If You Build It, They Will Come

Volunteers build bunkhouse at Renewal Ranch

By CAROL ROLF Contributing Writer

Thursday, July 15, 2010

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — If you build it, they will come. James Loy knows this statement of hope, made popular in a movie some years ago, to be true.

As director of Renewal Ranch in Perry County, Loy and a host of other supporters and volunteers gathered July 8 for the Team Depot Build Day at Renewal Ranch. Their mission? To build the first of 10 bunkhouses for the faith-based, long-term rehabilitation program – directed by Loy and his wife, Laura – for men with addiction. Another team of volunteers from Conway’s Central Baptist Church gathered Saturday to continue the building blitz.

“Our goal is to be open Nov. 1,” Loy said, smiling. “My phone is already ringing off the wall with people needing help. It breaks my heart that we cannot help them right now. I have to refer them to someplace else.

“I want to say, ‘Come on,’ when they call,” Loy said. “I want to give them the opportunity that God afforded me – freedom (from addiction).”

The building blitz for this first bunkhouse, which will house six men, was made possible through a $20,000 community grant from The Home Depot Foundation.

Loy, who works for Home Depot in Conway, said the Home Depot’s community grantsprogram supports the work that local nonprofit organizations, public schools and other community organizations are doing to improve the physical health of their neighborhoods.

“We are delighted to support local projects aimed at creating healthier, more stable communities where families can thrive,” Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “Renewal Ranch deserves tremendous credit for the work it is doing, and we are glad to be a part of their effort.”

“We began at 8 this morning,” said Gary Metheny of Conway shortly after lunch on July 8. He is a district director for the home-improvement business.

“We brought lumber and blocks, as well as other supplies and equipment,” Metheny said. “We also brought 48 to 50 Home Depot associates from eight stores throughout Arkansas.”

Those stores include Conway, Cabot, Batesville, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, west Little Rock, southwest Little Rock and Benton.

Loy said a number of dignitaries were on hand Thursday, including District 30 state Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway; District 60 state Rep. Johnny Hoyt, DMorrilton; District 45 state Rep. Linda Tyler, D-Conway; Jack Bell of the Conway Mayor’s Office; and Perry County Sheriff Scott Montgomery and some of his deputies. Various churches were represented as well, including Central Baptist Church, Family Life Bible Church, The Landing and Cornerstone Bible Church.

David Stobaugh, owner of Stoby’s Restaurant, provided breakfast and lunch for the volunteers.

“It’s been great to see the community come together today,” Loy said, “It’s a testament to the impact this facility will have on the community.”

Loy said he hopes Renewal Ranch, with its motto “Restoring Broken Lives Through Christ,”will reach those in need in several counties, including Perry, Faulkner, Conway and Pulaski.

There is still much work to be done, said Loy, who is a recovering addict himself. He is a 2005 graduate of the John 3:16 Ministry rehabilitation program near Batesville, which serves as a role model for Renewal Ranch. Loy was ordained as a minister on Aug. 23, 2009, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Batesville.

“We’re looking for volunteers to come and work every Saturday,” Loy said. “What we need immediately is a master plumber. Anyone interested in volunteering may call me at (501) 680-4895.”

“What we also need is for churches in the community to step up and make monthly donations to the ranch as part of their ongoing mission work,” he said.

Loy said Renewal Ranch has received an anonymous donation for $80,000 in matching funds.

“If we can raise $40,000 in one-time donations, this donor will match it,” Loy said. “If we can get $40,000 in pledges, the donor will match that as well, for a total of $80,000.”

Vicki Critcher of Greenbrier, who serves on the Renewal Ranch Board of Directors, said there are various fundraisingopportunities for church or civic organizations.

“Some group could sponsor a room,” she said.

Loy noted that room sponsorships are $10,000.

Critcher, who worked for the John 3:16 Ministry before moving to Greenbrier, said the public is invited to tour the ranch at any time.

“Once they get here, they’re hooked,” she said with a smile.

“We especially want to reach out to local businesses in all of the counties that we hope to serve and let them know that once these men come to the ranch for rehabilitation, they will be seeking jobs within the community,” Critcher said.

