Tuesday

What a great day at the ranch today, we were able to get so much done today as we prep'd the new building for erection tomorrow. Today was especially special as friends of ours from out of town sent a donation for Larry and Peg. The look on their faces as some that they didn't even know until a few weeks ago are now helping them with their support. The card was especially encouraging for Larry and Peg as this friend realized the asset that Larry and Peg are to the ranch and how God is using them in His plan to improve the lives of so many. There is no way that this project would be where it is today without the committed help of this couple. So please as you pray, pray that the others would see the heart of this couple and seek God's provision for their finances. Diane and I thank God daily for their commitment.

The mobile home is so nice to have as a place to do safety meetings, devotions and it is great to have a place to eat our meals and have our coffee breaks. The coffee machine that Shelly got for us is such a bonus and even a plumber can make a great cup of coffee with this machine.

We got the front wheel back on the backhoe and I took some pictures of the worn out tire and the size

so that if there is someone that could help replace them it would be a great blessing.

A big part of this ministry is the time taken to minister to each other. So many of us live our lives at such a fast pace that we hardly have time to do a check on the condition of our walk with the Lord. Maybe that's the way some like it so we don't have to listen to His call on our lives to do what He wants because we are to busy to hear from Him. There seems to be several types of ministry available to us, like full time ministry or part time ministry or user friendly ministry. I knew a guy years ago when I first became a Christian that said God would never send him where he didn't want to go, or make him do something he didn't want to do. It took me a few years to figure that one out.

Even while working on some I-beams and removing old rusted bolts there was time to talk about what life means and to just be a friend. Ryan and JC inspections are such a blessing as they give countless hours to the ranch construction. So amazing the great people God has brought into our lives through this ranch.

We had a great turnout for our community out reach this evening and were able to have a great prayer time with everyone that came. More and more of our friends and neighbours are supporting and doing whatever they can to move this great project ahead.

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. Many would like to just try a new skill or trade. We are a faith based training center. 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. 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. Just give us a call and we will come and do a presentation that will explain the ranch plan to you. Many are saying this is so new and fresh and the need is so great. Please prayerfully consider helping us in what ever way you can. God Bless You and Your Family!!

1 John 5 : 14 & 15 NIV

^"14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.!"

Merging Trails

Thank you so much for taking the time to follow the ranch trail as Diane and I have attempted to go back with you all to where it all began.  How we can all look back and see that God was and is working in our lives,  I don't mean just us but all of you,  to take a look at the way things are or the way things could have been and how God is or will or could work in your lives.  We appreciate every one of you and I can only explain it by telling you that when I stopped in at Emco plumbing supplies today with sushi as a treat for every one and to say thank you for all they have done for the ranch.  Shelly came up to me and gave me the biggest warmest hug you can imagine and she said that she can't start her day till she checks the blog, or the emails we recieved this morning from a special young lady and a young man that encouraged us as they shared of the hope that God was bringing into their lives as they read the blogs each day. We can all be apart of God's plan as we follow His words Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  The trail has come to the point that we can join the daily blog now and continue to watch God's blessing on the daily path that He leads us on.  So here we go as we merge over to the daily blog trail. We hope to  hear from you.  God bless you and your families.  If you would like to make a tax deductable donation to the Ranch, we are still under the umbrella of our church, please make your cheque payable to"Lloydminster Gospel Fellowship" and on the bottom of your cheque write Re: Ranch project.  If you wish to donate equipment, we need estimate on the worth of whatever you wish to donate, and than you will recieve a tax reciept for your gift in kind. Thank you so much. 

Passing it on to he next

At Crossman Ministries we continue to create and make many hand- made crosses each year that we use to share the message of the cross to people everywhere.  Diane and I have seen that if we commit ourselves to God's purpose for our lives, He will bless our lives with much fruit, as we have seen through our children and the many lives that God has blessed when we do what we are called to do.  Diane and I are committed to serving God and building this ranch to honor and bring glory to our Lord and Savior and we only ask that you seek God's direction in helping us with this project.  

