Grateful for Twenty Years Directing at Timberline Ranch

A nice little 20-year appreciation from our staff - with donuts!

​Today,  Leanne and I are celebrating twenty years at Timberline Ranch. How do I feel about that? Well, kind of tired, to be honest! But extremely grateful.

What a privilege to serve in this ministry for all these years! The people that I have served alongside have been phenomenal, and the tens of thousands of lives that we have affected for the good is beyond amazing. Years ago, we developed the Timberline motto, “Bringing Hope, Building Lives,” and that’s so true of what we’re doing today. We get to be part of seeing so many lives transformed!
 
Five years ago, shortly after COVID began, I reached the fifteen-year mark, and I wrote a blog on those first fifteen years. It goes a little deeper into those first years. If you’d like to read that, you can find it here. Apparently, in April 2020, I suddenly had a little time on my hands…

Crazies in our summer skits (August 2024)

Truthfully, I think the best way to sum up these past twenty years is simply gratitude. I am thankful that Jesus has given me the health, strength, and wisdom to do what has been needed here. Given my inherent lack of health, strength, and wisdom, it is – I believe – entirely miraculous that I have been able to do this for so long.
 
I am so thankful for my family’s support and especially Leanne’s partnership throughout it all. There have been a lot of tough times these past twenty years. One of the keys to being a leader is the willingness to suffer or take on pain on behalf of your team, and we have experienced a large share of that. Mistakes are inevitable (I’ve made my share) and can bring pain, but often, it’s simply the nature of leadership. Things go wrong, and you do what needs to be done. A parent or staff person is upset or angry about something you may have had little to do with, but you put yourself in the line of fire to resolve it. And throughout all these times, Leanne has been a rock for me, and I couldn’t have done it without her. And my extended family has been incredibly supportive as well. Thank-you!

Some of our staff on a little Mexico team-building cruise (Jan. 2025)

My staff has also been amazing these years – faithful, competent, supportive, and hard-working. I am so blessed by long-term staff still with us – such as Megan, Dobson, Pat, Grady, Anuschka, Doug, and Ron – and so many others who served with us a very long time. Our current team is amazing (new and old), and I am excited to see where thing go over the next few years. I love our seasonal and summer staff, too! And our board – they have been so great to work with – both our current board and the many who have served over the years.
 
In the end, ministry always comes down to people, and we have been so blessed. We all have many opportunities to influence, encourage, and help those around us, whether we are in a position of leadership or not. I can only hope and pray that our influence has encouraged people in their faith and helped them draw closer to Jesus.

Introducing the amazing cabin leaders to the campers (July 2024)

The older I get and the longer I work here, the more people ask me how much longer we’ll be at Timberline. Hopefully, God will make it clear when it’s time to move on. As long He gives me the health and strength to do this and the passion to want to, and as long as the board is still happy with where we’re taking things, I may be around a while yet. But things can change quickly, and there are no guarantees.
 
Thank you to all who have influenced, supported, encouraged, and prayed for us over these twenty years. We are glad to have served with you. Let’s keep this thing going!

​But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
~ 1 Cor. 15:57-58