Our Story
In December of 1994, Bob and Ellen Korthuis had a vision to provide a safe and loving home for abused and neglected children who, of no fault of their own, were suffering. Together they began praying specifically that God would give His direction. Bob was so deeply moved, he reached out and contacted their local church, Christ Community Church. The leadership there identified a farm that had recently been gifted to the church by Ms. Blanche Preston. It was the Lords perfect timing! Christ Community Church donated the property of one hundred and twenty acres in full, and Preston Ranch was founded.
Through the expertise and hard-working hands of many people, the ranch house was constructed to fit the needs of a family. Christ Community Church faithfully and generously supported the construction, and the first home was dedicated on April 11, 1999. A second house was moved to the property in 2003 followed by the placement of a mobile home and the building of a fourth home.
Each home that was built had miracles that happened down to the exact number of nails needed and the multiplication of plywood provided in God’s timing. People witnessed God’s hand in his provision for children. The houses have been an incredible blessing and have impacted over 20 different families and countless children who have occupied the home now for over 25 years!
The vision of Preston Ranch has always been to accept families who are qualified to carry out the ministry of caring for children in need in a Christ-centered environment. The Preston Ranch organization continues to carry on the mission of providing support for these families who are committed to bringing up children in safe, loving Christ-centered homes.
The vision of Preston Ranch has been motivated by Matt. 6:33:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and all of these things will be added to you.”
Through seeking and trusting in God, the outcome has been His faithful provision in the form of willing parents, tangible needs for the children being met and timely financial resources. God has truly been the builder of Preston Ranch and continues to sustain the ministry of providing Christ centered support to families who are committed to adoption. We are excited for what the Lord has in store for the years ahead!
Our
Mission
It is the mission of Preston Ranch Ministries to provide Christ centered support to Christian parents who are committed to adoption; to provide homes and community to help them meet their goals as adoptive families; to raise godly children and to aid in the healing, restoration and security which belong to them in Christ. It is also part of our ministry to provide Christian families seeking to adopt a child with grant assistance in the adoption of children who will do the same in their private home.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We stand for and emphasize the foundational truths held in common with evangelical Christians. Our basis for fellowship is a oneness of heart and mind in all things of the Lord Jesus Christ. We adhere to the historic Christian faith expressed as follows:
1. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit and inerrant in the original manuscripts, and that it is the infallible and authoritative Word of God. 2. Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21
2. We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; and that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29
3. We believe in God, the Father, and infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death, all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Isaiah 41:14
4. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrections ascension into Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, imminent return. John 1:14; Acts 3:13-14.
5. We believe in the Holy Spirit who comes forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment and regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper. Eph. 1:14; 4:30
6. We believe in the existence of Satan, called the Devil, and that He is the one who had control over unregenerate mankind and schemes against believers. Isaiah 13:12-15; Matthew 13:39; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 7:5
7. We believe that mankind was created by God, in His image, both male and female. The creation of men and women begins in the mind of God, and God knows each person in the womb before they are born. Therefore, we believe that life is sacred, always being protected from conception because people are chosen by God before conception takes place and at that time He determines their identity as a man or woman, based on His Divine foreknowledge. Men and women are by nature and choice sinners and therefore, under condemnation; that mankind is totally depraved and must repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ as Savior in order to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 3:1-7; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 3:9-13; Titus 3:5.
8. PRM holds to the Biblical teaching that in the beginning, God created man and woman distinct and unique in their gender (Genesis 1:27) for the purpose of reproduction in order that they might fulfill the command of the Lord “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28a). We believe this commandment was/is to be fulfilled through the institution of marriage, which is the joining of a man and a woman in a holy covenant between them and God that they might become one together. This holy institution was created along with mankind on the 6th day of creation (Genesis 2:21-24). We hold that both one’s gender as well as the institution of marriage is directly established and therefore defined by God (and is immutable) (Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 19:4-6). Therefore, to attempt to alter God’s good plan for one’s gender or the marriage relationship is to contradict God’s will and therefore sin, leading to both spiritual and physical consequences (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy 22:5; Romans 1:26-27; 2 Corinthians 6:9-10).
9. We believe in the resurrection of the saved unto everlasting life and blessedness in Heaven, and the resurrection of the unsaved unto everlasting punishment in Hell. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 3:10-15.
10. We believe in the Church, the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head, and that it consists only of those who are redeemed. We believe that Christ now makes intercession for believers in Heaven and that He will come again to take them to Heaven. Romans 8:30; 2 Corinthians 11:2; John 17:20-26.
11. The Board of Preston Ranch, acting on principles laid down in the Holy Bible will be the final authority on all matters of faith and conduct. The Board will have final authority for Preston Ranch Ministries over all employees, families, and individual Board Members who no longer feel they can support the ministry and its Directives in writing or in belief. The Board will have final authority in the establishing and the interpretation of biblical standards and directives in relationship to evolving cultural, governmental and theological challenges to historic Biblical Christianity and its interpretations on moral issues of consequence. At all times, Holy Scripture of the Holy Bible will be the determining rule of grace, law and conduct for this organization. It will reign above human challenges to its revelation. The revelation of the Bible as it is to be understood and interpreted is the sole authority of the Board of Directors of Preston Ranch Ministries. 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 2 Thess. 3:14; Hebrews 13:7, 17.