                                                      

- Proposed Development-

-Ranch/Camp Purpose- 

To develop purpose and life skills in the lives of men and women by  working side by side in all area's of life skills and safety development in a safe and positive atmosphere.

-RTM ready to move home construction site-

Seeking to find and develop strengths, and skills in all ares of construction

-Green house-

Seeking to find and develop strengths, and skills in all areas of horticulture

-Restaurant, gift shop and arts center-

Seeking to find and develop stregths, and skills in all areas of food peparation, and food management

Seeking to find and develop strengths, and skills in all areas of music, crafts and art

-Horses-

Allowing the use of horse in encouraging personal development, respect and responsibility

-Program Schedule will include-

Year round program for trade development 

Summer weekly youth camps

Year round group activities

-Ranch attendance-

75% will be men and women seeking to improve their opportunities in the work force of today and tomorrow in areas of life skills and trades

25% will be women and men with a troubled back ground with no less than one full year of recovery at a known and recognized recovery center or program and are serious about life skills, trade and being a productive asset to society.

-Focus- 

Will be to help each one to find their purpose in a society desperate for skilled men and women to lead the next generation in a direction of hope and God given purpose

 

 

How big is God

This is so big, bigger than any thing we've ever had to build and it excites every cell of our bodies.  Especially because we believe that God has told me to send this letter to everyone that we have ever known, and some of you may not give a hoot about what we are doing or why, but we just want to thank you for reading this and to let you know that we are praying for all of you.  Or, if you would just say a little prayer for us and if you feel you would like to be a part of this project that will make a difference in the lives of many people, we would be so honored to hear from you.  We have a great team of men and women as our board of directors and our church has taken us under their umbrella until our lawyers have finalized our non profit status.  Donations to the ranch project will be issued tax receipts  if needed.  The first phase of this project will include two buildings, a guest/lodge house and also a construction shop, complete with a kitchen and food services building.  Also we need a lot of construction materials to complete all the buildings and infrastucture, water and sewer, natural gas and electricity. We are no longer in need of major construction equipment such as back hoes, track hoes and cats,  as they are ready to be delivered to the ranch as soon as needed P.T.L.  We do need scrapers to dig a dug out and a lagoon, plus a zoom boom and bobcat for building construction.  We are also in need of an elevation transit and packing equipment.  If you are at all interested and in some way big or small can help us to accomplish this project, we would be excited to hear from you and fill you in on more of the details.

Build and they will come

We have always thought it would be great to have a place, maybe even a ranch where we could build ready to move homes to teach men and women all parts of construction and maybe a little cook house where we could teach them how to cook healthy food and feed each other. Also to have some horses to ride along the river valley. And maybe a house or a lodge big enough so that we could all sit and support each other as we pray and share the problems that we are dealing with, and help each other as we also share and encourage each other with the victories in our lives. I've heard it said that you need to be careful what you pray for because you might get it. Then one day last spring, Diane had me pick up some frozen meat from a rancher that goes to our church. I was coming home from looking at a job in Nielburg and stopped in as it was on my way. The lady asked me in for a cup of tea and as we talked, I always seem to get on the tropic of a youth ranch, after listening to my story, Glenda asked if I was serious about the ranch. I told her I sure was and she replied, "if you will build that ranch, I'll give you the land". It took me a bit to take in what Glenda had just said to me, but today Diane and I are again being used as a part of God's plan and purpose for our lives and many others. Today we have the clear title to approximately 80 acres of land along the Battle River Valley. It is a beautiful piece of land just waiting to be used as the ranch camp. As I spent time asking God "how am we going to do all this as I am over 50 years old and I don't have the energy that I used to have, or the money it's going to take to build this to what it needs to be. God helped me to believe and to have the faith that if I would carry the vision and share it to every one I know, show them the picture God gave me of the ranch, that He would bring every one and avery thing needed to build this ranch so it would do what it is meant to do. Our plan for the ranch is to build ready to move homes and to train men and women on all ares of house construction. We have journeymen trades people willing to help in all the construction and hope to be able to provide the first year apprenticeship and safety certificates to each trainee.

