A Place of Peace: Eagle Ranch’s Mission to Share Hope and Healing with Families in Crisis
A Place of Peace: Eagle Ranch’s Mission to Share Hope and Healing with Families in Crisis
Families arrive at Eagle Ranch carrying the weight of trauma, heartbreak and crisis—but here, they find something they never expected: peace.
“We serve children and families in crisis, and so much of what we’re doing is bringing peace to these families and to these children. We are pointing them to Christ as our ultimate peacemaker.”
As the director of development and outreach, Kelly sees changed lives and families healed daily. Eagle Ranch welcomes children and families with a variety of struggles or traumas and has served over two thousand children and their families since their founding in 1985.
“We come alongside kids and families who are really hurting,” Kelly said. “There could be trauma, anger, heartbreak or addictions.”
The ranch offers families a respite from the brokenness in their daily life and encourages solutions to heal these situations.
“We’re not trying to permanently separate these families. We’re really trying to give everyone some breathing room and give them some new and different tools to come back together in a healthier way.”
“Some of the issues in these families have been there for generations,” Kelly explained. “We walk alongside these families and affirm them for the courage it takes to say, ‘We want something different and we need help.’”
The team at Eagle Ranch affirms that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. “One of the most loving things they could do is ask for help,” she shared.
Through their residential program to outpatient counseling to an on-campus school, Eagle Ranch identifies needs in each individual that visits the ranch and equips them with the tools and support to make the needed changes in their lives.
They have also initiated a program they call First Step Counseling.
“This is a sort of triage service for any family in crisis where they can call and meet with a counselor within 72 hours, and the first appointment is at no charge,” she explained. “You’re going to have a professional assess what’s going on and help make a long-term recommendation. If it’s not the ranch, which in some cases it’s not, we’ll help them get connected to the help they need.”
Kelly notes that the work at Eagle Ranch is a needed intersection of the mental health field and faith.
“Christ is our ultimate hope. He’s our ultimate healer. We do believe that true heart change comes through Him, but He calls us to do the work. He gives us a brain, He gives us tools, and He gives us resources.”
As today’s teens face heightened rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, Eagle Ranch aims to surround these young guests with love and compassion.
Kelly recalls one teen who came to the ranch for help with anxiety and depression. “He had totally shut down to the point he wouldn’t come out of his room to go to school or eat,” she shared. “He was addicted to video games and completely overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.”
As he began to grow more comfortable at the ranch, he was able to participate in what the ranch calls an “exploratory,” which includes activities like horseback riding, fishing and trail bike riding to encourage kids to be active and spend time outside.
One activity was wood turning, led by retired members of the Chattahoochee Woodturners. Anxious to avoid other residents, the resident chose wood turning hoping other residents would choose alternate activities. This choice allowed him to recognize a gift he didn’t know he had.
“He really poured himself into this wood turning, and that was the thing that made him feel more comfortable.”
A few years later after his experience at the ranch, the former resident is now thriving.
“He’s at [the University of Georgia], and he’s in the marching band,” Kelly said. “But he’s also a spokesperson for the Chattahoochee Woodturners and goes around speaking to large groups about the joys of wood turning.”
This story of hope is one of many.
Kelly is proud to not only see children and families transform their lives but also see former residents return to the ranch to give back.
“We have kids come back and volunteer here. We have a lot of donors that are past residents. We’ve even had residents that come back and be house parents.”
As Eagle Ranch continues to expand its services and welcome families in crisis, Kelly hopes supporters will join in praying for Eagle Ranch staff and the people the ranch serves.
“We just remember that we’re not God. Our job is to sow good seeds and to pray for the harvest.”
“We’re always praying for breakthroughs and soft hearts. We know there’s so many people out there that are hurting, and we pray they find us or find the help they need.”
Kelly is excited to see how God will use Eagle Ranch in the future. “I have a front row seat to watch God do what only He can do.”
