Hippie at the Ranch

Honoring Hippie

This November is National Veterans and Military Families Month. We honor ‘Hippie’ who served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps. Here’s the story of how Wildwood Hills Ranch helped him find redemption and belonging:   So, Hippie, you’re…

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foundations laid

Foundations Matter

The Ranch recently laid five foundations for our new cabins. They are strong, stable and ready to be built upon. The role the foundations plays for a cabin—a steady base upon which to build that will hopefully never fail—is like…

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Fruit is born in a student

Fruit is born

Earlier this summer we shared a story about seeds planted at the Ranch—seeds of confidence, faith, love, trust and forgiveness. Slowly growing and maturing over the years, and by slowly we mean sometimes it feels like watching paint dry, we…

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words of God's identity

Where do you find your identity?

“Stupid.” “Poor.” “Idiot.” “Liar.” Danisha listens as her peers yell out words in the Gathering Hall. Then she contributes her own: “ugly”. It is Monday night’s assembly and the speaker, Lydia, has asked students to shout out words that they’re…

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Family group of boys

Family is like a tree

A group of 10-year-old boys gathered for small group time after Wednesday’s assembly. Matt, our Executive Director, had just shared how family is like a tree. It got the boys thinking: what are the roots of my family and what…

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spiritual retreat boat building

Spiritual Retreat

Serving students at-risk nearly every minute of every day for the better part of a week can be an exhilarating, although exhausting, position. Jesus taught on the importance of rest for the soul and our team leaders are no exception. Restored and refreshed leaders…

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