Miracles on the road

He said, " we'll see what we can do" as he walked away talking to his employee. The next thing we knew, his men had installed five really good tires and when we went to pay the owner, he said," no charge. " He than said,"it's the least I can do to help you keep this outfit on the road, and to keep you doing what your doing." Then there is a friend of our in Watrous that, even though he didn't have a lot, filled our tanks with diesel. The miracles and blessing went on and on and totally built our faith in a God who is interested in many coming to know Him.

Please don't think we believe we are any more special than anyone else. We are who we are because of what Jesus has done in our lives. We are far from perfect and will never be as long as we are on this earth. God is still working in us and always will be, changing us to be more like him. It says in the bible that our righteousness is as filthy rags, it is only because Jesus is in us and His righteousness is in us that we are changed at all.

Diane and I have had so many opportunities to serve God with our lives. We are blessed to be parents of a great family that just gets bigger and better all the time. Diane and I are part of a dedicated and great team at our church called Celebrate Recovery that works with and helps men, women and families with problems of addictions. We spent many years directing a youth summer camp with our family. I have taken training to be a Community Service Chaplain and have served as chaplain for the Gideons and the Christian Motorcyclist Association. I am now serving as a deacon on our church board. Over the past 25 years, we have been blessed to be able to help many people enter and complete a trade that would allow them to better care for their families. I was privileged to speak at a drug and alcohol detox center for five years. That totally opened our eyes to how badly men and women need God's love and the care of people who would help them find their God given gifts and to be able to put those gifts to use to make a better world for all of us to live in. It's really not that hard if we would only give God a chance.

Rubber hits the road

So God did so many neat things as He prepared us to do this ministry.  We started to work at the camp our children had gone to for years and eventually became the directors.  We would work at camp for a month, taking the semi which was now equipped with two climbing walls and a stage which we used for the worship band and also to do dramas and outreach.  After five years of operating this ministry with the semi in Saskatchewan and Alberta, our two oldest children decided to get married and start their own lives.  So, a Lutheran church in Idaho took over the ministry with the semi and continue to this day to run that rig across southern Idaho doing the same as we did in communities.  We miss the semi and are thankful to every one that helped us to put it together and keep it on the road.  

Just a few things we remember how a friend of ours paid to have the murals painted on the side of the trailer, and when the highway traffic officer pulled us over and told us we could go no further until we replaced 3 worn out tires.  Then when we pulled into a tire shop in Sakatoon to see if we could get three used tires, the first tire shop we came to, The own

er came out to look at what we needed.  We told him we needed three used tires, to get us going and that we only had three hundred dollars to spend, could eh help us?  

Crossman ministries on the road

When I was growing up, the only thing I ever thought about was getting drunk the next weekend.  If I was doing something that I wouldn't be able to get drunk at, I didn't even want to go.  I had no plans or thoughts of the future.  Everything to me was just boring.  When I asked Jesus to be lord of my life, He took away the desire to drink and to smoke.  I have been so blessed and never had to go through any kind of withdrawals at all.  I know it's not the same for every one , but for me it was so good because I cold never have done it other wise or even wanted to.  Before I became a believer, I never thought about how many children we would have. It was all about me and my selfishness.  After accepting the Lord I came to the realization that these children were a miracle of God and so precious and special.  Each one was so unique and had their own gifts and special ways about them.  Harold and I decided we wanted them to be able to experience a fun and fulfilled life without the alcohol and drugs that we saw was destroying the marriages around us.  Because of that we decided to move to to Caronport so our children could go to a Christian school.