There is no charge to the men during their six-month stay at Renewal Ranch.

“Our goal is to offer them the opportunity to know Christ, rebuild their lives, restore their broken families and to help them become productive citizens of society,” Loy said.

Renewal Ranch is on approximately 90 acres near the Faulkner-Perry county line in the Toad Suck community. The ranch’s address is 29 Lake Drive, Houston Ark. For more information, call Loy at (501) 680-4895.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 63 on 07/15/2010

Arkansas Democrat Gazette, River Valley & Ozark Edition

Arkansas Online

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Home Depot Work Day

Volunteers begin work on facilities at Renewal Ranch
By Megan Reynolds
Created 7/8/10 5:14 pm
Renewal Ranch is quickly evolving into the kind of place that can heal the heart, thanks to many volunteers and individuals who have taken the time to care.

The ranch was recently awarded $20,000 by The Home Depot Foundation, and on Thursday, around 50 local builders, independent contractors, equipment operators and individuals teamed up with 45 associates from Home Depot to help raise the frame of the ranch’s first dormitory during the Team Depot Build Day.

The Home Depot Foundation’s community grant program supports the work that local nonprofit organizations, public schools and other community organizations are doing to improve the physical health of their neighborhoods.

The 94-acre property is located just inside Perry County in Houston and is a faith-based, long-term rehabilitation program for adult men who struggle with chemical addictions.

The program is modeled after the John 3:16 Ministry in Batesville and will open to six men in November.

The ranch will offer a six-month program, partnering with local churches and colleges to provide Bible instruction and instruction in skill sets to the men.

Founder and program director James Loy said he became addicted to cocaine in college following the death of his father and, years later, the death of his mother, before finding himself homeless and caught in a “vicious cycle of addiction.”

Loy sought the help of the John 3:16 Ministry and completed the rehabilitation program, and he is now employed at Home Depot in Conway.

“We became interested when James approached us and said that he was interested,” said Gary Metheny, a regional manager with Home Depot. “Home Depot’s mission is to give back to the community. We have employees here working off of the clock because it’s the right thing to do.”

Metheny stressed that giving back to the community also means giving the rehabilitated another chance.

“James was someone with a serious problem, but he came through it and has done great,” Metheny said. “I think it’s important that employers give these folks a chance. They make great employees. They have been through a lot and are usually extremely grateful for having another chance.”

Volunteer Gail Jones agreed.

“We want to be able to fix them here, so that they can go out and become productive citizens,” Jones said. “We want to fix them so that they don’t have to be put in prison and have that bad experience and also so that the taxpayers don’t have that expense.”

Housing costs at the ranch are estimated at $33 a day per person.

Secular rehabilitation facilities cost around $150 to $1,500 a day, and housing a person who goes without treatment in the Arkansas Department of Corrections costs $130 a day.

Vickie Critcher is on the Renewal Ranch Board of Directors. Critcher said that she worked to raise funds for John 3:16 Ministries before becoming involved with Renewal Ranch.

“When I look around and I see this happening, I just think ‘this is how God works,’” Critcher said.

She added that work will continue over the next several weeks and additional volunteers will be needed to assist with heavy equipment operation, plumbing, electrical work and roofing.

Those interested in volunteering may contact Loy at 501-680-4895. Tax deductible donations may be made by sending a check to Cornerstone Bible Church (c/o Renewal Ranch), 1905 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, AR 72034.

Log Cabin Democrat

Closer to Reality

Log Cabin Democrat, Friday, March 12, 2010

Home Depot Gives Large Donation

Community: Foundation supports Renewal Ranch with large donation

Planned addiction-recovery program given $20,000 gift card for supplies

By Carol Rolf

Thursday, March 11, 2010

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Although all the I’s have not been dotted, nor the T’s all crossed as far as land acquisition goes, work continues daily on Renewal Ranch, which organizers plan to build in Perry County near the Toad Suck community.

Modeled after the John 3:16 Ministry in Batesville, Renewal Ranch, with the motto “Restoring Broken Lives Through Christ,” is a faith-based, longterm rehabilitation program for adult men who struggle with addiction.

