Teen Ranch Ministries

06/01/2026

Old Life and New Life!

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17

How can we possibly say it better?

If you have experienced the new life that is Christ, you can identify with the joy of the little tree growing inside the old tree. The absolute joy of shedding the dry,brittle,even rotting old life in exchange for newness and the ability to grow straight,true and tall towards the sun/Son!

Teen Ranch summer camp has been the start of many new lives in Christ, and we trust this summer will bring a beautiful harvest of souls.

Please pray for our directors, full time staff, leaders and summer staff to have, wisdom, wisdom and more wisdom for the months ahead!

05/31/2026

Joy is found in His presence.

05/25/2026

Remain

We recently hosted a new puppy and his parent for several days. He is a rather large puppy, rambunctious and headstrong, but at the same time, a cuddle seeker and hugely affectionate. The training was in well in progress but several instructions were on repeat. His name was used before every command, in order to bring him to focus, and to make it personal. Then the short command was given. Recurring admonitions of sit and stay, reminded me about God’s oft-repeated instructions to His followers.

As we check out these Scriptures we will see that there are different reasons to abide, be still, or remain.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
This one seems to say, just relax and I will show you who I am.

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
What? What kind of God is this? Many believers have seen God move for them when they could do nothing for themselves. How can you top this?

“As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.” 1John 2:24
Remaining in the Son and the Father? That is an upgrade from being human!

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him”. 1John 2:27
Remain in Him and enjoy the anointing!

"Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me." 1 John 15:24
Remain in Him and bear fruit!

9 ““I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.” John 15:9
This is a great one! Love and joy!

The beauty of God is that His instructions are always, always, always meant for our good. The simple admonitions to be still, to remain, to abide, are for our benefit.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31
We are a blessed people!

We know that there have been times in your life and Teen Ranch life that you have experienced the benefits of abiding in Him. Please send to
[email protected]

05/24/2026

Teaching kids to say, “Here I am, Lord.”

05/21/2026

05/17/2026

Faith woven into everyday moments.

05/16/2026

As if He had not done enough.

Jesus gave up His home in glory to come and be born as a human on earth. He lived life in an ancient culture, in a country and time dominated by a ruthless oppressor. He brought a message that was unpopular to the religious institutions of the time, and an offense to the prideful. He demonstrated incredible, undeniable miracles yet was mocked and hated by those in authority.

He was beaten, humiliated and tortured before being killed.

He did not have to do that, but He chose these things, including death, on purpose.

Jesus knew the torture He was about to endure, yet, in John 17 He prayed with compassion for His followers. He spoke of serious things, like holiness and unity, and how He had demonstrated that He and the Father are one. Jesus knew He had come to bring salvation and healing, but look what He added in verse 13.

“….I told them many things in this world so they would be filled with my joy.”

There is a word in Dutch that they say has no close, clear parallel translation. It is “gezilleg” . Even when words like delightful, cosy, comfortable are suggested, the native Netherlander says, no not that, but sort of.

Joy is something like that. It is an indescribable essence, a bit like happiness, that has no parallel, no equal, just like Jesus Himself! It is a word used many times in Scripture ( over 400 times in some translations!), yet there are no words to adequately describe its meaning. As the Dutch say, you just have to feel it!

For the Christian, joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Fruit grows in relationship with the tree and cannot be manufactured, it just happens! True joy comes from living and abiding in Christ, it cannot be forced or faked, it just grows!

In Nehemiah 8:19 we are told that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and here in John, Jesus gives joy as a prominent, intentional gift from Himself.

May we never take for granted all the gifts that have been bestowed upon us!

https://youtu.be/mEIa_BPa6Uw?si=SCQ38cng_tuo-tpc
JOY (What The World Calls Foolish) lyrics | Gateway Worship feat. Martin Smith

We would love to hear your Teen Ranch “joy” stories! Please contact

[email protected]

368 likes, 8 comments. "JOY (What The World Calls Foolish) lyrics | Gateway Worship feat. Martin Smith"

05/11/2026

Lazarus 2 .0

As mentioned previously, the raising of Lazarus from a four day grave was the most astonishing event witnessed by the followers of Jesus. When we consider the actual condition of his co**se, this account raises even more flabbergasting details.

According to burial traditions of the time, the body of Lazarus was wrapped in spices and linen cloth, with a separate wrap around the head. Depictions of these co**ses show that the linens were then tied with strips around the body and specifically around the feet.

The fact that Jesus called Lazarus out, without miraculously unwrapping him is interesting. How he was able to sit up, let alone get out of the tomb is puzzling. The only thing Jesus said was

“Unwrap him and let him go”. John 11:14

Lazarus presented as fully wrapped and those around were instructed to remove his bonds. Jesus could have done it by a miracle but he chose to let people set Lazarus free.

Many who come to Jesus experience immediate release from their past and know the exhilaration of their new birth. Others, like Lazarus are bound in invisible grave clothes, shame, addiction, poverty of spirit, and all manner of other oppression. They have been called by Jesus from their death, they have truly responded, and are waiting to be set free.

John 8:36 NIV
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

What an honour we have to work with Jesus to remove the head covering so they can see and hear, untie their hands and feet so they can move and walk. How do we do this, you ask. It is the Word. Always the Word. Jesus, everything He said, everything He did, everything He is.

In John 10:10 He says,

“ I am the way,the truth and the life”

In John 17:14 He says

“ I told them many things while I was with them in this world so their joy may be full”

All of the things He said and did while here were done to give us eternal life but also so our joy will be full!

Each piece of the grave clothes comes off in response to the news of the glory and goodness and joy of the Lord!

What an honour to have been entrusted with this glorious task for almost sixty years!

We want to add your freedom story to our Teen Ranch collection! Please submit to
[email protected]

05/10/2026

God is always at work—even in the unexpected.

05/10/2026

Today we thank God for the incredible mothers and mother figures who reflect His love through their care, sacrifice, strength, and faithfulness.
Whether through quiet prayers, comforting words, endless encouragement, or steadfast love, your impact reaches far beyond what you can see. You help shape hearts, point families toward Christ, and remind us of God’s goodness every day.
We are grateful for the women who nurture, lead, teach, support, and love so faithfully.
“Her children rise up and call her blessed.” — Proverbs 31:28
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Teen Ranch Ministries. 💛