Steppin out is a great place to be, our day was filled with excitement and blessing after blessing from Dad. Ran into a whole lot of folks and you guessed it they all wanted to hear about the Battle River Ranch camp.
We then had a great lunch with our daughter. Then we were off to Young to visit an aunt of ours that was 92 years old and still on her own and doing very well. She helped us, over the phone, make some apricot jam so we had to take some to her and we got to share about the ranch to her and a friend over tea, toast and apricot jam, yummy.!
Heading back to Saskatoon we were going to stop downtown for some ice cream, but where to go? Cold stone or the double bus in front of the Bez. Well we choose the bus as they have great maple walnut ice cream. After we parked in a great spot in front of the bus we decided to use the washrooms at the Bez first and as we entered the lobby we were greeted with folks that had trays of goodies for everyone. After a bit of time spent parlaying with them we sat down in the lobby to eat our treasures. After a few bits of these delicious morsels I said to Diane I believe God has a purpose for us to be here, I can't wait to see what it is. Well, I then got up and headed to the washroom and didn't get ten steps and a man's voice hollered out Harold Stephan and when I turned to see who it was I was face to face with Tom from Kindersley along with his wife and another couple all very good friends from kindersley and yep you guessed it they wanted to be filled in on our lives and the ranch. We all used to attend church together and raised our families together, we laughed and cried and had such a good time. God is so good as He set's up appointments way beyond anything we can plan. They are planning to come out and visit the ranch in the next couple of weeks to see how they can help. As Diane and I blessed them with crosses they, as well as us felt and knew as we journey together lives are changed and as Tom said when we leave this old earth we will be at the right gate meeting the right one who loves us so much.
As we left Saskatoon we knew our day was a day walking with our Lord and we were in for a great ride home with lots to talk about, but then my phone rang and it was Jacob, he was waiting for us to get home to watch a movie with us and eat some of grandpa's popcorn. Does life get any better? We believe not. So as I am writing this Jacob asked me, "how did Terry Fox lose his leg? So I will say good night and deal with this.
The comment made was, "doesn't this whole thing scare you sometimes," and like the Bible says in Proverbs 14:26 and my answer would have to be yes. But, "Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge." Our prayer is that we never let the fear of man stop the work of God. We can only imagine the many incidents that Noah and so many had to deal with in the Bible. Blaine once said, "Dad if you don't do exactly what God has called you to do, someday you might be riding your bike down the highway and some big semi is going to open up and swallow you, then what?", too often fear makes people do and say some stupid things I know I've done it many times, but when you don't listen to God, He'll just move to someone that will listen and do what He needs doin. He has gifted us all with so much but like the old saying goes, If you don't use it, you'll loose it. And I believe that there's not a lot of folks wanting to see God work these days cause that's a lot differant from the works of man. A gentleman and missionary in Powel River said to us we here in Canada don't need God any more we have our own system. That's scary.
Our hope and prayer is to let as many of you know about the ranch as possible so that the hope it will bring and the lives it will change and the encouragement it will provide can start as soon as possible. The ranch will be a one of a kind facility and will offer an option to many like no other.
When God has a plan and like our friend Mike and Pastor Lyle wisely told us just keep your focus and don't let the distractions pull you away from God's purpose. Thank you once again for taking the time to view our blog. The Battle River Ranch Camp is a non profit organization that is focused on developing trades, life skills and training opportunities for men and women that are searching and find it difficult to get the opportunities needed to develop a productive life skill. Many men and women today have no idea what they could be good at or how to find out their possible skill area or level. We are a faith based training center and our hope is to give each person that comes to the ranch an opportunity to find the skill they were created for.
TO DONATE : and help us to impact lives for the future of our families and communities. So many young adults are only hours of help away from knowing a trade that they could work at as they desperately seek employment. Please consider and check out our web site to see the potential that you could be a part of.
If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation of materials, equipment or money to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever PLEASE consider making a donation to:CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC
Box 11403
Lloydminster, Ab.
T9V 3B7
As a registered charity your tax deductable receipts will be sent out at the end of the year.
Once again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering The Battle River Ranch Camp a life skills and trades introduction opportunity, as a option to support financially, an option that is making a differance in the lives of our young men and women right here at home in Canada.
Every donation makes it happen no matter what the size of donation you are able to help us with. God has allowed Diane and I to meet many of you and we want to assure each of you, your donations will be used wisely to build a facility that will change lives for ever. We have been blessed with so many of you as friends and if each of our friends and family would donate 25.00 per month or more if you can afford it, it would make all the difference. And for those of you we haven't met us please give us a call and we will get all of the ranch information out to you ASAP.
Thank you so much and God Bless you and your family
Harold and Diane Stephan left a life filled with addictions and bad choices. Their journey has taken them through different twelve step programs and life recovery through a relationship and healing process with Jesus Christ. If it were not for caring people in their lives that never gave up on them or thought they were a hopeless cause they too would still be lost.
We would love to hear from you and if you feel this is a program and facility that would help you or someone that you know, or you would like to be more involved with a ministry like this or support it financially we would love to talk to you and would very much appreciate your help in what ever way you can. Even if you could help with a small one time donation or a larger one it would help so much to bring this life changing facility and place of hope to be opened by this fall.
This is a ministry for those that have a heart and desire to make a difference in the lives of others with the skills and gifts they have been blessed with and have a desire to pass on what they know to the next generation.
You are always welcome to visit and we look forward to your input. This ministry is prayer based, and we pray daily for the needs of others, if you have a need for prayer and not sure where to start give us a call and we will confidentially support and help you in this area. You may not know a lot about God but God knows everything about you and He loves you more than anyone can or ever will.
God Bless You and Your Family!!!
Harold & diane Stephan and
Board of Directors of the Battle River Ranch Camp
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1-3O6-825-7734 OR
haroldstephan@hotmail.com
WHY WE PRAY AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL GIVE JESUS A CHANCE IS BECAUSE
THE LIFE YOU REALLY WANT AND CAN HAVE IS UP TO YOU
HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO
DON'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND HERE'S WHY
#1
Because you have a past
You can't go back, but He can. The Bible says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) He can walk into those places of sin, failure and hopelessness, wipe the slate clean and give you a new beginning. A beginning with a real and lasting future, full of hope.
#2
Because you need a friend that won't let you down
Jesus knows the worst about you, yet he believes the best. Why? Because He sees you not as you are, but as you will be when He gets through with you. What a friend!
#3
Because He holds the future
Who else are you going to trust? In his hands you are safe and secure - today, tomorrow and for eternity. His word says, "For I know the plans I have for you ...plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen". (Jeremiah 29:11-13 TLB)
If you'd like to start over, with a new beginning with Jesus today, Diane, I, the board of directors, volunteers and supporters of Crossman Ministries and the Battle River Ranch Camp would ask you, if you are looking for a new beginning to please pray this prayer:
LORD JESUS CHRIST
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask Your forgiveness and now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank You for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
If you have made this commitment and would like to make contact, please call us. We'd love to talk to you and help in any way we can.
We are praying for all of you reading the blog every day.
We all need and are searching for choices and option every day in our lives. We want you
to know that you do have a choice as to where you will spend eternity and we just like to
let you know that even in those last minutes of life if you call out to Jesus with all your
heart He will be there for you. Just look at the criminal that hung on the cross beside
Jesus. Each and every one of us make choices every day about the life we want to live
while we are here on this earth but very few know about the option we have available to us
when it comes to eternity. God really does love you, Jesus really died for you and the
Holy Spirit will come and live in you. Just give Him a chance today