by Erin Austin

I’ve often said that Joy Ranch is a unicorn among children’s homes. For multiple reasons, Joy Ranch doesn’t fit into a mold. One of these is in the area of finances. From the beginning, the McHenrys vowed to trust God for all of their needs.

“We were determined not to go to anyone and ask for money. Did God not say, ‘Is there anything too hard for Me?’ We would present the work, tell of the need, and trust God for the funds. We would, however, compile a mailing list and give anyone who desired the opportunity to share prayerfully and financially in the work. We would also publish a monthly paper to keep in touch with interested friends and to make new friends for Joy Ranch.”

“The vision burned in front of us, and we learned to go on unaffected by approval or disapproval. The thing we wanted to do seemed impossible for us, but we believed that anything God ordered He always paid for. And God had a big order for Joy Ranch. How big we did not know.”

Joy Ranch has stuck to the McHenry’s vision over the past 60+ years. Every aspect of Joy Ranch is run by donations. From every supply of food and toilet paper, to staff salaries, to building funds, Joy Ranch operates by God’s provision through donations. While Joy Ranch does have a budget, we never know where the money will come from to meet each need. We just know God will provide.

There are some wonderful people who generously give what they can at $5 every month. Then there are others who occasionally contact us and say, “God laid it on my heart to give…” We’ve had times where someone who’s never heard of us decide to stop by, take a tour, and at the end write a $10,000 check. Then there are precious churches where the children take a weekly offering for loose change. Each and every donation, no matter how big or small, is received with appreciation because it’s a reminder to us that God is providing all of our needs. Because of this, Joy Ranch is one of the few children’s homes in the country who doesn’t charge children to come live. With each child who comes, we know God has placed them on our campus, and He will provide all the child needs.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19

Enjoy Chapter 3 from “Feed My Lambs” by Mary McHenry

Click the image to read excerpts from “Feed My Lambs” and blogs related to the story.

Now that Joy Ranch was a corporation, we began to publish the need for a children’s home in our area. A visit to our county welfare office confirmed the fact that there were children in our own county who desperately needed a home, as well as children in neighboring counties. 

About this time the mail brought a letter addressed with childish handwriting: 

“Dear Sirs: I would like to come and stay at joy ranch, I have no place to stay and that is why I would come to joy ranch. if I can come please write and I have 2 brothers besides me.”  

Investigation revealed that the letter was written out of deep need, and an even greater urgency came upon us. But we had no home of our own, and where would the thousands upon thousands of dollars come from to buy land and to build a home for the children?  

We were determined not to go to anyone and ask for money.  Did not God say, “Is there anything too hard for Me?” We would present the work, tell of the need, and trust God for funds. We would, however, compile a mailing list and give anyone who desired the opportunity to share prayerfully and financially in the work. We would also publish a monthly paper to keep in touch with interested friends and to make new friends for Joy Ranch. 

The vision burned in front of us, and we learned to go on unaffected by approval or disapproval. The thing we wanted to do seemed impossible for us, but we believed that anything God ordered He always paid for. And God had a big order in Joy Ranch. How big we did not know. 

Dr. Robert Waddell, a beloved physician in Galax, was a treasure of gold to us during this time. He suggested we look for land around Woodlawn, a small town between Galax and Hillsville. “It’s a good community,” he said – “not as rough as some.” Our hearts took new courage when he added, “And I will doctor the children and advise you when you need my help.” (His son, Dr. William Waddell, very ably took his place in the home and in our hearts in later years.)  

We thanked him and began to comb the area around Woodlawn for suitable land.  We found a plot of land and were told it was owned by Palmer F. Turner of Woodlawn. We found his house and found him, an elderly man, out working in his garden.    

“Are you Mr. Turner?” we asked. “I’m what’s left of him,” he said. And we found “what was left” to be an extremely kind man – and one who supported Joy Ranch until his death. He offered to sell us 18 acres of his best land with good frontage and a stream of water for cattle. The price?  Just $6,000.  

Just $6,000? We didn’t tell him we had no money, but we did tell him we wanted the land. And then the small gifts began to come in. The first donation was $3. Others followed, mostly one dollar bills from poor people who hadn’t heard that Joy Ranch was an impossibility, and then some fives and tens and only very occasionally a $100 gift.  

But before long the land was fully paid for. 

Well, yes, perhaps you have land, critics ventured; but it costs money to build—lots of money.  Lots of money? Yes! And it was then we talked intimately with our Lord. Would He show people what He could do? 

Perhaps because we were the weakest of His servants, people would give more glory to Him than if a physically strong, able couple stepped out on faith.  These words of Francis of Assisi became our very own: 

“The Lord looked down from heaven and said, ‘Where can I find the weakest, littlest, meanest man of earth?’ Then he saw me and said, ‘I’ve found him. I will work through him; he won’t be proud of it. He’ll see I am only using him because of his insignificance.’ ”