Josh and Rachel Snyder

Josh and Rachel Snyder grew up going to summer camp as well as serving as volunteers and on summer staff in many different positions. Rachel attended the School of Discipleship from 2019-2021. Upon graduating she joined us on staff in the Operations Department in the fall of 2021. She assists with daily water testing for the state, projects around the shop, and working alongside students. Josh returned to serve during the summers as a counselor in 2022 and as program staff in 2023. He is now serving in the Programming Department with various construction projects, housekeeping maintenance, retreats, and teaching welding to the shop students.

Josh and Rachel Snyder’s Newsletter

Winter 2026

Hello Friends,

Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year. We pray that your holiday season was filled with joy and reflection. As Thanksgiving came and went, that you were able to reflect on the goodness of God and respond in thankfulness to his many blessings. Then, in celebration of the Advent season, the anticipation of Christ, and the fellowship with family and friends during Christmas celebrations. As we begin a new year, we reflect on how the Lord has grown and taught us in the previous year and look forward to the opportunities and lessons laid before us in the new season. In all of these things, remembering Christ and the hope we have because of what he did for us on the cross.

The closing of 2025 was a sweet time filled with fellowship with family and friends. We were blessed to be able to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas time with our families. Now, we jump full speed ahead into our fun and busy winter retreat and event season! The month of January will bring in Youth Winter Blast Camp, S.A.L.T (Servant Attitude Leadership Training), and a Men’s Retreat, which is just the beginning of many other retreats running all the way until we begin summer camp! We have been enjoying the AMAZING snow that we have received over the past couple months.

Josh’s work has shifted a bit as the weather permits. He is no longer leading a maintenance chore time because when students returned from Thanksgiving break, they were placed into the areas of focus that they will remain in throughout the rest of the student year, with a few exceptions during summer camp. He, however, has been helping out with chores in the shop. After Christmas break ends and the students return he will be starting to teach this year’s welding class. He estimates that he will have somewhere between 4-8 students and will be teaching every evening for an hour. He always looks forward to this time of sharing something he enjoys doing and teaching with students who often are eager to learn the skill! There are many large projects in need of work that Josh will be helping with, some are weather dependent so they are not able to be worked on until some of the snow has melted away.

Rachel has enjoyed all of the opportunities she has had the past few months to teach and interact with students. She has been able to help in the barn by teaching vaulting, balance riding, and horse driving during retreats as well as student classes. As the student year continues she will continue to play the piano for morning worship, as well as help in the shop and barn. In November, she also had the opportunity to cover kitchen chores several times which she enjoyed. She continues to teach ballet to many of the young staff girls as well as piano to a few kids as well! This winter, she will be teaching a horse driving elective every Friday for 2 hours to a few barn students.

Advisor meetings are going well. We have enjoyed sharing a meal, playing games, and hearing about their weeks and what the Lord is teaching them. We pray that we may continue to build deeper relationships with Taten and Bethany as well as other students as we have the opportunity to share conversations, work time, and even sometimes a meal and fun evening at our house.

Prayers and Praises:

• Mexico, we are once again considering whether to go on the Mexico mission trip. Currently the plans through the ranch are a bit unknown. We are praying for wisdom for those figuring out logistics as well as for if we are to join the crew this year.
• Health, there is much sickness that makes its rounds up here with students returning from Christmas break, incoming retreats, and the long days. We have been thankful to stay pretty healthy so far this winter, but we’d appreciate prayers for all students and staff in this area!
• Josh’s house, 2025 came with a multitude of more costly repairs that needed to be completed on Josh’s house. Damage from a storm, a leak in the basement, and so on. We are thankful for the blessing of the house, but also pray that this year will have less repairs and continued wisdom as we rent it out!

We are so thankful for all of the ways in which you pray for us and our ministry here! As well as for those who financially support us. We would not be able to continue our ministry here without your gracious and generous support! Thank you!!!

Supporting Us:

If you are interested in becoming one of our supporters, here are a few things to know: 100% of your gifts are given to us and are tax-deductible. Checks can be made out to Miracle Mountain Ranch and have ‘Josh + Rachel Snyder’ on the memo line and mailed to Miracle Mountain Ranch 101 Rodeo Dr., Spring Creek, PA 16436. There is also a direct withdrawal option from your checking account. This can be set up by contacting the ranch office at . More information can be found at the ranch website by clicking the button below.