27 Nov 2017 Huckabee to speak at ‘Christmas at the Ranch’

Renewal Ranch will celebrate the holiday season with “Christmas at the Ranch” on Friday, Dec. 15, at the Restoration Center on the ranch campus. The evening will begin with an hors d’oeuvre dinner at 7 p.m. and include former Gov. Mike Huckabee as the keynote speaker.  

Tickets are $75 each and must be purchased prior to the event. Tickets will not be sold at the door. 

Huckabee was the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 until 2007, becoming one of the longest serving governors in the state’s history. His accomplishments as governor are many. Governing Magazine named him as one of its “Public Officials of the Year” for 2005, and Time Magazine honored him as one of the five best governors in America. After his 2008 campaign for President, Huckabee launched the top-rated weekend show on the Fox News Channel for 6 ½ years and hosted a nationally syndicated radio commentary on more than 700 radio stations. 

In 2015, he left his media platform to seek the Republican nomination for President. He ended the race in February 2016 and re-joined the Fox News Channel. Huckabee is also a New York Times bestselling author, having written 12 books. Huckabee, an avid musician since age 11, is a bass player. His is also an avid sportsman and was named one of the “25 Most Influential People” by Outdoor Life Magazine and “Man of the Year” by the American Sportfishing Association in 1997.

Renewal Ranch, located in Perry County on a 102-acre ranch, is in its eighth year of restoring broken lives as a result of drug and alcohol addiction. It is a 12-month, two-phase residential program which includes counseling, intensive Bible study and opportunities to serve others through community work projects. The program has graduated more than 190 men since opening its doors in 2009. The ministry has more than a 60 percent success rate, where secular programs typically only reach a 4 percent to 5 percent success rate. 

The ministry has grown from one bunkhouse to three, but as men reach out for help the need for additional space grows. Currently, there are 69 men in the two-phase program. On average, 25 to 30 applications are received monthly. 

In 2015, the Road to Recovery Capital Campaign began to build a multi-purpose building to house a chapel, classrooms, a commercial kitchen and additional bed space. The building is in phase two of the three-phrase plan.

James Loy is executive director of Renewal Ranch; Josh Kear, assistant director; Scott Taylor, chaplain/co-leader; David Armstrong, Phase II Supervisor; and Bryce McGhee, fundraising.  The board of directors includes: Jerry Boyer, Don Bingham, Judge Troy Braswell, Libby Fulmer, Mike Lefler, Al Major, Ronnie Moore, Marsha Rawls and Dr. Louis Young. The Pastoral Advisory Board includes: Don Chandler (Central Baptist Church), Ken Wilson (Fellowship Bible Church) and Neal Winstead (Family Life Bible Church). 

Renewal Ranch is a faith-based, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. For additional information on “Christmas at the Ranch” or to purchase tickets, contact: Bryce Mcghee at 501.733.4263 or visit therenewalranch.org.

If you would like to be a part of this growing ministry that is changing lives for Christ with a one-time or ongoing contribution or to donate to The Road to Recovery Capital Campaign, please visit therenewalranch.org.