LOA Youth Ranch

08/31/2026

Last week our kids cared for animals, filled water troughs, gathered eggs, filled grain bags,, groomed horses, visited the goats and pigs, played games, and even helped care for baby birds.

With school starting, many conversations centered around friendships, nervousness, belonging, rumors, and handling change.

❤️ God at Work – A Different Perspective

One child shared nervousness about starting a new school and meeting new people. Her leader encouraged her to change the question from “Who will come talk to me?” to “Who might need me to go talk to them?”

That opened a conversation about what makes a good friend—kindness, honesty, listening, and treating others well. We love seeing God use simple conversations at the ranch to help kids look beyond themselves and love others like Jesus does.

❤️ Finding Opportunity in the Unknown

Another child was facing an uncertain situation she really didn't want to experience. Instead of dismissing those feelings, her leader listened and helped her look at the situation from another perspective: Could God use even something difficult as an opportunity to grow?

By the end of their conversation, her outlook had begun to shift. These are the moments we pray for—not that every difficult circumstance immediately disappears, but that kids begin to discover that God can meet them in the middle of it.

❤️ Prayer requests:

Please pray for our kids as they return to school—for peace, healthy friendships, confidence, and wisdom as they navigate new situations.

Pray also for our session leaders, that God would give them discernment to recognize opportunities to listen, encourage, and demonstrate the love of Christ.

Thank you for praying, giving, and supporting LOA Youth Ranch. Your support helps us share the love of Jesus with kids each week.

08/29/2026

We have spots available ( limited) for our fall session program. Click the link in the comments to sign up.
* Fall sessions begin this week.

08/28/2026

Fall is approaching and so is our annual fundraiser.... Harvest Hoedown is happening October 4. Last year we asked for candy donations if anyone felt led to help in that way. It was a huge blessing and helped us cut some of the cost down. Starting now, we will be collecting bags of candy & bulk ( non candy items) like pencils, stickers, stamps, ( party favor type things), etc to hand out at each station. If this is something you want to help with... items can be dropped off at LOA or connect with us and we can figure out how to get it.
Thank you so much.

08/28/2026

As kids head back to school... send them off with a few fun lunchtime jokes. Anxiety can increase this time of year and what better way to maybe tell a joke to "break the ice" and possibly make a new friend in the process.

We will be praying for families as they transition back to school.

08/23/2026

LOA Youth Ranch – Weekly Reflections
Week of August 17, 2026

Chores & Activities

Kids helped with feeding and watering animals, collecting eggs, sweeping, pulling weeds, watering plants, and cleaning around the ranch. They spent time with horses, goats, chicks, pigs, and cats and enjoyed slime, clay, drawing, games, nature activities, and an Armor of God project.

Highlights of God’s Love

One child asked a simple but powerful question this week: “Why did Jesus die?” That question opened the door for a meaningful conversation about Jesus, His love for us, and how we treat people who may not yet understand the Gospel. It was a reminder that God can use an ordinary moment at the ranch to begin an important conversation about Him.

In another session, a child shared how difficult it has been to trust people after being hurt when they opened up in the past. What began as casual conversation slowly became a safe place to share things they normally keep inside. The leader simply listened and reminded the child that opening up was brave and that it was an honor to be trusted.

We pray that as these children experience safe and trustworthy relationships, they will increasingly discover that Jesus is completely trustworthy and will never leave them.

Week at a Glance

A major theme this week was safety and trust.
Several children talked about the recent fires, evacuations, fear, and families who lost homes. Others opened up about difficult relationships, anxiety, anger, or experiences that have made trusting people difficult.
There were encouraging breakthroughs as children practiced calmly interacting with animals, identifying safe adults, working through frustration, and sharing things they normally keep inside.
Through chores, animals, creativity, and conversation, we continue to see God building confidence, trust, and connection.

Prayer Requests

** Please pray for children and families affected by the fires, especially those dealing with fear, evacuation, or loss.

** Please pray for children learning to trust and open up, that God would bring healing, confidence, and safe relationships into their lives.

** Please pray for our leaders, volunteers, and families, that God would give them wisdom and help them recognize opportunities to point children toward Jesus.

08/17/2026

Sessions will resume this week.. we are getting settled. Things are getting put away and we have missed our kiddos. Cowboy is happy to be back and ready to greet everyone.

08/13/2026

Everyone is back home.. happy and glad to be out of stalls. The amount of joy they had running and rolling in pastures was delightful. We are thankful for the 2,000 fireman & firecrew that battled the 3 fires.
LOA is safe and untouched. Our hearts are devastated for those that have a different story to tell. During the evacuation, our Crystal Peak family was also praying for us and sent a picture. Now we unload, unpack, try to get back into a rhythm and resume sessions again next week.

If any of our sessions families ( I haven't been able to connect with all of you) need help or assistance, please let us know. We know a few of you were evacuated, we just don't know the status of your home. We know this fire had a huge impact with mental health as well.
If we can be of assistance with your child, please reach out.

08/06/2026

08/05/2026

Animals are safe.. we are safe ... but we aren't out of the woods yet. Winds picking up tomorrow through weekend, high temps, low humidity.. 13% contained. If winds switch.. we are in the path of the fire. All animals ( minus chickens) are at the fairgrounds. We are tired but doing ok. I'm loving on cowboy, Scarlett, Frankie, & cotton right now. We are rotating ministry horses out if stalls to let them go run

Few horses not drinking much so that is a concern but we brought our well water down to fairgrounds in jugs hoping they will start drinking. Continued prayers. The guys are holding down the fort at LOA.. the ladies are caring for all the animals.

Also... so many people have called, text and email. We will respond as time allows... having trouble keeping up with things right now.

08/03/2026

Session families-- emails were sent out but in case you didn't see... all sessions are cancelled this week due to evacuations & smoke.

We are doing ok... tired but ok