Ben and Stephanie Freeman

Benjamin grew up in Brazil and Stephanie comes from Oklahoma. Having met at the Ranch while Benjamin was a student (class of 03-05) and Stephanie (class of 99/01) was serving as the receptionist, they were married in 2005. A passion for ministry and discipleship led them back to the Ranch after 10 years of ministry as missionaries in Brazil. They have been a part of the staff team since 2015. Benjamin currently serves in the Equine Department and Stephanie is found helping out here and there, but mostly at home with their four daughters, Rebekah, Rachael, Esther, and Janessa.

Ben and Stephanie’s Newsletter

December 2025

“Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great Salvation? And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory…”
(Heb. 2:1-3a; John 1:14)

Every Christmas we are reminded of this great salvation story as we celebrate Christ’s birth. May the season of love, joy, and peace not die with the coming of the New Year but may we carry the hope of our salvation to a world that needs to see what true love, joy and peace look like.

Our prayer for you and our family this year would be that we would continue to pay close attention to the Word of the Lord, and hold fast to it.

Looking back over the last year we see the Lord at work in our lives. Through the joys and sorrows, pleasant experiences and hard ones, God has faithfully met our every need.

And much has happened over the year. Here are some of the highlights:

Rebekah graduating!! Thank you to all who came and celebrated her or sent her a card. She almost has enough saved up for a car! She worked at our local vet clinic last winter and as a horsemanship instructor for the Ranch this past summer. She took some time to travel to Texas to ride with friends and professional trainers. And is currently trying to figure out what is next.

Rachael will be graduating this spring! May 2026 is coming quickly. Stay tuned for the details of her graduation and what she will be doing. She has a couple of ideas but is seeking the Lord for guidance to know which direction to go next! Meanwhile, she continues taking piano, is finishing her Senior classes (she is thoroughly enjoying Greek), and babysits staff kids regularly.

Esther turns 16 this month and will begin working towards a driving permit!! She still enjoys being outside with warm weather, climbing trees and takes her drawing pad with her. She is a sophomore this year. All three older girls love working at the barn and helping Benjamin with the schooling of the Ranch and a couple of our personal horses.

Janessa, a few days away from 8, loves riding horses, playing with kitties and all things ballet! She has been enjoying a few basic lessons in ballet with some of her friends from one of the staff ladies who used to be a ballerina!! She is also planning on attending ALLL the camp activities as soon as she is 8!

Stephanie is enjoying the elementary years again since Janessa caught on to reading. She is also chauffer to piano lessons and driving instructor. She does enjoy having another licensed adult in the house and is looking forward to Rachael getting hers soon. She has been asked recently what it’s like to have THREE teenage daughters in the house, and has been happy to reply that they are nothing like she was when she was a teen! Two unexpected trips took Stephanie to Oklahoma. One in July to support a friend who lost her husband unexpectedly and the other in November to celebrate the life of her Grandma Norma. Janessa went with her on that trip as they drove down, and enjoyed a little extra time visiting Stephanie’s parents in Louisiana “on the way home”.

Benjamin, along with the three other barn staff that work with him, have 20 students in the barn this year. Overseeing these students in the barn, managing the herd and speaking (whether for MFTM or as pulpit supply) keep him busy. He has been doing a lot of studying to improve farrier skills and recently joined the Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to that, he has acquired a few local clients, as farrier for their horses, which has been helpful in supplementing our income this year.

Summer saw challenges in the barn with the loss of 4 horses back-to-back. The Lord used the loss to teach the barn summer staff how to process grief, and to see God’s sovereign hand even in sadness and hardship.

Summer camp saw over 1200 kids, numerous salvations, and lives being dedicated to serve the Lord with renewed zeal. Our fall retreats have kept us hopping from one weekend to the next. A new student year with 38 students is well underway. Two of those students, Savannah and Shelby, will be part of our family for this school year, coming to our home every Tuesday for supper to talk about school work and life. We also enjoy playing games, going on hikes and look forward to our Sunday night fellowship with as many as we can fit into the living room for Hymn singing!

Other news and notes:

Our three oldest girls are looking forward to attending a youth conference, Cross Conference, in Louisville, KY at the beginning of the year. The Ranch will be hosting their yearly S.A.L.T retreat for young people ages 14-20. It is a condensed taste of the school of discipleship (SOD).

Benjamin and Stephanie were able to attend The Sing! Conference (hosted by Kieth and Kristen Getty) with Benjamin’s parents, and sister’s Karah and Elizabeth. It was an absolutely amazing time of worship with many fantastic bands playing and we were encouraged with excellent preaching. We were renewed spiritually and blessed by the fellowship! We highly recommend attending (there’s an online option) if you’ve never been or heard of it!

Our trusty 07 Expedition has hit 305,000 miles on the original transmission. We are very thankful to the Lord for his provision of a reliable vehicle. After Stephanie drove 3500 miles in 14 days in November, we realized we will most likely need new tires before the winter season is over. We were hoping they would last until fall of 26.

Many of you who supported Rebekah and Rachael this summer as they ministered alongside so many others, here at the Ranch, as counselors or in the barn. Thank you! Rebekah hopes to go on the MMR Work Team to Mexico during spring break.

We are so incredibly thankful and blessed to be a part of the many ministries of Miracle Mountain Ranch. It seems crazy to look back and realize we have now been here for 10 years. We have seen the Lord’s generous provision of our needs, His faithfulness and protection for 20 years as we’ve served on the mission field. There are those times where we, wondered, as you probably do as well, “How we can we continue”, when we look at the rising costs of everything that we depend on to make life happen. While we trim and tighten the belt where we can, we have never once been in desperate need because the Lord has used so many of you to support us in prayer and/or financially. We recognize that this often comes as a sacrifice for you and your family and we are blessed by it and pray that your sacrifices continue as a fragrant blessing to the Lord! May you be blessed, comforted and encouraged this new year as we look back at God’s mercy’s and look forward, with delight and wonder, at His provisions this year to come, glorying in Jesus Christ our Savior, our hope for all eternity.

With much love and gratitude,

Benjamin & Stephanie