22 Aug 2011 Restored: Four graduate in Renewal Ranch’s inaugural ceremony

photos and story by Rachel Parker Dickerson

On July 30, Renewal Ranch held its first graduation ceremony for four men who successfully completed the faith-based rehabilitation program.

The event at Family Life Bible Church on Hogan Lane in Conway was well attended by local ministers, supporters of the program and family members of the graduates.

Atlas Stavely, Charles Washington, Shepherd Palmer and Michael Taylor were the honorees.

“I can honestly say there has never been anything that has brought me more satisfaction than the pride in these four men,” said Dr. Larry Pillow, a member of the board of directors of Renewal Ranch.

Pillow read words of encouragement from the 10 pastors who participated in mentoring the men, after which each graduate said a few words.

Mentors said Stavely was “a man of quiet strength” and a “quiet leader who leads by example.”

Stavely said, “God has restored all these relationships, and I’m so, so grateful.”

Kenneth Priest said Stavely was his mechanic but quickly became a friend to his whole family. When addiction came into his life time and time again, the Priest family didn’t know what to do.

“God was at work. All along he was at work,” Priest said.

Stavely will remain on staff at Renewal Ranch, as will fellow graduate Palmer.

Pillow introduced Washington as “an average Joe who got blown up here by Hurricane Katrina.”

Washington’s mentors described him as “a picture of dedication and perseverance” and “proof that Jesus sets men free.”

Washington said, “I always started something, but I never finished it. Today, but by the grace of God, I’m standing here in front of y’all. I finished the race.”

He said he started drinking at age 9, and his alcoholism led to other problems. While living in New Orleans, he never got a DWI, but once in Conway, he got three and ended up in jail.

“Thank God for (the late District Judge) Jack Roberts; God bless his soul,” Washington said. “Every time he saw me he said, ‘Not you again.’”

He said a scripture that speaks to him is Exodus 14:14: “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

“I thought for many years I couldn’t be saved, I couldn’t change,” Washington said. “Today I know my Lord Jesus Christ saved me.”

Pillow told a personal story when introducing the next graduate. Pillow lost his son Matthew in 2003 to a drug overdose. He decided to raise money and dedicate a room at the ranch in Matthew’s memory. When Pillow met Palmer, the young man reminded him so much of his son that he asked him to be the first occupant of the room. Stavely ended up staying in that room as well, and both men are joining the staff.

“God has a way of doubling our blessings for the trouble we’ve been through,” Pillow said.

Palmer’s mentors described him as “truly gifted by God with an awesome talent,” “a man of peace and passion” and “a leader among men.”

Palmer said, “Watching God transform other men is a beautiful miracle.”

He spoke affectionately of his father.

“The biggest shame and disappointment in my life is disappointing my father and my family,” Palmer said. “Now I’m walking in freedom.”

Palmer’s father, Dale, said, “When I look back over Shepherd’s childhood, it seems like I was always playing catch-up. The one thing God gave me peace about was that I was always trying to steer him in the right direction. The only hope I had was that God would answer my prayer. God brought it about in his own time.”

Michael Taylor’s mentors described him as “a man with a servant heart and a spirit of service, a man of faith and fortitude and of contagious joy.”

Taylor said he is a former bartender. He thanked everyone behind the scenes at Renewal Ranch because his recovery never would have happened without them.

“God’s rainbow will go before me every day of my life until he finishes his work in me on the day of Christ’s return,” Taylor said.

He shared a slide show of photographs of nature because he said he wanted to show others God’s work.

James Loy, director of the ranch, presented each graduate with a silver crest ring with the ranch’s emblem etched on it.

He said it should serve as a reminder “that they would love God so much that they would never return to where they came from.”