James Loy of Houston in Perry County, formerly of Conway and Batesville, is director of Renewal Ranch. He is a graduate of the John 3:16 rehabilitation program. His wife, Laura Loy, serves with him.

Donations continue to pour in for Renewal Ranch, and a recent donation from the Home Depot Foundation is one of the largest. Through its community grant program, the Home Depot Foundation has awarded $20,000 in the form of a gift card to Renewal Ranch.

The donation will be used to build a six-man bunkhouse lodge.

“We needed building materials to complete the first six-man bunkhouse lodge at Renewal Ranch,” James said. “We were delighted to receive a $20,000 gift card from theHome Depot Foundation – our volunteers were so happy to get the supplies they needed.”

Laura also commented on the donation.

“We are so excited and feel so blessed that (the Home Depot Foundation has) so much faith in us. This will really get us going,” she said.

The Home Depot Foundation’s community grant program supports the work that local nonprofit organizations, public schools and other community organizations are doing to improve the physical health of their neighborhoods.

“We are delighted to support local projects aimed at creating healthier, more stable communities where families can thrive,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of the Home Depot Foundation. “Renewal Ranch deserves enormous credit for the work it is doing, and we are glad to be part of their efforts.”

James is an employee of the Home Depot in Conway.

“I’m a key-carrying manager,” he said with a grin. “I’m the department supervisor over kitchen, bath, appliances and plumbing.”

He formerly worked at the Home Depot in Batesville and transferred to the Conway store when he accepted the directorship of Renewal Ranch in August 2009.

James met with several dignitaries from the Home Depot on Feb. 22 for the check presentation.

On hand for the ceremony were Gary Metheny of Conway, district manager for central Arkansas; Derek Gilpin of Conway, store manager, Conway store; Bessie Giesler of Cabot, operations manager, Conway store; Sean Nelson of North Little Rock, assistant manager, Conway store;Michael Wood of Greenbrier, assistant manager, Conway store; Calvin Washington of Sherwood, human resource manager, central Arkansas district; Joseph Wood of Little Rock, human resource manager, central Arkansas district; and Kelly Ivey of Cabot, manager, Cabot store, and district Team Depot captain.

“We are thrilled to be able to help an organization thatincorporates some of our core values like community and giving back,” Metheny said. “We want to be able to help people mend their broken lives.

“We’ve supported the John 3:16 Ministry for the past several years, and when the opportunity arose to bring such a program to Conway, we signed on with it.” – crolf@ arkansasonline.com

River Valley Ozark, Pages 64 on 03/11/2010

Arkansas Democrat Gazette, River Valley & Ozark Edition, March 11, 2010

Pursuing a Dream To Help Others

At Renewal Ranch – Pursuing a dream to help others
by Renee Hunter

The 100-acre farm near the Stoney Point Community in Perry County is a perfect setting on which to locate James Loy’s dream – Renewal Ranch.

The dream grew out of James’ roller-coaster life. He lost his father to cancer when he was 8, and his mother when he was 18. His mother’s agonizing four-year struggle with cancer caused James to question God and her death caused him to turn away.

“Satan used my questions to distort my view of who God really is,” he said. “At that time, I made a conscious decision to walk away from the Lord.”

James drank his first beer while a senior at Conway High School. He moved from alcohol to marijuana to the hard stuff while attending the University of Central Arkansas to earn a marketing degree. He finally settled on cocaine as his drug of choice.

“It eventually became my master,” he said.

After graduation, he held a good job despite his addiction, purchased two homes and became engaged. He went into rehab the first time to save his relationship with his fiancée. It didn’t work. Shortly after leaving rehab, he began using again and she regretfully left him.

As his life unraveled, he blamed God instead of himself. His life became a spiral of rehab and use. None of the secular rehabilitation centers worked for him. Eventually, he lost his insurance, and they wouldn’t accept him.

Then in 2005 he was steered toward John 3:16 Ministries near Batesville, “a spiritual boot camp for men with addictions.”
When James asked John 3:16 founder Bryan Tuggle about cost, Bryan replied: “It won’t cost you anything; Jesus Christ has already paid the price.”

