Greetings friends of SkyWatch TV and Whispering Ponies Ranch (WPR). The 2022 summer camping season for abused and discarded youths has been deeply meaningful this year. As you may know, for the kids that come to WPR, it’s a matter of survival, healing, hope, and restitution, not just fun like at other camps. Literally the course of these precious children’s lives can be dramatically altered.
What makes WPR so special?
Every year, more than 3.2 million kids in America are sex-trafficked, harmed, abandoned, or neglected. Tragically, thousands of these youths die each year at the hands of their caretakers. And the remainder are simply (sadly) disregarded or experience a combination of these abuses.
As Elizabeth Good notes:
When we are created, knit together in our mother’s womb, we are each equipped with a purpose. I believe there’s a cry in our hearts the moment we’re born to fulfill the purpose the Lord gave us. But if we’re fortunate enough to be born, the battle begins immediately to keep us from achieving our perfect destiny…
It starts when children are so young that they aren’t even prepared to see it coming. This abuse often enters their lives at the age of 3-5 years old, usually at the hands of someone who is supposed to love and protect them.
When a child is abused at such a young age by a person who is supposed to be their safe space – maybe a [parent], brother, uncle, or even a pastor – love gets twisted with abuse. They’re used and defiled in [a terrible] way. But as it’s happening, they’re being told, “This is our little secret. You know you’re my special girl, you’re my special boy. No one would understand.
So they keep the secret because they don’t know any better. They don’t have the tools that we learn as we get older or the freedom in knowing we can say something or get out of that situation. A child’s mind, in that moment, has entered a battle they aren’t equipped to fight. And this happens again and again. We know that in America it affects 1 out of 3 little girls and 1 out of 5 little boys. [i]
But there is hope for many of these victims through the partnership that Whispering Ponies Ranch (WPR) holds with YOU and the Royal Family Kids Camps (RFKC) and Teen Reach organizations. Since 1985, RFKC has been offering week-long specialized restoration camps and follow-up mentoring specifically designed to restore children of abuse who have become wards of the state. In the past, some kids could not benefit from these special services due to the cost-preventative nature of per-child campgrounds’ expenses. BUT AT WPR, ALL AMENITIES—from food services and lodging to expert recreational staff—ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST, which means no child ever has to be turned away. We can only do this because when people purchase books and products from the SkyWatch TV Store, a portion of every sale goes to underwrite WPR’s operational expenses. Secondly, Pony Sponsors (the best people on earth!) partner directly with WPR’s healing ministry by contributing to the operating and maintenance costs of the retreat facility as well as the care of these life-changing therapy animals—their foods, veterinary care, farrier, and so on.
AND GUESS WHAT!? As of the writing of this letter, we can now report that several new therapy tools have been added to the facility:
- The first phase of the new playcamp area has been completed. This includes a commercial playground made possible by individual donors (who will be honored in 2022 at a private banquet, video production, and group photo for a dedicatory that will greet future visitors to the ranch). Numerous clinical studies show the benefits of a well-structured playground including as an essential safe space where kids can be themselves while developing crucial cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills. Through expert guidance, the new playground will become a powerful tool in the hands of specially trained counselors to help hurting and abused children learned to get along, resolve emotional conflict, overcome shyness and learn to trust again, boost self-confidence and self-esteem as they master challenging playground structures that allow them to regain a sense of control unavailable in many other parts of their lives.
- A new zip line that carries kids from the upper hillside to the new playcamp area is finished.
- The first section of an old west setting where kids will be treated to some comical animatronics and puppetry on the road to the fishing pond (we hope to unveil BIG NEWS about more on this and special children’s TV programming in 2023).
- A new petting zoo-like sanctuary where kids can learn about mini-Zebos, mini-goats, mini-sheep, mini-donkeys, Alpacas, and of course mini horses (more petting zoo animals to be added in 2023).
- AND COMING IN 2023—FARM CAMP where kids will get engaged with nature and God’s creation via basic farming and gardening techniques in a new GREENHOUSE AND ROW-CROPS AREA! Literally hundreds of studies show the physical, spiritual, and therapeutic benefits of gardening!
But—and please understand the nature of why we are saying this—as many of you have witnessed we have been pouring our life savings into developing the land, buildings, and provisions to build WPR and to make it available free of cost to save and heal these kids. This is a need we believe not only to be biblically mandated but the measure by which Jesus Christ is going to judge you and us (see Matthew 25:31–46). Yet the truth is we have run low on personal monies, and frankly we are at a growing point where we need ministry friends to help us with finishing and funding the ongoing, Gospel-centered works of SkyWatch TV and WPR. If you’ve seen recent headlines, you know the Church is dramatically in decline, paganism is growing like wildfire, inflation has doubled the costs of operations, and a full-on assault on traditional and biblical values once taught to our children has risen nationwide. The world has never needed this ministry more than they do now. This is where the Pony Sponsors and VIP FOUNDERS GROUP come in, and why I am personally inviting YOU to be part of it.
How does it work?
For every person that donates $1,000 or more annually—either by sponsoring a therapy horse or simply donating $1,000 (a one-time donation or 86.00 per month)—you will partner with us to continue these life-saving ministries…but you will also:
- BE COUNTED AMONG THE VIP FOUNDERS GROUP AND RECEIVE A $300.00 VOUCHER TO BE USED IN OUR ONLINE STORE for books, movies and more.
- AND WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, we will send you the DELUXE HARDBACK DEFENDER BIBLE with expanded Apocrypha!
- BEST OF ALL--You will know you are fulfilling the mission of Jesus and changing lives for GOOD!
Would you please pray about becoming part of this and call or mail your letter of support asking to be added to the Pony Sponsors and/or VIP FOUNDERS GROUP? We need to raise money for a new barn, a large greenhouse for Farm Camp, and other necessary accommodations as soon as possible.
You might also wish to consider including Whispering Ponies Ranch (an extension of SkyWatch TV, a 501-C3) as part of your estate plan or will. Please download the free LEGACY GUIDE to learn how you can provide for your family after you are gone while making Whispering Ponies Ranch a living part of YOUR LEGACY!
I trust you can see from this personal letter our own level of commitment. As the saying goes, we have “put our own money where our mouth is” by investing our every resource into 1) reaching the world with the Gospel while possible; and 2) building a place where rescued children can be restored and healed in a beautiful retreat setting. These are the core virtues of true ministry as defined in Scripture and you are, and/or can be, part of it and have the angels say of you, too, “Your prayers and your giving have ascended as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4). IMAGINE THAT!
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO:
WATCH: Precious Royal Family Kids At Whispering Ponies Ranch!
Please let me know if you have any questions. I promise we will answer as soon as possible. And God bless you for everything you have already done and are doing to partner with us.
If you would like more information about Whispering Ponies Ranch, please visit Pony Sponsors and VIP FOUNDERS GROUP or call us Toll Free at: 844-750-4985 or 417-723-0148 or by writing SkyWatch TV / Whispering Ponies Ranch, PO Box 5, Crane, MO 65633
Thank you for your compassion—and for your determination to leave a legacy of love and support for damaged children that—with your help—can be rescued, loved and healed.
Together we are spreading the light of the Gospel in darkened times, healing the hurting, and ministering to Jesus himself in this way:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”
And the King shall answer and say unto them, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my little ones, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25: 35–40)
Your friends in Christ,
Tom & Nita Horn
[i] https://www.christianheadlines.com/columnists/guest-commentary/the-hidden-secret-that-keeps-us-from-fulfilling-our-purpose.html
Category: Featured, Featured Articles
