By By ZURI KELVER / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Hope Community Church is trying something new this summer. At 2 p.m. Saturday, The Ranch of Hope (located behind Hope Community Church at 2390 Lake St.) will open its gates to children between the ages of six and 17 for an equestrian based youth group that will teach kids the basics of horse riding and maintenance while incorporating prayer and the truths of Jesus Christ.
The Ranch of Hope will add to the already extensive list of community outreach programs offered by the church including a food pantry, radio and prison ministries as well as the Prime Timers, a ministry for the over 50 crowd.
Hope Community Church members Dawn Orpurt and Diane Sharkey received their inspiration for the non-profit project after a trip to Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch (CPYR) in Bend, Ore. According to Orpurt, CPYR began as a small venture whose goal was to rescue mistreated and otherwise unhealthy horses and pair them off with children in the community. Today CPYR operates a stable of more than 25 horses and teaches horse riding tempered with the gospel to over three thousand Oregon youth.
Orpurt and Sharkey, with the help of several volunteer ranch hands turned the dusty patch of land behind Hope Community Church into a fully-functioning ranch complete with tack room, corral, picnic area and a fire-pit.
The church also received discounts on materials from Rural King and Tractor Supply Company.
The place is authentic all the way down to the large wooden entryway with an oversized horseshoe inscribed 'Ranch of Hope' to welcome all.
Anyone wishing to learn more about horse riding and the gospel need only show up this Saturday. All equipment is provided and admission is free of charge. Those interested should arrive early and sign up for the festivities, which include a 90-minute ranch session where the child will learn the basics of horse grooming, saddling, ranch work and horse riding.
Yes, the kids will get to ride the horses.
Any questions regarding the ranch program can be directed to the church office at 684-2770.