Our Founder's Dream
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Article dated 05/15/2015 By Dennis Blake -- To My Brothers and Sisters in Christ |
I appreciate this opportunity and privilege to introduce our dreams to you of starting a boys’ home. My name is Dennis Blake. I am a retired teacher, coach, and school administrator. About six years ago I felt a passion from God stirring in my heart to bring boys into my home who seem to have no hope and destined to fail.
When working as a principal, teachers would come to my office and ask me for help in removing children from homes because of neglect and abuse. How frustrating it was. Finding placement for the kids was nearly impossible for SRS. I experienced men from various churches meeting together to express their deep concern for boys with no fathers and possibly no guidance at all in their homes.
For the past five years God has truly had an impact on young men in our home. We have practiced surrendering our lives to God through prayer daily for this ministry. My wife Nancy and I have enjoyed sharing our lives with over twenty boys. Our goal has been to share the love of Christ in a family setting. We strive to treat each boy as if he was our very own. Our key focus is to introduce them to Christ using biblical principles. Currently we are housing five boys ranging in age from twelve to sixteen. I have no doubt that God has tremendously blessed us though the past three years. I acknowledge two main reasons how God has blessed us. First, is the grace He shows us by continually giving us love and patience. Secondly, is by the many individuals like you, praying for the boys and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The verse I hold on to in revealing His calling to me comes from Psalms 71:18:
“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, Oh God, until I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all to come.”
We are serving at this time all the boys the State of Kansas allows; however, when one boy is able to return home another one is quickly put in his place. Everyday there are more boys in need of the care God has enabled us to give. I feel it is God’s timing to venture out and respond to this great need He has opened before us and placed on our hearts. I am amazed everyday with the incredible blessings that God has shown us by providing men and women to come alongside us and participate in this ministry.
At the present time we have organized a board with six members who have a passion in providing assistance to boys - giving the boys new direction and a new hope found in Jesus Christ. We have been approved as a non-profit entity. We have been blessed with office staff and with a generous donation of land to build a new home that will house up to ten boys. We are excited about the blueprints for the house given to us and praise God for this gift. Though we do not have all the materials needed to start building we are praying that groundbreaking will happen this summer. We look forward to building up the Freedom Gates Boys Ranch all to the glory of God for these children in great need. We ask you to join us in this ministry through prayer and other support.
When working as a principal, teachers would come to my office and ask me for help in removing children from homes because of neglect and abuse. How frustrating it was. Finding placement for the kids was nearly impossible for SRS. I experienced men from various churches meeting together to express their deep concern for boys with no fathers and possibly no guidance at all in their homes.
For the past five years God has truly had an impact on young men in our home. We have practiced surrendering our lives to God through prayer daily for this ministry. My wife Nancy and I have enjoyed sharing our lives with over twenty boys. Our goal has been to share the love of Christ in a family setting. We strive to treat each boy as if he was our very own. Our key focus is to introduce them to Christ using biblical principles. Currently we are housing five boys ranging in age from twelve to sixteen. I have no doubt that God has tremendously blessed us though the past three years. I acknowledge two main reasons how God has blessed us. First, is the grace He shows us by continually giving us love and patience. Secondly, is by the many individuals like you, praying for the boys and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The verse I hold on to in revealing His calling to me comes from Psalms 71:18:
“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, Oh God, until I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all to come.”
We are serving at this time all the boys the State of Kansas allows; however, when one boy is able to return home another one is quickly put in his place. Everyday there are more boys in need of the care God has enabled us to give. I feel it is God’s timing to venture out and respond to this great need He has opened before us and placed on our hearts. I am amazed everyday with the incredible blessings that God has shown us by providing men and women to come alongside us and participate in this ministry.
At the present time we have organized a board with six members who have a passion in providing assistance to boys - giving the boys new direction and a new hope found in Jesus Christ. We have been approved as a non-profit entity. We have been blessed with office staff and with a generous donation of land to build a new home that will house up to ten boys. We are excited about the blueprints for the house given to us and praise God for this gift. Though we do not have all the materials needed to start building we are praying that groundbreaking will happen this summer. We look forward to building up the Freedom Gates Boys Ranch all to the glory of God for these children in great need. We ask you to join us in this ministry through prayer and other support.