“Feed My Lambs, the Joy Ranch Story” was written by Mary Z. McHenry and published by Joy Ranch in 1986. It’s the story of how Joy Ranch came to be, written by the wife of Richard McHenry, who helped found our Christian Home for Children in 1961. Now, Erin Austin, Case Manager, is writing new stories for each chapter of the book to update what Mary wrote all those years ago – just in time for our 65th anniversary in 2026!
Please enjoy these blogs and share them with family and friends.
Chapter 3 – A Small Beginning
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...
Chapter 2 – A Homeless Boy
Blog by Erin Austin Working with traumatized, abused children is one of the hardest things a person can do. It is heartbreaking, exhausting, and at times, intense. It is not easy. The things we hear and see are mind-boggling. A well-meaning person once told me after I...
Chapter 1 – Footsteps
I’ve always been fascinated by people’s stories. How did they get to this point in life? What happened in their past? Who helped mold and shape them into the person they are today? What is their story?