Make the most of it!

Post Office Box 507 • Springville, AL 35146
Phone (205) 467-6226 • www.bigoak.org
Big Oak Ranch is a Christian home for children needing a chance. The Ranch takes in children between the ages
of six & eighteen who are orphaned, abused, neglected, or homeless. Comfortable two-story brick houses are home
for up to eight children & a quality Christian couple. Our houseparents provide the consistent love, discipline &
direction our children so desperately need & deserve.
Big Oak Ranch, Inc. is a non-profit, non-denominational organization that is privately funded and operates
debt-free. The ministry consists of Big Oak Boys’ Ranch, Gadsden, AL; Big Oak Girls’ Ranch, Springville, AL;
Westbrook Christian School, Gadsden, AL
The Timbers mailing list is confidential & is not shared with any other organization. Questions, comments or
corrections should be addressed to the attention of Rhonda Hindman.
Board Members
Big Oak Ranch is owned & operated by Big Oak Ranch, Inc. & its
board. We would like you to know our working Board of Directors:
Miller Welborn (Chairman), President, Welborn &
Associates Inc., Lookout Mountain, TN
Paul Bentley, Owner & President, Warrior Energy,
Northport, AL
William B. Eyster, Jr. (Board Emeritus), Eyster
Properties, Inc., Birmingham, AL
Richard Grimes, CEO, RealtySouth, Birmingham, AL
Price Hightower, President, Tower Development, Inc.,
Birmingham, AL
Jim Leonard, Leonard Properties
Birmingham, AL
Darrell Piatt, Alabama Power (Retired)
Birmingham, AL
Randy Pittman, (Board Emeritus), Samford University,
Birmingham, AL
David Sansing, Vice President, Sandy Sansing
Automotive Group, Pensacola, FL
ON THE COVER
Scarlet is 15 and she is in the Dye
Home with her houseparent
Todd and Brandi Cothran.
April
Jesi
Jace
Dylan
Jasmine
Jeremiah
Seth
Autumn
Ava
2016 — Issue 2
04/01/04
04/04/05
04/09/98
04/09/98
04/21/15
04/24/04
04/25/01
04/25/14
May
Brooke
Sawyer
Alfonso
Brittney
Kati Lin
Jackson
Maria
Steven
Adelin
Tony
Danielle
Hope
Tucker
June
05/04/03
05/05/11
05/06/08
05/08/99
05/12/97
05/12/03
05/14/07
05/14/99
05/19/01
05/22/00
05/25/07
05/26/04
05/28/99
Gibbs
Jonathen
Colby
Harley
Jakaire
Melissa
Caleb
Ann Elise
Colby
Cade
Rollins
Justin
Colton
Norma
Kaige
Michael
06/02/11
06/06/07
06/08/99
06/08/01
06/09/01
06/15/01
06/19/97
06/19/03
06/21/99
06/22/12
06/23/10
06/24/03
06/25/04
06/27/01
06/27/06
06/28/99
I
was recently walking down the hall at the Girls’ Ranch and one of our younger
girls, who’s been with us for only a year, said, “I have something I need to tell
you.” With bursting excitement, she said, “I made a deal with God.” As I
listened intently, she continued, “I gave Him my hurt, my pain, everything I’ve
been through. Now I get to experience life and I have hope. I get to live in Heaven
one day with you and Mom and Pop!” Those are the days everyone at Big Oak Ranch
lives for.
So many of our children have experienced unimaginable pain and the confusion it
leaves in the aftermath. Some of you may have experienced the same throughout your
life. But just as Christ taught us through His death and resurrection, even though there
is pain for a season, God brings forth new life. Even nature reminds us of this truth as
it shifts from the barrenness of winter to the renewal of spring. God promises to make
all things new and that’s exactly what He’s doing at Big Oak. May we all live in the
hope of this promise!
Your support and prayers give our children the opportunity to experience restoration.
It’s not only helping change lives, it’s furthering God’s kingdom.
Sincerely,
Committed to what we do best!
