Timbers 2016 Issue 3

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
Gibbs
Jonathen
Colby
Harley
Jakaire
Melissa
Caleb
Ann Elise
Colby
Cade C.
Rollins
Justin
Colton
Norma
Kaige
Michael
2016 — Issue 3
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
June
Jackson
Caitlin
Samantha
Jansen
Riley
Aleya
Sadies
Aaron
Carter
Emmalee
Sarah
Landan
Darian
Paisha
ON THE COVER
Pablo is 6 years old and lives in the
Bryant Home with his houseparents
David and Lydia Ryan.
July
07/04/06
07/04/04
07/04/99
07/05/01
07/06/01
07/10/12
07/12/06
07/15/98
07/16/12
07/19/03
07/23/04
07/23/03
07/25/00
07/25/01
August
Bradyn
Pablo
Jai'Shawn
Cade P.
Trey
Kaitlyn
Juan
Caleb C.
Katie
Amber
Virginia
08/06/07
08/09/09
08/13/02
08/16/04
08/16/06
08/19/97
08/22/11
08/22/00
08/23/98
08/24/99
08/26/09
A
s summer kicks off and our kids are home full-time, many of them buzz in
and out of the office throughout the day. For those of us who work in the
office, this makes it our favorite time of year. One of our young girls came
by to say hey. During her time here at Big Oak, she has grown into someone who knows
she is the daughter of the King and is confident in her worth.
I was walking into a meeting when she walked up to me and said, “I’m bored!” My
first thought was it’s way too early in the summer to be bored! I walked her over to a
wall right outside my office where our kids write notes or draw pictures and hang them
up. I get to show off their work when guests come by, but it also serves as a daily
reminder of the honor and ultimate responsibility God has blessed us with. She began
drawing and I left for my meeting. When I returned, I found her note on my desk. It
said, “Nothing is impossible…The word itself says I’m possible. Love you.”
This is why we do it. This is why Big Oak exists.
Thank you for coming alongside us, so that children who have been abused, abandoned
and neglected come to know their worth in Christ, and through that love, anything is
possible.
Sincerely,
Committed to what we do best!
Brodie Croyle
Executive Director
Brodie & Kelli with Sawyer & Luke Croyle
10 years old
6 years old
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Is 10 years old and has lived at Big Oak Ranch for 4 years
Lives in the Bonds Home with houseparents Jeremy and Janet Cockrell
Has a sister who lives at Big Oak Girls’ Ranch
Will be in the 4th grade at Westbrook Christian School this fall
Is a good student who makes good grades
Played flag football this year
Has played soccer for 2 years
Enjoys electronics and building with Legos
Attends a local church with his Ranch family and is a member of the
Children’s Ministry
• Is honest and strives to do the right thing
• Is a great helper and is always willing to volunteer
Every accomplishment
starts with the decision
to try!
Trey, Kaige, Juelz & Jackson had a blast
exploring the Space and Rocket center!
L to R: Dominic, Kaige, Slater, Seth, Landan,
Trey, Skyler, Colton, Jonathen,Caleb & Eli
played in the creek!
Chad had fun
feeding the goat!
Jesi, Jansen and Cade enjoyed a day of baseball!
Seth and Gibbs had a good time
fishing! Nice catch Gibbs!
“But as for you, be strong and
do not give up, for your work
will be rewarded.”
2 Chronicles 15:7
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Ironing Board Covers
Waffle Iron
Large First Aid Kits for 9 Vans
Pool Sticks
Basketball Pump with Needle
Waterproof Mattress Pads
Pillow Protectors
Swimming Goggles
Please send donated items to:
Big Oak Boys’ Ranch Inc.
250 Jake Mintz Road, Gadsden, AL 35905
18 years old
14
years
old
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Is 18 years old and has lived at Big Oak Ranch for 4 years
Lives in the Eddleman-Mann Home with houseparents Mike and Suzanne Miller
Is a gifted artist
Enjoys applying ‘movie/monster’ makeup
Is very patient with and loves younger kids
Loves participating in her youth group at her church
Loves animals and wants to become a Veterinarian Technichian
Works part time at Jacks and saves her money well
Maintains good grades and stays on the A/B Honor Roll
Loves the color blue!
“Nothing is impossible,
the word itself says
‘I’m possible’!”
L to R: Nina, Jessie, Jasmine, Izzy and Birchey enjoyed
their senior tea at the Girls’ Ranch!
Happy 9th Birthday Danielle!!
Betsy looks adorable in
her fedora!
Nice catch Paisha!
...with God all things
are possible.
Matthew 19:26
Victoria and
Scarlet did an
awesome job
at their piano
recital!
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Beach Tent
Griddle
Ironing Board
Twin Size Air Mattresses with Pump
Large Electric Skillet
Heavy Duty Pots and Pans
Digital Camera
Kitchen Knives
Dyson Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Lamps for Bedside
Alarm Clocks
3 Adult Size Bike Helmets
Large First Aid Kits for 9 Vans
Please send donated items to:
Big Oak Girls’ Ranch Inc.
250 Jake Mintz Road, Gadsden, AL 35905
Hallie
I want to thank Mr. John and Mrs. Tee for everything that they have
done for me. They have been with me through all of my hard times
and they have been great. I would like to thank my parents for loving
and supporting me with everything I do. I would like to thank all the
staff at Big Oak for being there for me throughout the years. Thank
you everyone.
I would like to thank Mr. John and Mrs. Tee Croyle for giving me a
chance to make something out of myself. I would also like to thank
my houseparents Jason and Jen Shoars. Every time I would fall and
want to quit y’all would be right there to help me back up. I thank
you and love you so much. The Ranch has been a blessing to me for
the 6 years I have lived here. They gave me a home to live in, a lot of
amazing people to grow up with, a family that loves and cares for me,
and a wonderful school to graduate from. I want to thank all the
people from the Ranch for everything they’ve done to ensure that
I am the man God wants me to be.