Two weeks into the boot camp, James gave his life to Christ and “a tremendous weight was lifted off me.” Six months later, he was addiction free, and has remained so. He knew immediately that he wanted to provide a similar ministry to Central Arkansas.

James met his wife, Laura, at a Batesville church. She too had led a roller-coaster life – three failed marriages, including one to an abuser. When she and James met, Laura had reached the place where she realized the only relationship she needed was with God. She had no intention of remarrying, but James wore her down. They married in January 2007, moved to Conway, rented a house in Perry County, and began the process of turning dream into reality. James was ordained to the ministry in August.

Renewal Ranch, a ministry for men with addiction, has as its goal “restoring broken lives through Christ.” The program will be modeled on that of John 3:16 Ministries at no cost to residents. Applicants will be required to complete an application and undergo an interview, and residents will be chosen after prayer, consideration and discernment.

Residents must remain a minimum of six months, and won’t be allowed contact with the outside during the first 30 days.

After that, family visits will be allowed on Sunday and during special events. The curriculum will include Bible study, experiencing God, community service, financial classes and studies led by guest pastors. The men will grow most of their own food.

Eventually, Loy would like the ministry to partner with local institutions of higher learning to provide free education or skill training. He would also like to provide a halfway house where graduates can reconnect with the community.

So far, however, the dream is still a dream, albeit a dream shared with a 10-person board. James and Laura were, at this writing, still negotiating for the land in Perry County. But they are confident that, if not there, then somewhere.

“All in God’s time,” Laura said.

501 Magazine

Renewal Ranch Receives Home Depot Grant

Published on TheCabin.net (http://thecabin.net)

Home > News > Renewal Ranch receives $20K Home Depot grant
Renewal Ranch receives $20K Home Depot grant

By Courtney Spradlin
Created 2/22/10 5:37 pm
Renewal Ranch, a faith-based recovery program for men struggling with addiction, will receive a $20,000 grant from the Home Depot Foundation.

The grant, in the form of building materials, will help the organization, according to James Loy, director, build their first bunk house.

The nonprofit organization is in its final stages of acquiring the deed to a 94-acre piece of property, located just inside Perry County, to be a building site for the ministry. Renewal Ranch, modeled after John 3:16 Ministries in Charlotte, will begin with six men.

John 3:16 Ministries, according to Loy, began with three men and has since expanded to about 60. He and other leaders hope to expand the ministry in time.

The initial building of the first bunk house should take place in the next few months, Loy said.

The event will be a Team Depot event, in which Home Depot employees volunteer to construct the first bunk house from donated materials. Stoby’s Restaurant will provide breakfast and lunch to workers.

Loy said the regional manager, Gary Metheny, and other store managers have agreed to participate in the event.

The grant, Metheny said, will be given in two parts. “We will donate $10,000 in material now and $10,000 later. This will help them get started,” Metheny said. “We are supporting them as a local nonprofit organization to help improve the physical health of people in the neighborhood. It fits right in with what we do in the Home Depot Foundation.”

“The grant will greatly reduce the process cost and get our building site off the ground,” Loy said.

Fresh Start Ministries, headed by Larry Pillow, has implemented a fundraising program titled BAA, or Buy an Acre, which allows sponsorship of an acre of land at the ranch.

Loy said in order for Renewal Ranch to operate, they need commitments from community members. “There’s no government or state funding because the curriculum is religiously based. We need organizations, churches and individuals to help us,” Loy said. Loy is presenting to local churches in an effort to gain support for Renewal Ranch. “I think it (Renewal Ranch) will have a tremendous impact in the community. Addiction is tearing up families. It greatly effects communities in a negative way through crime, broken families and burdens on the taxpayer,” Loy said. “Recovery programs cost money. It costs $135 a day to house a man in the Arkansas Department of Correction. We’ve estimated a cost of $33 a day to house a man in our program.” The grant, provided by the Home Depot Foundation, is classified as a Community Impact Grant, and part of Home Depot’s Core Values, which is to give back to the community.