Brodie Croyle
Brodie & Kelli with Sawyer & Luke Croyle
14 years old
11 years old
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Is 14 years old and has lived at Big Oak Ranch for 3 years
Lives in the Perkins Home with houseparents Brian and Natalie Curp
Has a sister who lives at Big Oak Girls’ Ranch
Is in 8th grade at Westbrook Christian School
Has played football the past two seasons for Westbrook
Has played on basketball teams at Westbrook for 2 seasons
Enjoys pickup games of basketball with the other boys on the Ranch
and can be found in the gym most days after school
Enjoys hunting and fishing
Is a member of the Youth Group at a local church he attends with his Ranch family
Has a great sense of humor and his peers enjoy being around him
Is a great big brother in the home and is capable of strong leadership
Has a teachable heart and is compassionate toward others who are hurting
Every weakness you have is an
opportunity for God to show
His strength in your life!
Jillian, Mr. Matt & Brandon
horsing around backwards!
Now these
guys know
how to have a
good time!!
Back row:
Pablo & Seth,
Front row:
Alfie & Micah
Jackson,
Darian &
Cameron
in a
Krispie
Kreme
comma!
Jackson,
& Kaige
having a fun
sunny day
outside!
Jai’ Shawn, Trey & Colton
are about to see whats biting!
My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect
in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
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Weekend size Duffle Bags
Shower Curtain Liners
Twin size Mattress Pads
Beach Towels
Pillows
Large Deep Frying Pan with Lid
Basketball Pump with Needle
Pool Sticks
Hedge Trimmers
Work Gloves
Please send donated items to:
Big Oak Boys’ Ranch Inc.
250 Jake Mintz Road, Gadsden, AL 35905
11 years old
6 years old
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Is 11 years old and has lived at Big Oak Ranch for almost 6 years
Lives in the Brewer Home with houseparents Tony and Rhona Osborne
Is in the 4th grade at Westbrook Christian School and really enjoys reading
Favorite toy is her American Girl Doll
Enjoys playing outside with her friends
Has two sisters and a brother that also live at the Ranch
Enjoys the weekends she spends with her resource family
Is interested in baking and cooking, and is always eager to help her housemom
in the kitchen
• Is always smiling and brings laughter to her Ranch family and home
Every morning is a chance
at a new day!
Make the most of it!
Maria caught her first
fish! Way to go Maria!!
Emily, Scarlett and Harley are
getting ready to celebrate Emily’s
sweet 16th birthday party!
LeAnne & Justice spending
some arena time together!
Victoria enjoys
some ice cream!
Dad Cothran is proud of Kira
for getting her drivers permit!
... I will strengthen you, I will
help you, I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
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Beach Tents
• Pillows
Rice Cookers
• Sunscreen
Work Gloves
• Box Fans
Hedge Trimmers
Safety Glasses
Large Stock Pots with Lids
Wireless Speakers
Twin Size Electric Blankets
Large Bath Towels
Electric Bedside Fans (10-12 inch)
Heavy Duty Garden Hoses
Please send donated items to:
Big Oak Boys’ Ranch Inc.
250 Jake Mintz Road, Gadsden, AL 35905
As you can see from all the
and their families had an
Thank you to everyon
for our children to enj
se smiling faces, our children
n amazing Spring Break!
e who makes it possible
oy these experiences!!!
All of our families enjoyed celebrating our
risen savior on Easter Sunday. Thank you
so much for helping us make a difference in
all of our children’s lives and giving them
a family to share it with.
God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect. Many children that make it to the Ranch
often wonder why, or at least why now. I came to the Ranch just a few years
before I graduated from high school. My life was turned upside down and
spiraling out of control quickly. John and his team saved me and my entire
family. Not long after my sister and I came to the Ranch, our step sisters and
brother also made it to the Ranch. I could never be thankful enough.
Thanks to the Ranch and Westbrook Christian School, I was prepared for a
future. I joined the military and excelled. I’ve been in the Army now for 18
years and will retire as a pilot of 4 different helicopters and at the rank of
Chief Warrant Officer Three. I deployed 4 times, twice to Iraq and twice to
Afghanistan. Everything I have faced in life has been easier thanks to the
roots I grew at the Ranch and Westbrook.
