Looking back on my life, I know the Lord began molding me from the beginning to serve Him at Hope Remains Ranch.
I was born into a Christian home in Brevard, NC, to parents who loved God and loved life. As young children, my sister and I would sit and listen to my mother tell us about Jesus and his undying love for us. The Holy Spirit began dealing with me and I gave my heart and life to Jesus at nine years old. I always knew that God had something special that He wanted me to do.
Along with working their jobs, my parents owned a horse farm; I began training horses at a young age. At age 15 I worked with Tommy Lucas training and showing Tennessee Walking Horses and American Saddlebreds. After graduating from high school, I attended Blanton’s Business College and Western Carolina University and continued to train horses in the Brevard area and worked in my church in different jobs – God was preparing me!
My wife, Peggy, the love of my life and my best friend, and I decided to close our boarding and training barn and move to East Tennessee and spend the rest of our days just riding into the sunset – but God had other plans! Through a series of events – that only God could orchestrate, we ended up in Columbus, NC, on 10 acres along the trail system and became members at First Baptist North Spartanburg. During a Global Mission conference at First North, Peggy spotted the Hope Remains Ranch table and encouraged me to check it out. I began to volunteer a couple of days a week while I worked in Duncan, SC, for an automotive parts company. After my job ended for this company, I became the Barn Manager and Chaplain for Hope Remains. All of God’s preparation and training for me – teaching kids in Sunday School, working with Awanna programs, and of course my life with horses – came together: Hope Remains Youth Ranch.
I know that God has not finished with me yet and I know that He has great plans for Hope Remains. What a blessing that I get to be a part of his plan!