Our History

The Origin

Hope Ranch for Women began in 2011 through a vision one of its founders received during time spent in prayer.

In this vision, Cathy Turner saw women being exploited and abused: “I saw them believing that no one cared.”

God spoke to Cathy, saying He heard the cry of the broken, that He knew the details of their lives.

With compassion and faith but little understanding of what was to unfold, Cathy began walking the path she believed God had set out before her. He led her to the family that owned the house she saw in her vision.

A charitable donation made it possible for Hope Ranch to purchase that house and, in January of 2019, the first resident walked through the front door and called it home.

By 2013, Hope Ranch for Women had incorporated and become more reality than vision.

Under the direction of Cathy Cooper, our mentoring program was well underway in 2014 and Hope Ranch officially received its 501(c)3 nonprofit status. Women’s lives were being changed.

In 2015, Karen DeWerff became a member of the Hope Ranch Board of Directors as its Spiritual Director.

At that time, Karen also began working on the organization’s business model, curriculum, policies, and procedures, ensuring all were fully integrated with the spiritual mission of Hope Ranch.

In a leap of faith from both Hope Ranch and Karen DeWerff, Karen was hired in 2017 as the full-time Managing Director for Hope Ranch for Women! We are blessed to have her as our first employee.

2011

The Holy Spirit moved our founders to create Hope Ranch for Women

2012

2013

Our Hope Ranch North home was located and purchased

2014

Hope Ranch officially achieved 501c3 status

building began on the indoor arena of Hope Ranch South

Hope Ranch received pledges for the home mortgage of Hope Ranch North

2015

Home renovations on Hope Ranch North were completed

2016

the Hope Ranch home and property mortgage was paid off by generous donors

Over 156 volunteers clocking over 3,400 hours worked on the residence and property this year

Women from Beloit, Kansas made and delivered beautiful quilts for our residential bedrooms

Devoted metors spent over 2,400 hours with mentees and personally covered over $7,700 in mentoring program expenses

2017

Hope Ranch received unanimous zoning approval to serve even more women in the residential home

Hope Ranch remodeled 3 homes, now established for rent and providing income toward our goals

Hope Ranch officially joined the National Christian Sheltered Alliance

2018

Hope Ranch hited two residential coaches to serve as staff in the residential home.

Our residential home finally opened, with a newly hired case manager and part-time residential coaches brought in!

2019

Hope Ranch received the very first resident into its home!

After serving six residents, Hope Ranch through a phone call with Jeanne Allert, NTSA, received a verbal A+ review.

Eight women and one unborn baby were served by the home this year.

2020

Hope Ranch hired John Oelze as full-time Executive Director.

Cathy Cooper, volunteer director of mentoring, stepped back into her full-time role as a Pastor's Wife and Linda Oelze was hired as a full-time mentor and community director.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Devoted mentors spent over 2400 hours with mentees and personally covered over 7700 dollars in mentoring program expenses

2017

2018

Hope Ranch hired two residential coaches to serve as staff in the residential home.

2019

2020

Looking to the Future

With solid foundations, Hope Ranch for Women is striving to multiply and expand our programs with vision for the future.

This includes

A 30-to-60-day Emergency Shelter to help women stabilize before entering our Residential Home

A Transitional Graduate Home to help women step into semi‑independent living

As it grows, Hope Ranch for Women is committed to helping all who reach its doors, whether survivor or employee, volunteer or donor. Hope Ranch offers hope and healing for those who need it.