Community Ministries
Community Ministries at New Life Ranch exists to be a transforming agent in our community. Our desire is to see children and families in the surrounding towns (Colcord, Kansas, Watts, and Siloam Springs) healed and made whole through a personal relationship with Christ. We strive to partner with the people in our community in order to make these towns places where God is glorified.:
Right Lead is the longest-running Community Ministries program, developed at New Life Ranch in 1998. Each week students of all ages arrive at the Ranch to clean out stalls, groom their horses, and then ride. They are engaged in a unique lesson and group discussion using the horses to explain various aspects of God and Christian living. Our desire is that young people grow in their understanding of God and that they also come to see horsemanship as an activity they can plug their time and energy into.
You can serve our Right Lead youth in two ways:
Become a Right Lead Group Leader
Right Lead group leaders assist participants in each of the classes. They help getting horses ready, guide beginning riders, and lead discussion times after the lessons. You don't need to know anything about horses to be a Right Lead group leader! All you need is a willing spirit and love for needy kids. We will provide you with enough training to help you become a successful group leader.
Group Leader Responsibilities include:
- A one-semester commitment (Right Lead meets during spring and fall semesters for 10 weeks. Each class is two hours long and meets once a week.)
- Filling out an application. New Life Ranch will then do a background and license check.
- Attending one 3-hour training session (new group leaders only)
- Attending Right Lead each week and being on time
- Possibly driving a few participants to and from the class
- Learning from and with the youth in the class
- Loving our Right Lead participants
Become a member of the Right Lead Transportation Team
Transportation Team members are assigned to several young people to pick them up and/or drive them home before and after their Right Lead class. This is an essential part of our ministry because many of our students live in rural areas, making it very time-consuming for our leaders to pick up everybody for a class.
Transportation Team Responsibilities include:
- A one-semester commitment
- Filling out an application. New Life Ranch will then do a background and license check.
- Meeting with a mentor coordinator who will help assign you and give you directions to the participants you will be picking up
- Picking up several students from their homes, schools, or
- Right Lead class each week
- Being on time
- Loving our Right Lead participants
If you are interested in becoming a Right Lead group leader or member of the transportation team, or you have further questions please contact Kristen Ediger at kristen@newliferanch.com or Alex Hedgepeth at alex@newliferanch.com.
Right Start provides long-term mentoring relationships for youth ages 5-18. Through Right Start, youth gain access to an adult they can count on to be there through the tough times and to celebrate with them in the exciting times. Right Start mentors can choose with their mentees how they want to spend their time together each week. Ideas range from going to simply chatting at a nearby park to cooking a meal to going over homework. Several different Right Start events are also offered each month for mentors and mentees to attend.
A mentor supervisor is available to help make the mentoring relationship a success. This supervisor contacts mentors on a regular basis and helps answer any questions that the mentor may have or find resources that the student may need.
Right Start Volunteers
We are always in need of adult mentors!
In fact, we have many young people on the waiting list for a mentor right now.
Mentor Responsibilities include:
- A 12-month commitment
- Filling out an application. New Life Ranch will then do a background and license check.
- Attending one 3-hour mentor training session (new mentors only)
- A few additional training/prayer times during the year
- Meeting with your mentee at least one hour each week
- Keeping in touch with your Mentor Supervisor
- Learning from and with your mentee
- Loving your mentee
If you are interested in becoming a Right Start mentor, or you have further questions please contact Kristen Ediger at kristen@newliferanch.com or Alex Hedgepeth at alex@newliferanch.com.