Blazing Hope Ranch June 2023 Newsletter

Newsletter Archive
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He works justice for those who are pressed down by the world, providing food for those who are hungry. He frees those who are imprisoned; He makes the blind see. He lifts up those whose backs are bent in labor; He cherishes those who do what is right. (Psalm 146:7-8)


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June

I've had the song, I'm So Blessed, by Cain, in my mind and on my heart, especially the lyric, "No, it doesn't matter about the rest if I got you, Lord, I'm so blessed." Even though I've been feeling under pressure, I know that I'm a child of God, even on my worst day. I pray that this truth would uphold you today as well.

Now grab a cup of coffee and find out what we've been up to!

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Camp Run Free in Pikeville Was A Success!

Big thanks to The Lab in Pikeville which provided us with free access to their grounds, and to Cumberland Fellowship, which covered all of the expenses for Family Night at the end of camp for campers and their immediate family members. This means providing food for nearly 150 people!  In addition to fun activities for the kids that involve our horses (plus some special guest horses), we got to teach them about Jesus and about how to prevent human trafficking. 


Interview With a Program Graduate

Kristy Flowers graduated from our program in 2019. To protect her privacy, we're not showing a photo of her. Instead, this is a photo of her therapy dog, Alpha, who has been a great companion to Kristy.

Since it has now been three years since Kristy graduated, I asked her to reflect about how the ranch helped her after she was  free from trafficking.

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"The biggest benefit of the ranch is that I have learned how to say 'no' in a way that's assertive but kind. I learned through the staff and horses to set healthy boundaries and now have friends who feel safe  and respect me. I continue to struggle with anxiety when I'm in a crowded situation, or if there is a lot of noise, but I was recently able to attend my son's graduation ceremony, and I don't believe I could ever have done that before my time at the Ranch. 

"I also got to experience, for the first time, what it was like to interact with Godly men who had my best interests at heart. I grew up around drugs and alcohol, and the previous men in  my life controlled me through punishment and intimidation. Jo and her family live on the Ranch property, so I was able to watch how they interacted with each other and other survivors. I was so surprised by the way that David (Jo's husband) treated me that, at first, I was sure it was all an act! John Tomaro is another Godly man who volunteers at the Ranch and has helped me with things from car maintenance to moving furniture. They both have become friends and continue to be willing to help me if I need it.  

"Getting to interact with the horses was also key (Sundae is my favorite horse).  I had to learn to be patient and grounded when interacting with them, and I have been able to approach all kinds of different situations in a more calm manner. I remember a time that I had to interact with someone who caused me a lot of anxiety and specifically reminding myself to 'breathe deep and calm myself like I do before going in with the horses.'

"I now work and live on my own in a trailer that the Ranch helped me find, that has space so I can have my boys for weeks at a time. I value the privacy and independence I have, and I feel confident that the bills will get paid and that I'll be able to stay as long as  I want."

Please pray that she will feel the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit as she continues to move forward with her life.


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Family Corner

Jordyn has been in physical therapy for her foot three times a week (for a total of five weeks) - then she'll have surgery on her other foot and have to go through all of this again! She's been a real trouper helping with the camp while having to deal with her cast. We are hopeful that the correction of her flat feet will allow her legs to work well during her adult life.


The Ranch Origin Story!

David and I were blessed to be featured in an article in Cairn Magazine (the magazine of Cairn University, from which David and I both graduated). The Ranch has its beginnings in a PowerPoint assignment for one of my classes, and the encouragement I received from my professor. 

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Answered Prayer: God has been busy at the Ranch this month!

We praise God for Keeper, a Gypsy Vanner, who we borrowed again for Camp Run Free. This is Keeper's third year with us. 

God has answered our prayers that we would be able to partner with more churches. Brainerd Presbyterian Church, our most recent church partner, has agreed to support us monthly, and I continue to speak at local churches to spread the word about what we are doing here at Blazing Hope.

Mother's Day, which can be a very painful time for our residents, was instead a sweet time. We praise God, too, that one of our residents was able to attend her daughter's high school graduation.

Finally, we are so grateful to Redbank Baptist Church for their generous commitment to pay for couples counseling for one of our former residents, who has been restored to her husband. 


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225 Missing Children Found in Operation We Will Find You

In a win for eastern Washington, US Marshals mounted a ten-week national operation to locate 225 children and youths who were abducted or had run away, many of whom had been used for sex-trafficking. Read more here.


Prayer Pardn'rs

Please pray for David as he drives to Michigan to retrieve our new passenger van!

Please pray that our next camp at the Rhea County Fairgrounds July 3-7
will bless the children and families who attend, and that all will go smoothly. 

Please pray for me as I go to visit my grandmother in Vermont, who is in poor health. 

Please pray that we would partner with more churches who want to help us in our mission as we continue our outreach efforts. Let us know if we can come and present to your church. Email us at blazinghopeTN@gmail.com or reply to this email.


Help us in our mission!

Would you be willing to join our Freedom Wranglers? Freedom Wranglers support our mission with monthly donations. Please click on the Donate button to support the important work we do to restore wholeness to female survivors of human trafficking, and to weaken the sex trade through the power of Christ. Your monthly donation of as little as $10 per month can help a resident begin a new life.

Would you consider hosting a meeting with your philanthropically-minded friends? We would be happy to visit your home and make a brief presentation about our mission to people you think would like to support us financially.

Do you have a friend (or friends) who would also be willing to pray for us? If so, please forward this email to them or post this email on your social media account.

Want to read a past newsletter? You can find them all here.

Finally, let us know what you think (and please feel free to unsubscribe using the link below if you don't want future newsletters). We'll look forward to hearing from you!

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