Leavy
As I think back to my past 6 1/2 years at Big Oak, I am overwhelmed
with how many blessings I have. Since day one, I have been welcomed and loved unconditionally by so many people. Thank you to
all the donors who have blessed all the kids at Big Oak in so many
ways. Thank you to Kevin and Kristy Phillips for teaching me so
much about life and giving me so many memories I will never forget.
Thank you to Mrs. Mary for being like an Aunt to me and handling
Jasmine
so many things so well. Thank you to all Big Oak staff for all that
y’all have done to make Big Oak as amazing as it is. To my brothers
Cade, Will, and Gibbs, thank you for all the laughs and dances, and stay crazy forever. And
a special thanks to my Mom and Dad, JD and Reagan Phillips for welcoming me into your
home and treating me like I’ve always been yours. I’m very excited about my future with
y’all and love you guys very much. Thank you for showing me who our amazing God is by
your actions and your words.
First of all, I would just like to thank God for getting me this far!
Without His provision and perfect plan for me, I would not have
accomplished anything in my life. A huge thank you to the Croyle
family for their sacrifices and commitment to the Ranch and to the
success of all the children. I was a young girl in need of a chance and
this has been home to me for 12 great years. Also, I would like to
thank my parents who raised me to fear the Lord, Jim and Mary
Rezac. I love you both! To my houseparents the Moores thank you
Nina
for helping me finish my high school career strong. To Mrs. Mary
and Mrs. Lynn thank you for helping me make wise decisions about my future. Mrs. Angela,
thanks for being my friend and role model! I’d like to thank the Williams for being there
for me. I would also like to thank Trinity for taking care of me through the tough times. To
everyone who has helped and supported me, thank you and I love you all!
Well first I could write books on all the people who I need to say
thank you to. So let’s start off with Mrs. Mary. You were the first one
who met me before I came to the Ranch and look at me now. To all
Ranch staff y’all deserve a big shout out for all that y’all do I don’t
think most people understand what y’all have to do on a daily basis.
To my resource parents you also deserve a big shout out for being
able to put up with us crazy kids. Don’t worry you haven’t lost us
Jessie
yet. To the Miears thank you for the past 4 1/2 years and putting
everything you have into supporting us. To Mr. JD and Mrs. Reagan
thank you for taking us in when times got tough and making our senior year the best. The
memories will be forever cherished. Now finally Mr. John and Mrs. Tee I was saving the
best for last. There is absolutely no words to describe how thankful I am that y’all gave up
everything to give kids a second chance at life and I am thankful that I am a part of your
story. There is no telling where I would be now if it wasn’t for the Ranch. Thank you for
changing my life and the lifes of many others to come.
Graduation is finally here! I would like to thank everyone who has
helped me for the past four years. Thank you Mr. John for giving me
a chance. I thank my houseparents for always being there for me. I
would also like to thank Gilbert and Leavy. They have always had my
back through thick and thin. Love you guys.
Dylan
In the famous words of the beach boys, God only knows where I’d
be without you! I am so blessed to have called Big Oak Ranch my
home and for the amazing people Christ has placed in my life to
shape and mold me into who I have become today! I would
like to thank the Croyle family for their dedication to the Ranch
and believing in Christs’ plan for their lives. To Mrs. Mary
Isabella
and the directors who have always pushed me to be better. To the
houseparents that have each played the biggest role in my life
shaping me into the young woman I am today....thank yall. To Momma, Dad and little
brothers, I love yall so much. Y’all you have shown me what a family is supposed to be
like and that family doesn’t give up when things get hard...they stick together and I thank
y’all for that! To the Moores, thank you for being there for me and loving me through the
years. I love y’all so much! Over the years at Big Oak Ranch I have learned many life
lessons and how to change the cycle, but one of the biggest things I have learned is that
there is a God who loves me and will never leave me, and I want to thank Him for everything
He has done in my life and how He will continue to bless me!
Gilbert
I just want to thank Mr. John and Mrs. Tee for letting me stay at the
place I can call home now. Thank you for not giving up on me and for
believing in me. I want to thank my houseparents, Barry and Donna
Ryan. You have made me into the man I have become, and I am
grateful for that. For all the other people that have helped me get this
far, thank you for your support, and God bless.
Not only did we have Senior Graduation
at Westbrook Christian, but we also had
Kindergarten graduation and 6th grade
graduation! We are so proud of ALL of our
graduates this year!!
Big Oak Ranch changes lives, and I am one of those lives. The Ranch has been
a part of my life since 1997. I was 14 years old and was dropped off by a family
member because they were not able or stable enough to care for me. I thank
God every day for putting Big Oak in my life. I would not be the mother and
wife that the Ranch has molded me into.
I am truly blessed and lucky. I have a wonderful husband, Ryan Carter, whom
I’ve been married to for 9 years. We have 2 beautiful girls, Caraline (8 years
old) and Sadie (3 years old). I work as a Medical Assistant at a clinic in Rainbow City, and my husband is a school teacher and is working on getting his
masters degree. We attend Cherry Street Baptist Church.
Living at the Ranch prepared me for life, and for that I am thankful. God has
always been by my side with all that I’ve been through, and not once has He
let me down. I just want to thank John and everyone at the Ranch for being
there for me and taking me in with loving arms. Thank you for the love,
support and guidance from my houseparents that is today still very much in
my life. They are my parents. Big Oak is an amazing place for hope and
adventure. And since I got to experience such a Christian environment, I am
a life changed!
With love,
Crystal
Crystal
14 years old
Crystal, Ryan,
Caraline
and Sadie Carter
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
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