Thanks to God’s grace I met the woman of my dreams, Leigh Ann. She and I
both went to Westbrook and through many “Godcidences” found each other.
We are married and have the most wonderfully perfect children on the planet!
Elijah 9, Taylor 8, Caleb 7, and Karis 2. Our family could not be more blessed.
My houseparents, George and Raechel Box, are still a huge part of my life
and represent more to me than any biological mother or father ever could.
Leigh Ann’s parents were involved with the Ranch long before I came, and
are now my parents as well.
God has always worked miracles in my life, and seeing them in action even
today keeps my faith strong. I know the Ranch will continue to provide a God
centered environment to bring lost children to the light as they did for me
and my family. Thank you so much! I am a life forever changed!
Love always, The Ozment’s Joshua, Leigh Ann, Elijah, Taylor, Caleb, & Karis
Thank you so much to everyone who came
out and participated in the Run for Big
Oak 5K and Fun Run! Special thanks to
Stace Beechum from Gold’s Gym and to
Donna Lonnergan for handling the
details that made the Race so successful.
We are already looking forward
to next year!
You don’t have to wonder after looking at the
pictures below if our children had an amazing time
at the movie theater. Thanks to Jay, Amanda,
Carrie and Cayla Machleit, ALL of our children
got to enjoy Zootopia, and they even bought
popcorn and a drink for everybody!
What a special treat from a very special family!!
At Big Oak Ranch, we are carefully structuring a cattle management program
to provide a self-sustaining beef production system for feeding the children
at the Ranch. Our plan is for the cattle program to grow into a self-sustaining
herd that provides increasing sale of cows and calves to support the day-today operations of the program, and eventually produce a profit margin to go
toward the support of our children.
We also want to provide a structured work program that gives the children at
the Ranch an opportunity to learn to safely and productively handle cattle,
and at the same time teach them a strong work ethic. We teach them all aspects of cattle management including but not limited to keeping records, managing herd growth, and how to keep our pastures from being over-grazed. Not
only are we feeding our family now – we are getting our children ready for
life.
What an opportunity to teach our children to do everything in life to a higher
standard!
For more information, please contact Matt Williams at (256) 892-0773
Prayer Support
We know the true source of our power is your consistent prayers. Please pray daily for our staff
and our children. “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you shall see
whether My word will come true for you or not.’” Numbers 11:23
Monthly Support
Gifts of $25, $50, $100 or more on a consistent monthly basis help make a difference in our
children’s lives. These gifts help with our daily need for food, clothing, education and medical
needs throughout the year and are the “bedrock” of our annual budgetary needs. This support
can be made in the form of a check through the mail, or we can draft your bank account on a
regular basis as you direct.
Memorial & Honorarium Program
The Memorial Program gives you the opportunity to remember a deceased loved one or friend.
The Honorarium Program allows you to honor special friends or relatives on occasions such as
birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. In each case, we will send an appropriate letter acknowledging the gift. Please call the Business Office at (205) 467-6226, ext. 1223 for information
regarding these gifts.
Big 12 Club
Your membership in the Big 12 Club covers the cost of raising one of our children for one full
year, including food, clothing, shelter, education and insurance. Each member pledges $12,000
over a one year period (usually paid in increments of $1,000 per month). For more information,
please call (205) 467-6226, ext. 1208.
Other Gifts
For gifts of personal/real property, trusts, life insurance, marketable securities, gifts in kind, or
estates, call the Business Office at (205) 467-6226, ext.1222.
Making a Difference Now and Beyond
Our long-range plan is to have our already established endowment as a source of perpetual
support, thus ensuring the future of our children and the children who will some day call Big
Oak Ranch home. For information about our endowment, please call the Business Office at
(205) 467-6226, ext. 1222.
NON-PROFIT
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
Isaiah 61:3
Est. 1974
P. O. Box 507 • Springville, AL 35146
HELP US BE GOOD STEWARDS OF GOD’S MONEY.
BIRMINGHAM, AL
PERMIT NO. 159
Please notify us if you would like to be removed from our mailing list or have had a change of address.