The following is an excerpt adapted from a letter recently sent to all of our donors. It includes an important announcement about how gifts made to the Ranch between now and August 15th will make twice the difference in the lives of the children who will be attending “The Roundup” 2016! I wanted to share it with you, too, because I believe many of you may be moved to make the most of this special opportunity alongside us. – BJ
June 30, 2016
I am typing this from our rented facility on Lake Texoma where we’ve conducted camps for the last 6 years. The heartache represented in the kid’s lives here this week is deeper and more severe than any group we have ever hosted. It’s a reminder that the very nature of this ministry is humanly impossible… but the same God who sent His son as an answer to the curse of sin also has the capacity to heal these little ones from the consequences of someone else’s sin…AND…He is doing that here this week.
And yes…we are going to try something else impossible! In a few weeks we will host our first camp for abused and neglected children at Lonesome Dove Ranch. We are both excited and nervous beyond description. There is so much to be done in a matter of days to have the campus ready for these little souls God has called us to serve. Our volunteers are trained. Camp registration is full to capacity and prayer is going on now for each child that has been accepted into this inaugural camp.
I’m reaching out to you for two reasons: to give you an update and to make you aware of an opportunity to alleviate the financial pressure the ministry is under as we build, repair, and buy all the “firsts” to pull off this camp off. A generous donor has stepped forward, and graciously agreed to match every dollar given between now and August 15, 2016 up to $40,000!
These funds are being used to purchase or install:
Mattress, Bunks, Bedding; Equestrian Riding Gear; Quad Track Riding Gear; Life Jackets; Fishing Gear; A 9 Hole Disc Golf Set; Septic System for Bunk Houses; Inflatable Slides and Obstacle Course; Portable Canopies for Shade; 4 New AC units; Skirting and deck for bunkhouses, aeration system for fishing pond; Locksmith re-key all ranch locks. These are just a few of the many items necessary to get the ranch prepared for this first camp and the many that will follow.But none of those expenses actually include the cost of operating the actual camp. Because we don’t yet have our food services license, the wonderful people at Mercy Chefs, a disaster relief ministry that also feeds underprivileged children, has agreed to bring their mobile units and staff onsite for the week.
Because so many of you have given sacrificially for us to even be in this position and because so many of you support the ranch monthly (which is so vital to our survival), I was hesitant to even share these things with you. However, our anonymous matching donor is one of those who has given early and often, and they believe you may want to be a part of underwriting this inaugural event.
As soon as this inaugural camp for hurting children is complete we have a few days to catch our breath before we begin hosting a day camp for 100 at-risk children who live in government housing. They will be brought in from their urban environments and exposed to ranch life and Jesus! Pray for us!
We have so much to celebrate with you that I will wait until after our camps in July to send out an update with several praise worthy items because I know after camp we will have many more to add.
Thank you for being a part of this ongoing miracle that is Lonesome Dove Ranch!
God is good and so are his people!
For the broken,
Dr. Bryan Jarrett
Lonesome Dove Ranch uses the unique ranch environment to bring healing through the love of Jesus Christ to abused and neglected children. For a limited time, your gift will make twice the difference in the life of a child who has been rescued from unthinkable circumstances, thanks to this generous matching funds donor.
Make twice the difference in the life of child today!
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