When I was in the University hospital for over three months waiting for Victory to be born, Harold on a trip back to Kindersley had to pull over to the side of the road as God was giving him a visionof a semi with a picture of Jesus, and people of all walks of life on it, and being used to do youth ministry and reaching out to others who were as lost as we were.  So when we decided to move, and we knew we had a lot of stuff to move as we had six children and our business.  So I suggested to Harold, maybe this is the time to look for that semi. So, we started praying and looking and finally we ended up at this farmers place who bought and sold semi's, Tractors and trailers.  We didn't have a lot of money, just what was left from the equity when we sold our home in Kindersley.  The farmer asked how much money we wanted to spend and what we were looking for.  Harold told him and than pointed to a truck he felt we needed. The farmer then said we could have that truck for the money we had, which was a very good deal.  Later his wife shared with me that they had gotten that semi tractor for such a good deal, they couldn't believe it. They went over it very well and couldn't find any problems with it.  She said, "I guess the reason we got it for such a good deal was to be able to bless you,"as they knew we wanted to use it for ministry.  Harold wanted to cut a hole in the side of the trailer to make a stage so we could have the worship team ( which consisted of our children and their friends ) do music and dramas and to be able to share and reach communities with the hope we had received. A good friend who also believed in what we were doing called, and asked if Harold had done the stage yet. Harold shared with him that we needed the money before we started or we wouldn't be able to use the semi for the summer if the stage wasn't finished.  Our friend said cut out the side and the money would be there.  He sent all the money so it could be done and finished completely.

Decisions

.......We know today that just going to church on Sundays and living the so called good life doesn't cut it and won't work. The peace that Diane and I get to live with today comes from our willingness to allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives and to live that life out in front of our children. Some have said to me " Well thats good for you, Harold, but maybe it's different for others and what if we don't believe this heaven, hell and Jesus stuff". I've told them " well what's the worst that may have happened to us because of the decision we made to honor God with our lives."

#1 - Diane and I have a great marriage of 33 years and it gets better all the time.

#2 - Today we have 6 wonderful children, 2 beautiful girls and 4 strong boys.

#3 - 4 of our children are married and have great marriages.

#4 - We have 3 beautiful daughter in laws and 1 great son in law.

#5 - We have 5 great and beautiful grandchildren and one more on the way.

#6 - We try our best to help other where ever and when ever God shows us

God has blessed our lives so much that if I'm wrong and this is the best that we can expect, than it's still well worth it, but what if we are right and they are wrong. It's a choice that each and every one of us needs to be considering very closely as our children and our futures are at stake.

Diane here - I would like to share that I am so thankful for the change the God has made in our lives. Harold is such a wonderful husband and dad, he is such a good friend to many men who had no one they could talk to and share about the troubles they were dealing with. I never dreamed we could have such a good marriage without the hurt and pain or not knowing what the next day will bring.

My second birthday

.......when in walks this big, burly biker named Doug and we just talked.  Doug always had that big smile on his face just like when he said to me, "Harold, don't you think it's time to give it all to God and invite Jesus into your heart?"  I said, "Yes" and that is what I did.  The guy that was going to come to work for us and help us out never did show up again.  But I have since learned that in the Bible in the book of Hebrews, Chapter 1, verse  14, it says, " are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"   So I believe that man must have been an angel sent by God to bring me hope at a time when I felt so down  and hopeless and may have even taken my own life.  

When we accept Jesus into our lives as our personal Lord and Savior, it doesn't mean we will live a life of ease and all will be a bed of roses, but I believe and know that He gives us hope and real purpose for our life as we honor Him with all we do, say and think. My life started out very dysfunctional, I had no idea how to be a good parent, we wanted to be parents that could pour hope into the lives of our children and that didn't include drugs, alcohol, broken marriages and messed up lives....... So when your down and it feels like the whole world is against you remember that God knows no obstacles and never gives up on us. Romans 8 : 28
 