A Place of Peace: Eagle Ranch’s Mission to Share Hope and Healing with Families in Crisis
A Place of Peace: Eagle Ranch’s Mission to Share Hope and Healing with Families in Crisis
Families arrive at Eagle Ranch carrying the weight of trauma, heartbreak and crisis—but here, they find something they never expected: peace.
“We serve children and families in crisis, and so much of what we’re doing is bringing peace to these families and to these children. We are pointing them to Christ as our ultimate peacemaker.”
As the director of development and outreach, Kelly sees changed lives and families healed daily. Eagle Ranch welcomes children and families with a variety of struggles or traumas and has served over two thousand children and their families since their founding in 1985.
“We come alongside kids and families who are really hurting,” Kelly said. “There could be trauma, anger, heartbreak or addictions.”
The ranch offers families a respite from the brokenness in their daily life and encourages solutions to heal these situations.
“We’re not trying to permanently separate these families. We’re really trying to give everyone some breathing room and give them some new and different tools to come back together in a healthier way.”
“Some of the issues in these families have been there for generations,” Kelly explained. “We walk alongside these families and affirm them for the courage it takes to say, ‘We want something different and we need help.’”
The team at Eagle Ranch affirms that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. “One of the most loving things they could do is ask for help,” she shared.
Through their residential program to outpatient counseling to an on-campus school, Eagle Ranch identifies needs in each individual that visits the ranch and equips them with the tools and support to make the needed changes in their lives.
They have also initiated a program they call First Step Counseling.
“This is a sort of triage service for any family in crisis where they can call and meet with a counselor within 72 hours, and the first appointment is at no charge,” she explained. “You’re going to have a professional assess what’s going on and help make a long-term recommendation. If it’s not the ranch, which in some cases it’s not, we’ll help them get connected to the help they need.”
Kelly notes that the work at Eagle Ranch is a needed intersection of the mental health field and faith.
“Christ is our ultimate hope. He’s our ultimate healer. We do believe that true heart change comes through Him, but He calls us to do the work. He gives us a brain, He gives us tools, and He gives us resources.”
As today’s teens face heightened rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, Eagle Ranch aims to surround these young guests with love and compassion.
Kelly recalls one teen who came to the ranch for help with anxiety and depression. “He had totally shut down to the point he wouldn’t come out of his room to go to school or eat,” she shared. “He was addicted to video games and completely overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.”
As he began to grow more comfortable at the ranch, he was able to participate in what the ranch calls an “exploratory,” which includes activities like horseback riding, fishing and trail bike riding to encourage kids to be active and spend time outside.
One activity was wood turning, led by retired members of the Chattahoochee Woodturners. Anxious to avoid other residents, the resident chose wood turning hoping other residents would choose alternate activities. This choice allowed him to recognize a gift he didn’t know he had.
“He really poured himself into this wood turning, and that was the thing that made him feel more comfortable.”
A few years later after his experience at the ranch, the former resident is now thriving.
“He’s at [the University of Georgia], and he’s in the marching band,” Kelly said. “But he’s also a spokesperson for the Chattahoochee Woodturners and goes around speaking to large groups about the joys of wood turning.”
This story of hope is one of many.
Kelly is proud to not only see children and families transform their lives but also see former residents return to the ranch to give back.
“We have kids come back and volunteer here. We have a lot of donors that are past residents. We’ve even had residents that come back and be house parents.”
As Eagle Ranch continues to expand its services and welcome families in crisis, Kelly hopes supporters will join in praying for Eagle Ranch staff and the people the ranch serves.
“We just remember that we’re not God. Our job is to sow good seeds and to pray for the harvest.”
“We’re always praying for breakthroughs and soft hearts. We know there’s so many people out there that are hurting, and we pray they find us or find the help they need.”
Kelly is excited to see how God will use Eagle Ranch in the future. “I have a front row seat to watch God do what only He can do.”
