Christian Encounter Ranch

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Grass Valley, CA
Christian Encounter Ranch

We are a non-profit, residential program with an on-site high school for at-risk youth in Northern CA

CEM has been Tending Lives and Training Leaders since 1970. We work with young people ages 15-24 who have backgrounds of substance abuse, abandonment, neglect, and many forms of abuse and trauma. We have a tightly integrated team of educated and experienced pastors, counselors, teachers, and caregivers working in concert to address the whole soul. In addition, we have a team of youth care interns

who are present with our students around the clock. If you're looking for help, or want to get involved, contact us today! We accept student and intern applications every day of the year. Watch our videos on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/CEMRanch

06/02/2026

We had a wonderful end-of-year celebration, including watching five graduates walk the stage with their families in attendance. Our high school principal shared that all students enrolled in high school made the honor roll this past quarter - a tremendous accomplishment! We also had former Jessup professor and former intern Fritz Moga give a charge to our graduates. We're so grateful for all God has done in hearts and minds this past year!

05/31/2026

John 10:4-5

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Jesus uses the relationship between a shepherd and his flock to describe his connection to his followers. The imagery signifies that those who belong to him recognize his teachings and will not be misled by false teachings or deceitful voices.

Do you know the voice of Jesus? Do you heed the Holy Spirit when he whispers?

Know the Lord’s voice and you will hear clearly when the enemy tries to deceive.

05/21/2026

Check out the new concrete work done in Angels' Meadow! A huge shoutout to J530 concrete for their expertise in this project and for doing incredible work on our amphitheater. We're so excited for all the future camps, graduations, weddings, retreats, and celebrations that will take place here!

https://www.christianencounter.org/angels-meadow-venue

05/16/2026

Serve Day: A Love That Carries On

They could be doing anything with their Saturday. After a long week of work, school, responsibilities, and life, families, teens, and volunteers chose instead to come serve at Christian Encounter Ranch.

Volunteers from local churches, businesses, and the surrounding community gathered together to help build up, clean up, and prepare the 86 acres of land that serves students whose lives are being transformed every day. But what makes these serve days so special is not simply the work being accomplished . It is the love that is poured out.

Volunteers work side by side with our students, staff, and interns. They share meals together, hear one another’s stories, laugh together, pray together, and grow into something deeper than a volunteer team — they become family. Serve Days beautifully reveal the love of Jesus Christ in action.

What begins as a single day of serving often turns into years of connection. Many people who come once continue returning year after year because they encounter something greater than a project. They experience the presence of God. They experience the joy of both receiving and pouring out the love of Christ.

christianencounter.org

05/06/2026

When Jesus Transforms Us:

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect".

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come".

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV): "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit".

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV): "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh".

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NCV): "...be made new in your hearts, to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God—made to be truly good and holy".

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me...".

Colossians 3:10 (ESV): "...and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator".

Key Aspects of Biblical Transformation
The Goal: To become like Christ in character and image.
The Method: Renewing the mind, not just changing behavior.
The Agent: The Holy Spirit, not human effort alone.
The Result: A new life, a new perspective, and a new heart.

04/29/2026

Our Agony Kickoff Ride is next Saturday, May 9th! Free bike fittings beginning at 8:30am. Training ride begins at 9:30am. Meet us at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery in Sac!

Why get a bike fit?
"If you are suffering from numb hands or toes, knee pain, lower back pain, shoulder discomfort or any number of other aches and pains after riding your bike, it is likely due to improper bike fit. Getting a professional bike fit is one of the most commonly skipped steps when buying a new bike, but it is one of the most important."

If you're riding in the Agony Ride, don't skip this step! Getting fitted to your bike, or a borrowed bike, will make all the difference when doing a 24-hour event.

04/21/2026

Spring Serve Day is coming up on May 16th! Maintaining our 86 acres would not be possible without the help of volunteers from the community. Come join us as we maintain our property and work on various projects. Lunch is provided.

Sign up here: https://www.christianencounter.org/serve-days

04/09/2026

We have a group from Moses Lake Christian Church visiting this week working on various service projects on our property. The group is led by former staff member Charlie Cazin, who serves with his wife Melissa as Pastors of Student Ministries at their church. Thanks, Moses Lake, for your generosity to us and for partnering with us in ministry! (Pictured below: one of their projects is helping install disc golf baskets on our disc golf course.)

04/02/2026

Q&A with Isaac Larson, one-year intern
Age: 26
Hometown: Grass Valley, CA

How did you hear about the Ranch?
I knew people affiliated with the Ranch, and I was invited for a tour a few years ago. Two years after that visit - to the day - I visited again, and this time I felt that God was using other circumstances to redirect me here.

What were you doing before you came to intern?
I was working at In-N-Out.

What has working with the students taught you?
I was talking with a student about not having to defend themselves for everything, that it was a way that God could work in their life. I quickly realized I was the same way - being very defensive when corrected instead of understanding I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s okay.

How has your walk with the Lord been impacted?
Though I feel sleep deprived, I am being renewed day by day. God gives me the energy to do what I need to do the next day. It’s made me rely on Him more….There were some exhaustion points - I needed to learn how to rest well.

How has internship equipped for future leadership?
I’ve learned how to work through conflict with others on the job instead of seeing it as an obstacle. I’ve learned to accept responsibility when I need to.

What’s something fun about internship?
I enjoy our intern nights out. It's a time I get to connect with the whole team. It creates opportunities for more relationship and understanding each other on a deeper level. Also, Agony for sure. There’s a lot of connection that happens there between riders and those you are volunteering with. It’s fun to pour into those who are pouring into you.

Address

17183 Retrac Way
Grass Valley, CA
95949

Telephone

+15302680877

Website

http://www.christianencounter.org/

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