November Newsletter

Director’s Message

Jimmy Kyle, Seth, and Alvin just celebrated their completion of Renewal Ranch with a graduation ceremony held at Second Baptist Church in Conway on October 22, 2011.  Special thanks to Kim and Kailey Hogue for coordinating that event. 

Also, thank you to David and Patti Stobaugh and their group for serving a delicious meal after the ceremony.  As always, the Dooleys did an amazing job in leading the worship portion of the service.  Last, but not least, Renewal Ranch is grateful to Mark Dance and Second Baptist Church for allowing us to use their facility.

The graduation made room for some new residents.  We have taken in Matthew, Thomas, Christopher, and Todd.  Please keep these and all the men and their families in your prayers. 

During the chapel service on 10/29/11, three of our residents received Christ.  Also, Neal Winstead and Larry Pillow baptized two others the following evening at Family Life Bible Church in Conway. 

We rejoice with the angels in heaven!  God is truly amazing! 

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to God, my wife, the Renewal Ranch Board, the Ministry Leadership Team, pastors, teachers, all of the churches, individuals, and community who make Renewal Ranch possible.  I feel that I have the best job in the world and I am surrounded by a great group serving along side of me.  My goal is to serve the Lord and these men well. 

Please join us Saturday November 6, 2011 for an All You Can Eat pancake fundraiser at Stoby’s in Conway from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  It only costs $5 and kids under 10 eat free! 

The ministry received a grant and will be getting a new mini-bus in early 2012 to transport the men.  Therefore, we have a need to raise approximately $10,000 to pay our portion of the $43,000 cost of the van plus the sales tax.  Please prayerfully consider how the Lord would lead you to help us meet this need.  

Josh's Baptism

Josh anxiously awaits his baptism.

Dr. Larry Pillows prays over Josh.

Our congregation prays with Dr. Pillow--well, almost everyone.  

This is our precious Seth.

Thanks be to God for His most gracious and wonderful blessings.  Amen and amen.

Justin is Baptized!

One of our newest residents, Justin, was baptized on June 24, 2011.  What a glorious site to behold.  Our hearts are overwhelmed with thankfulness and gratitude at what God is doing in Justin’s life.

Dr. Larry Pillow shares a brief word.

Kyle, a resident who was baptized on June 12, prays over Justin and his baptism.

Family and friends gathered on the deck of the bunkhouse bow their heads in prayer.

Well, all except one cutie–this is Alvin’s precious son.

The beautiful picture of dying to self and sin–

and being raised to new life in Christ–thank you, Lord!

and a benediction of tears!

Kyle is Baptized!

Saturday, June 11, 2011, was a glorious day of celebration here at Renewal Ranch.  Our Kyle, whom we have all come to know and love, was baptized by Mitch Bell, a preacher and former “running” buddy of Kyle’s.

Kyle was baptized at the start of the service. We all went out on the deck of the bunkhouse and observed the celebration from just a few feet a way.

After the baptismal service, we retreated to the bunkhouse assembly room where Shepherd sang. Thank you, Shepherd, for always singing to us and to God from your heart. It was beautiful.

Right before he preached, Mitch asked all the Renewal Ranch residents to come forward so he could pray for them. From left is Courtney and Justin (both of them are new and have only been with us for a couple of weeks), Seth, Caleb, Ben, Kyle, Charles, Atlas, Shepherd, Michael and Alvin.  We at Renewal Ranch, have come to love all of these guys more than words can possibly express.

Thank you, Mitch, for always giving us a powerful and passionate Word from God. We appreciate you–the changes that you have made in your own life and the friend that you have been to Kyle–being faithful to pray for your buddy and our brother in Christ.

As a result of Mitch’s anointed sermon, two came to know Christ as Savior–one of them, our resident, Justin, who has only been with us two weeks. God is faithful! Justin, we love you and pledge our prayers of support to you. Justin is a husband and father of the most precious little two month old girl you’ve ever seen. He is becoming the man his family needs him to be. How we praise you, Lord.

Charles and Donnie are Baptized!

Sunday night, March 26, Donnie and Charles were baptized by Larry Pillow at Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Conway, Arkansas.

Our hearts were made glad as these two precious men of God committed their lives to God. Thank you so much precious Cornerstone family for welcoming us and providing a smorgasbord of great desserts in celebration. To God be the glory! Great things He has done!

Apologies are in order for the audio in particular on these videos but at least we can see the joy on the faces of these men.