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In 2005, while working with an at-risk youth group, God gave me a vision to open a children’s home for trouble teens. From 2005 until 2014, the vision was clear yet the road was rocky. Through many challenges with the economy, gaining the support of our community and the start-up of the ranch itself, I finally began working full-time on opening our doors. We began filling our staff positions, working on our facilities, as well as our licensing from the state of Texas.
In January 2019, we opened the doors of Champion Oaks Ranch as a residential facility for at-risk teen boys. For the next year we poured into the young men living at the ranch and their families. We provided a safe environment for these young men to let their guard down and begin healing from some very deep-rooted issues. By providing unconditional love, life skills, coping skills, but most importantly hope and healing, these young men not only began to thrive in their daily lives by gaining self-confidence and self-esteem, but also in the classroom and in their home lives. However, in 2020,Covid-19 disrupted our program just as it did many across the world.
The most successful part of our program was our equine therapy program. In December 2019, we had begun discussing expanding our therapeutic equine program to the public. Although, shortly after the first of the new year, Covid-19 caused us to come to a halt, but God had bigger plans!
In June of 2020, we finally began moving forward with our therapeutic equine program. We are currently contracted with five local school districts, the First Judicial Juvenile Probation Department of Texas which covers Jasper, Newton, San Augustine and Sabine Counties, as well as individuals from those counties plus Angelina and Tyler County. Through our equine program, we are able to serve more than just the young men who lived at the ranch. In 2020, we served 30 at-risk youth from Jasper County. In 2021, we served 88 youth through our equine program and summer camps. In 2022, we served 134 youth from Jasper and Newton County through our equine program and summer camps. 206 youth and families were served in 2023 through our therapeutic programs. PRAISE GOD!!! In 2024, we have been able to provide support to 239 struggling youth and families through our therapeutic equine program and held seven summer camps covering four counties. We have been able to provide constant and much-needed support to those in need. AND God isn’t finished yet. We have three more schools on the horizon, we have just partnered with two other organizations to provide services to their clients. All glory to God!
“The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"
John 10:10
While the original vision God gave me looked a little different, and the enemy may have sent a pandemic to try and shut us down, I serve a MIGHTY BIG GOD, and He had bigger plans for Champion Oaks Ranch than I could have ever imagined
'For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Jeremiah 29:11-13