Mystery Man

.......He proceeded to sit down then he told me he needed a job to stay in Canada and that if I could give him a job no matter what it was or what the pay was, he guaranteed me that he would do more for me than anyone I had ever had work for me before.  After a bit of talking we stepped out of my office to where our secretary was working and as I was showing him around our shop we walked by more of our employees in the parts area and then out to our rear shop area and then past everyone again and out the front door to where his old car was parked.  He said to me as he opened the door to his car, "is it OK if I start work next Monday?"  I said to him, "I guess so, but I sure could use some help with my cash flow this week," and then he said as he shook my hand, "if you need the money it will be there," and he got into his car and drove away.  By the end of that week my cash flow had picked up to where for the first time in months I was able to make all my payments and meet payroll on time.  Monday of the following week the new guy didn't show up and on Tuesday when I hadn't heard from him I went over to our secretary and asked her if she'd seen or heard from the new guy that was here last week and was going to help us out?  She said, "Harold, I didn't see anyone here with you last week like that."  I then went over to our parts people and asked them and they told me the same, they didn't remember seeing any one at the shop like that last week.  I went back to my office, closed the door and sat down at my desk and I only then realized that somehow after all other options had failed and I was willing to cry out to God with a few simple words, that he cared enough about me to send someone to get me through that week.  About a month later on August 3, 1983  I was once again sitting in my office about 7:00 pm when in walks.......

Turning point

.......I was ready to give up as I could see no hope, and as a businessman I was absolutely pathetic.  I thought I had it all made, a beautiful wife, two wonderful kids, a son and a daughter, our own business, nice truck, a Harley Davidson to ride, plenty of booze and cocaine for the weekends or whenever need be.  But I felt empty and useless inside, and as I sat there I remembered what many of those Christians had said to me, when everything around you is falling apart and you can see no hope JUST GIVE GOD A CHANCE.  My head fell down between my hands in pure desperation and I said " GOD IF YOU'RE REAL I NEED YOU NOW".  And no sooner had I said those words then the tears flowed from me as though my whole inside was being washed and everything about me was being washed clean, I thought I was overcome with grief but I now realize it was a life time of grief being lifted from me.  Then almost within a minute or two someone was knocking at my door.  Thinking it to be one of our employees I straightened myself out and said come in.  There stood a guy about 55 years old and I asked him if I could help him?  He asked if I was hiring, and I said no, no I'm not hiring anyone right now.  Well he replied if you could give me a job I could help you out with some money if you need it.  I quickly said "pardon me" and he said it again, that if I need some financial help he could help.  I looked at him and said, "have a seat." ........

The engagement

....... and even though I pestered her a lot and often didn't treat her very nice, eventually I asked Diane to marry me and she said yes. Our families were very surprised as were many of our friends.  I remember some of the well meaning remarks that we both received. Remarks like, it's not going to last or it can't work, he or she won't stick with you, you'll be disappointed.  We really didn't listen to a lot of what was being said we were just excited about starting our life together. My life continued to spiral out of control and after being busted for drug possession and the judge telling me that if I keep my nose clean and never touch the stuff again he would give me an absolute discharge. By late that same evening we were so loaded and drunk thinking what a fool that judge was.   Later that year Diane graduated from High school and we were married. We headed to Calgary to work and live as we both loved Calgary a lot. On our way to Calgary we stopped in Kindersley to visit relatives for the evening and they encouraged us to get jobs there and live and work in Kindersley.  So we thought if we could find work we'd stay for a bit then head to Calgary in the fall.   Diane and I both got jobs and an apartment within a couple of days. So then we settled in for a bit actually a long bit.  Over the next six years our lives and marriage turned into a nightmare.  We had two children by then and our lives and marriage were falling apart. The many addictions that seemed to plague my life were out of control.   I came to a point in my life that I realized that I was a disappointment to everyone and I could not even stand myself for what a failure I had become as a husband, father, friend and human being.  One day as I sat at my desk in my office and the door was closed........

growing up and moving on

Our little town seemed to be obsessed with motorcycles.  I remember many times heading out to a friends farm where a few of us would meet and spend the day riding back roads and exploring new territory or building ramps to see how far we could jump our bikes. I remember once doing a petty good jump but to find out shortly that my seat flew off and when my butt came down it was not a smooth landing.  As we all grew up our bikes changed and so did our lives, some of us stayed around home to take over the family farm or carry on the family business but others of us chose to move on to see if we could find our place in the world.  I seemed to have had a mind of my own and as I look back I realize why my sister was always so frustrated with everything I seemed to do,  at the time I thought she was just a big pain in the behind, but now I realize she had to put up with a lot as she tried to keep some sort of order in our home.  As my life started to revolve around sex, alcohol and drugs I was getting into a life style and addictions that could eventually destroy my life.  Fortunately, as I was growing up there was this cute girl that would pick up my sisters for school every day.........

