Our lives have been shaped again and again by stepping away from the noise of everyday life and seeking the Lord in community. Whether it’s around a campfire, in a coffee shop, in sharing a meal with friends, or in spaces of prayer, God continually meets us when we slow down and create space for Him and for each other.
Both of us have experienced the transformation that occurs when we press pause on normal rhythms and lean into what God is saying and where He is leading. Stillness has a way of revealing His voice, and community has a way of revealing His heart. Those two things—stillness in the presence of the Lord and life shared with others—are where we’ve seen our faith deepen and our love for Jesus grow.
We have experienced that when people step into intentional community, we are able to refocus on the giver of that community. Distractions fade, conversations get honest, and together we can see Jesus with fresh eyes. As we share stories of what He’s doing, pray for one another, and challenge each other to pursue Christ, we are reminded of Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
That sharpening happens in everyday ministry too—in hospitality, discipleship, friendship, and service. Jesus modeled a life of showing up for others, and we want that same heart to shape our home and ministry. Whether we are meeting a practical need, encouraging someone through a difficult season, or simply creating space for people to rest and refocus, we want others to experience the love of Christ through us.
We also believe deeply in the beauty of carrying one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 calls us to this, reminding us that community is not optional in the life of faith—it is essential. We were never meant to follow Jesus alone.
Our desire is to help create spaces where people can encounter God, grow in Christ-centered community, and be encouraged to live out their faith with purpose. That’s the heart behind ministry as a couple. Wherever the Lord places us—and right now that includes our work at New Life Ranch—we want our lives to point people to Jesus and invite them into the deeper, quieter, transformational work that He does in community.
Why we do what we do!
As missionary staff at New Life Ranch, we serve in roles that allow us to disciple young leaders, share the Gospel, and create Christ-centered environments where campers and staff can grow in their faith. Because our work is ministry—both at camp and beyond—we raise a portion of our salary through a team of partners who believe in the mission God has called us to. Support-raising is not just a funding model; it’s an invitation for others to participate in the work that the Lord is doing through our lives, our home, and the ministry that we steward.
Our goal in support-raising is to remain fully available to the mission—free to invest deeply in students, lead with excellence, and respond to opportunities for discipleship and outreach. We are actively building our support team and are praying for new partners who feel led to invest in this ministry. Your partnership allows us to be fully present in the work—developing leaders, sharing the Gospel, and opening our home and lives to those around us. If the Lord leads you, we would be honored to have you join our team. Together, we can continue the mission of helping people know Jesus more deeply and follow Him faithfully.
Serving on Missionary Staff.
Jaden serves as the Flint Valley Program Manager, which means that he leads in the coordination, delegation, and preparation for all of the aspects that go into 12 weeks of summer camp at Flint Valley! For summer 2026 we are planning 3 weeks of staff training, 7 one-week programs for 7th-12th grade campers, 2 three-day camps for 7th-12th campers and a family camp. In preparation for summer, the responsibilities include hiring the summer staff, helping create the biblical theme for each summer, preparing and teaching summertime activities, and supporting summer staff through discipleship and mentorship! Depending on the season, it can be many crazy things including jumping a mountain bike off a ramp into the creek, visiting college campuses to recruit staff, or talking with parents about their child who is having struggles while at camp.
Over the past year, Alli’s role within camp has grown and shifted in meaningful ways. Last summer, she served as the Program Manager at Frontier Cove, and after our wedding and moving to the Valley, she stepped into a new position focused on recruiting and hiring girls summer staff. This fall has been full of interviews with potential new staffers, reconnecting with returning girls, and sharing the heart of camp as we look ahead to what this coming summer will hold. It’s been such a gift to invest in the team that will help create a Christ-centered, joy-filled experience for every camper who comes through our gates.
Keep up to date with the ways the Lord is at work through each season of camp and life by visiting our ministry updates page!
What our roles are at camp.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Being part of the long history of ministry at New Life Ranch is such a blessing. Founded in 1958, New Life Ranch has blossomed into a vibrant ministry with two camp locations in northeast Oklahoma. Since our inception, we have welcomed hundreds of thousands who have encountered the Lord and experienced transformative life changes during their time at New Life Ranch. Our mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and equip believers for ministry. We strive to encourage this through intentional teaching and discipleship, empowering everyone around us to make a positive impact for Christ in their communities long after they leave our gates.
Our two camp locations include Junior Camp at Frontier Cove, catering to 2nd-6th graders near Adair, OK, and Senior Camp at Flint Valley, just outside Siloam Springs, AR, for campers entering 7th-12th grades. In addition to summer programs, both sites function as retreat and conference centers throughout the year, offering a space for growth and renewal. Summertime looks like one week camp programming at each site that last through all of June and July each year, serving over 2,000 campers at each site! We also have around 120 summer staff at each site!
As we see it, life is ministry, so that means our ministry is not limited to the Valley or the summertime! The Valley is our home, but through the rhythm of camp, we have the opportunity to do ministry in many other ways as well!
More about New Life Ranch.
New Life Ranch Mission Statement:
Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and equip believers of ministry
New Life Ranch Core Values:
Biblically Based
Focused on Relationships
Service to Others
