History
Miracle Mountain Ranch had its origin in 1962 when 600 acres of mountaintop farmland and a handful of farm buildings were purchased for a camping site. With two founding families, and a handful of personal horses, the summer youth camp ministry began. The facilities consisted of two barns and two houses that were on the property, and the newly constructed main building and two bunkhouses. That winter, a gift of five Angus cattle from Missouri completed the scene of a real, working ranch.
Originating as a non-denominational camp, The Ranch has been supported through love gifts from concerned churches and individuals from the beginning. The next few years involved expanding the facilities to meet the demands of the ever-increasing enrollment. Projects included more bunkhouses, larger dining and kitchen facilities, a pole barn to shelter the horses, an arena for instruction and the Saturday rodeo, and many other improvements.
In 1972 a 60′ x 160′ horse barn and an indoor riding arena was erected. Several new staff families also joined the founders, Dr. Dale and Opal Linebaugh, at Miracle Mountain Ranch.
In 1976, youth camp summer attendance broke 1,000 ranchers and the ministry was blessed with hundreds of salvation decisions and life-changing commitments. The facilities were growing to include new and larger restroom, a chapel building, more bunkhouses, a swimming pool, over 60 head of horses, and an increased cattle herd.
In 1977 Dale Linebaugh turned the directorship over to his son-in-law and daughter, Lew and Melodie Sterrett, in order to assume a pastorate in the state ofTennessee. Lew and Melodie entered the ministry with experience in equestrian training and management, nursing, and Christian camping.
In 1980 MiracleMountain Ranch expanded its camping ministry to include a special camp for teens and families. The fall of 1981 marked the beginning of another major ministry called “the Camp Apprentice Ministry Program”, a 1-year program growing out of a vision and concern for meaningful discipleship training for young men and women.
In 1984 Miracle Mountain Ranch again expanded its summer program to include a horse specialty week, a junior week, and a majors week where ranchers choose various fields for intense instruction. Present facilities include dormitory housing for C.A.M.P.(Now called School of Discipleship) , new and improved riding arenas, housing for resident staff families, and new program areas including a small animal farm and low elements obstacle coarse. Growth in 1992 included the development of a recreational vehicle site and the construction of a new 14,000 square foot multi-purpose building.
In 2011 There is more history to tell you about and we are working to updates this page soon!
We are currently working on updating our history. Updates will be posted as soon as they are available.
