with named Dreamer. It was through Steve I was able to trust & love again, but it was through Dreamer I learned that God could actually use me to bring healing to His children.

All we knew about Dreamer before he arrived was that he was from a ranch out west & was used as a cutting horse. After closer observation we learned that he had experienced serious physical abuse. We could tell that he'd had a broken nose which left a large bump on his precious face (possibly from being struck by a board or beer bottle). We were horrified when we realized what a hard life he'd had before coming to us.

Despite his imperfections I thought he was beautiful... I wanted to comfort him in his new home so that he could feel safe, but even getting close enough to comb his tangled mane proved difficult. He had so much fear. So little trust. I quickly realized we had a lot in common...

After much prayer, patience, & persistence I finally came to the point where Dreamer would allow me to brush his long mane and groom his faded coat. It was such a breakthrough, he was allowing himself to trust again and I trusted him completely. He was my Dreamer. My friend. We were a team.

He experienced 1 full year of love, peace, & rest with us... then God allowed him to take his last breath. I had to say good-bye to my Dreamer who'd had such a hard life & had aged beyond his years. I didn't know what to do as I waited for the vet to arrive & end his pain, so I sang our song to him (Dreamer by: Bethany Dillon) & rubbed his neck & ran my fingers through his beautiful mane. We had helped each other heal and now I had to let him go. On that sorrow-filled day I was reminded that I was not alone. God was with me through it all. He  helped me grieve, be healed, and eventually move forward again. God's redemptive love lifted me up and showed me my purpose in life... to love others unconditionally and help them experience all they can have as followers of Christ & even receive healing through his creation... the horse.

Destiny Youth Ranch is a dream come true and an answer to prayer. My hope is for every person that steps foot on the property to experience God's amazing grace, healing, & love... A place for people to learn and maybe even discover their own specific destiny."