Celebrating our Core Values: CHRIST-CENTERED

This month we have the privilege of hearing from Renew’s Executive Director, Melissa, on what being Christ-centered looks like at Renew from her perspective.

If you’ve been part of the Renew family for a while, you may know that our name—Renew—was selected by our Board of Directors in 2010. Inspired by the words of Isaiah 40:31, the Board intentionally chose a name that reflected their vision of establishing a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to serving our community and promoting life transformation.

Isaiah 40:31 says:

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

This verse is especially meaningful in the context of our work. Our participants literally mount our equine partners, and through therapeutic horsemanship services they often gain strength, endurance, confidence, hope, and joy.

Before 2010, our organization was known as A Touch of Hope and Healing (ATOHAH). Since becoming Renew, we have remained committed to our Christian foundation by prioritizing faith commitment among our Board and staff members. At the same time, we fully embrace another of our core values—acceptance. We welcome and serve every participant and volunteer with dignity and respect, regardless of their faith, religion, or belief system.

Our Board and staff are committed to living out our calling in service to Renew’s mission: to enhance the well-being of individuals in our community through the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of therapeutic horsemanship. We strive to embody this calling in our Board meetings, staff gatherings, and daily interactions by living out what Jesus described as the greatest commandment.

In Matthew 22:36–40, Jesus teaches us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This simple yet profound calling shapes the way we seek to care for everyone who walks through our doors.

Many people who visit Renew for the first time remark that we are different from other barns. There is a spirit of care, compassion, and genuine concern for one another that is evident each day—not only in the way we serve our participants, but also in how we support one another as staff, care for our volunteers, and steward the well-being of our equine partners. This is Christ-centeredness in action.

Everyone is welcome here, and everyone is loved.

Each week, our staff gathers to pray for the needs of the Renew family and to encourage one another. We seek opportunities to extend compassion, hope, and support to anyone who may need it.

This spirit of service extends beyond the walls of Renew. In June, seven members of our team traveled to Ensenada, Mexico, to serve alongside the staff at His Wings Ranch. Each participant personally raised the funds needed to make the trip possible, offering their time and talents in service to others. It was truly a holy week as we witnessed God at work in and through the people we met. Drawing on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained at Renew, our team was able to share new approaches to serving children and adults through equine-assisted services, encouraging and equipping the staff at the ranch. The experience was a blessing not only to those we served, but also to each member of our team, and it stands as another meaningful example of our core values in action.

One of the ways we celebrate our faith each year is through our annual Blessing of the Horses, held alongside our Fall Festival each September. During this special event, local pastors from a variety of churches join us in praying over our herd as we walk together through the pastures, giving thanks for these incredible animals and the role they play in changing lives. We hope you’ll join us this year on Saturday, September 26, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. for this meaningful tradition. Many members of the Renew family tell us it is their favorite event of the year.

If you have questions about Renew’s core values or would simply like to learn more about our mission, I would love to connect with you. Please feel free to reach out anytime at melissa.conner@renewtrc.org.