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

August 2026

Hello!

Our summer camp season has come to a close as well as graduation for the ‘25-‘26 School of Discipleship students. Now we are moving into our fall retreat season, as well as a new group of School of Discipleship students. This summer was such a sweet time, so many smiling faces, ears who heard the gospel, mouths that were fed, and relationships built.

Josh had a wonderful summer in wilderness camp. He was grateful for the opportunities to love, serve, teach, and share the gospel to the ranchers. The first couple days of the week, the wilderness guys play paintball, learn survival skills, make shelters, go swimming, and other fun activities. The last few days of the week, they are placed into a survival scenario where they use maps to locate different supply stashes, make a base camp, prepare their own meals, and other skills. Josh enjoys getting to see the guys take what they have learned and apply it. Also, along the way, he worked to get a few additional portions of the playground usable. There still is much work to be done but a few slides, swings, as well as a section for smaller children is usable.

Rachel kept busy each day with running the vaulting program. Between cooking for BTR’s (breakfast trail rides), work projects, meeting with the 3 girls she mentored, as well as the actual time teaching vaulting, helping in programming, and playing mandolin for chapels her days were full. The 3 girls (Karen, Keturah, and Audrey) she had working in vaulting did a fantastic job and made vaulting a successful time. Rachel loves the opportunity to be involved each day working right alongside the girls. Makayla, Rachel’s older sister, was here serving on summer staff as program staff. So, when Rachel wasn’t at the barn, she jumped in and helped her sister do various tasks such as set up games, paperwork, the schedule for ranchers and counselors, just to name a few.

A few weeks ago, we had the graduation for the School of Discipleship. Bethany and Taten were such a joy to get to know over the past 11 months. We are so excited for where the Lord is taking them as they go out. We pray that the Lord may give them opportunities to serve others, use what they have learned throughout the year, as well as finding peace and rest in Him as they move into new adventures.

In just a few short weeks, we will happily receive a new group of students! In the meantime, we are working on many projects around the ranch. Josh is working to move lots of dirt, picking rock, and disking the ground to complete a corner of a hay field that is being reclaimed as well as finish off the shooting range for an upcoming retreat (Photo below). Hopefully, more work will be accomplished on the playground area, cutting down and removing some trees to clear some land, as well as some welding projects. Together, we will be helping with barn chores, keeping up with other tasks around the ranch, and riding some horses in the evenings! Once students arrive, Rachel will be teaching in the barn, as well as resume playing piano for morning worship, along with other various work that arises day to day. Josh will jump in to work alongside the students when the opportunities arise. He will continue to work on various projects as well as preparations for upcoming retreats.

Praises and Prayers:

• Praise for just over 1,000 children came to camp this summer and there were over 40 children who outwardly proclaimed their decision of salvation. We praise the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness.
• Prayer for incoming School of Discipleship students.
• For continued health and safety as we serve here.

Thank you to all who have supported and prayed for us. Your financial gifts, prayers, and messages have blessed us and our ministry so greatly! If you would like to be a part of our ministry here financially you can follow the information at the bottom of the page! We would love to hear from you, so if you have questions or just want to say hello, please contact us!

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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.