[Photo: Resident Jaxson helps in a building project]

By: Erin Austin

“I do not know why people call a project undertaken by faith a venture of faith. That is exactly what it is not. Webster defines a venture as an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger. Faith knows no chance or risk. Heart faith in God is as sure as God Himself.” ~ Mary McHenry  

When the McHenrys built Joy Ranch, it was done by one prayer and one project at a time. In Feed My Lambs, Mrs. McHenry said: 

“Building the first building was like God’s supplying manna to the children of Israel. ‘He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack.’ We were never able to think we were sufficient of ourselves. God supplied the funds only as there was no immediate need. 

“But all throughout the construction we noted a glorious fact. Although when we ordered material we did not have the money to pay for it, there was always enough money on hand to pay the bill when it came due. And never through our 19 years of building and operating the home as directors did a bill of any kind come due without the money on hand to pay it.” 

In the 64 years since Joy Ranch has been operational, God has proven Himself time and time again. The provision we experience in one year would fill a book. From donations to workers and mission teams, the Ranch sees a steady influx of God’s provision in ways that regularly astound us. 

One of my favorite instances occurred last year when two different staff families needed a new mattress. No sooner had one staff commented on needing a queen mattress did the Ranch receive a phone call asking if they would take a donation of a new queen mattress that had only been slept on once. Two weeks later a set of houseparents experienced the same thing, but with a never-been-used king mattress. 

God’s provision has no limits. We’ve had mission teams come and tear down walls, paint, build staircases, and cut down trees. But even better than the workers who’ve come to help are the new friends we’ve made. People who didn’t have to, gave up a week’s vacation to love and minister to children and staff. Yes, God has provided abundantly, and in ways many won’t comprehend until they reach Heaven. 

Excerpt from “Feed My Lambs” by Mary McHenry

Chapter 4 – BUILDING BY FAITH 

I do not know why people call a project undertaken by faith a venture of faith. That is exactly what it is not. Webster defines a venture as an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger. Faith knows no chance or risk. Heart faith in God is as sure as God Himself. 

 The only risk involved is whether or not our faith is real, whether it is a faith granted by the Holy Spirit (as the faith of salvation) or an intellectual faith that has originated in our own minds — a heart belief granted by the Holy Spirit or a head belief of the flesh. 

 Just so, any project undertaken with genuine heart faith in God cannot help but succeed because the project has originated with God Himself and is not one of our own imagination. 

 Most of us would be tempted to pride should we be able to wither the fig tree or literally cast a mountain into the sea.  God is too wise to entrust us with such miracles. But He grants us faith to accomplish that which is His will for us. So then because the project originates with God, and the faith to accomplish it originates with God, He must have all the glory. 

 During the summer of 1959, with hearts bent on glorifying God and with just enough money to buy some blocks, sand, stones, and to pay the workers for several days, we began construction on a building 32′ by 124′ to include space for 11 —  ten boys and ten girls, staff quarters, an office, a playroom, and a large dining room and kitchen. 

 Our Lord kept our hearts free from the fear that we might not be able to complete the building. He had so planted an unfailing certainty within us that as our days so would our strength be – that we were enabled not to doubt that so would He also supply our needs. 

 “Depend upon it,” said Hudson Taylor. “God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies.” And we found it to be so. 

Building the first building was like God’s supplying manna to the children of Israel. “He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack.” We were never able to think we were sufficient of ourselves. God supplied the funds only as there was an immediate need.  

But all through the construction we noted a glorious fact.  Although when we ordered material we did not have the money to pay for it, there was always enough money on hand to pay the bill when it came due. And never through our 19 years of building and operating the home as directors did a bill of any kind come due without the money on hand to pay it. 

Not only did God supply the funds as they were needed, but He also took care of construction difficulties. Winter was coming on, and the building needed to be under roof. Yet there didn’t seem to be enough time. So prayer was made to the God of the impossible. 

Then it happened. A board member sent us word: “I’ve rounded up several carpenters to work tomorrow. They have all been released from their jobs for one day.” And in that one day ten carpenters covered the entire building with sheathing and felt. 

The next day the rain fell in torrents. Another heavy rain fell in a few days. And then the deepest snowfall in 30 years fell, with another several inches on top of that the same week. 

But the building was protected and work could continue. 

And then there was an emergency. It so happened that two large payments were coming due on the same day. It was a matter of $3,000, a tidy sum back in those days. Our Joy Ranch friends responded, but our mailing list was small and all the gifts added up to only $2,000. We thanked the Lord.  But the other $1,000 – where was it? 

On the day we needed the money, we went to the post office for. our mail. My husband came out with only one letter. I couldn’t believe it. I had expected a nice little stack of mail that when added together would make $1,000.  I looked at the return address on the letter. It was from friends who worked in a children’s home in another state. And they received no salary. 

I can still remember the bewilderment that enveloped me like a fog on a damp, chilly day. If the money didn’t come through the mail, how else would God send it? 

But I slowly opened the letter, and to our amazement and delight a check for $1,000 fell out!  How this couple had acquired the $1,000 was another miracle from our Father’s hand. From a business venture of many years ago, someone still owed our friend $1,000.  Having heard that there was a need at Joy Ranch, our friend went to the Lord in prayer. “Lord,” he prayed, “if You will cause this man to pay the debt he’s owed me all these years, I’ll send it to Joy Ranch.” It came and he sent it.  

It was all so simple for the Lord. How wonderfully the Lord works to take care of His own! 

I don’t mean to imply that we did not have problems and difficulties. Many times we felt like Nehemiah when he was trying to build the walls of Jerusalem. Although he was obeying what God had put in his heart, the enemy opposed. 

Hindrances arose from within and without. But Nehemiah’s answer to it all was “The God of heaven, He will prosper us” (Nehemiah 2:20). 

I would say to anyone whose Christian life is being hindered by onslaughts from the enemy or whose road of Christian service is being blocked by obstacles, your victory lies in the faith of Nehemiah’s answer: “The God of heaven, He will prosper us.” That is the kind of faith we continually prayed for. And God continued to make it possible for us to move ahead in the building program. 

As this first building neared completion, a friend in another state who was an electrical contractor donated beautiful light fixtures for the entire building and sent his men to install them free of charge. And our Lord continued to supply until the rooms were completely furnished. 

How does one adequately praise the Lord for miraculous answers to prayer? I do not know. We can only offer Him praise with all the strength within us now and look forward to the time when we can praise him perfectly in Glory.