First big ride FREEDOM

.......... my sister tapped me on the shoulder as she. and some of her friends  were out and about town.  I've never forgotten that night on main street and I began my search for the motorcycle that I could ride down that highway of freedom and power.  A guy who lived a few houses down from us used to ride a motor cycle. I hadn't seen him riding it for a while.  I wondered what became of the motorcycle that he rode past our back-alley once in awhile.  After some checking and asking some friends I learned that that motorcycle was still around and sitting in his garage down the alley from us.  Getting up enough nerve I snuck down the street and took a look through the window of his garage and there in the corner on it's center stand sat the motorcycle of my dreams.  I'm not sure how it all came about but eventually the guy took the time to let me come into his garage and take a look at the bike.  Man it was a beauty it was a 85cc Bridgstone bike and he said that he would sell it to me for $50.00.  That was a lot of money back then,  but I was working for my uncle sometimes and walking the ditches along the highway to collect bottles in gunny sacks and getting money for them.  It didn't take too long to get the fifty dollars together.  Once I paid the guy for the bike I pushed it home.  It took a bit to get it home as the rear wheel was seized up and wouldn't turn.  We loaded it onto my Dad's truck and hauled it out to my uncles farm where he helped me to tear the rear wheel off and remove the old bearings.  Well where do you go find bearings for a British motorcycle in a small town.  So we started by checking at a hardware store and they sent us to the local garage where the owner took time as he usually did for everyone who needed parts.  And what do you know the bearing out of a Ford generator worked  just perfect.  My uncle paid him, and we were off, back to the farm and out to the Quonset where we had set the bike on a sheet of ply wood as the floor was all gravel. We started to clean up all the good parts and than my uncle helped me and showed me how to put the new bearings into their right spots. It wasn't long before we had it all together and it rolled out of that Quonset real nice. We then emptied the gas tank and flushed the old gas and some rusty stuff out, we then put it all back together and put in new gas.  We also drained the oil from the motor and filled it with new oil that my uncle had in big barrels in his tractor shop.  I watched as he grabbed a shiny metal container from off the counter and then with a clean rag he wiped out the container of any dust that may have gotten in it because he said, "we don't want any dirt in the clean oil as it could get into the motor.  He then took the big barrel that was on a wooden stand on it's side, opened the little bung to let air into it and then removed the big bung. As he turned that barrel with that shiny container under the large hole, the clean yellow gold oil poured out into the container until it was full.  Then he rolled the barrel back to where  it would not pour out and put the bungs back into place and tightened them up.  He then took an old block of wood and put it under the barrel to keep it from rolling away.  We grabbed a funnel and filled the bike motor with new oil. He also helped me to clean the points and plugs. We took the battery that had been hooked up to his little blue battery charger and set it back into the bike, hooked it up and tried the horn to see if we had power and yeper we had power.  We rolled it outside and turned on the key and the first few kicks nothing, but then as the fuel worked it's way through the carburetor it started to fire a bit then it started, WOW what a feeling, my first bike, and it runs too. With a bit of fear and looking forward to that incredible feeling of being on a motorcycle on the open road, I put on the old helmet and pulled in the clutch.  My foot engaged it into first gear and as I let the clutch out I was away, a bit jerky at first but I remember that first ride. It doesn't take long to catch on and then the freedom hits as the wind blows in your face and the road zooms by under your feet.  It felt so good  you didn't want to ever stop.   I had to ride the mile or so to my cousins house to show them my new bike.  After getting back to my uncles farm I thanked him and said goodbye to him and my aunt and I headed off back to town. I rode the bike on all the back roads to town, past a few friends farms hoping that someone would see me so I could show off my new bike.  Once I got near town I got off and proudly pushed my bike through town and parked it in our yard.......