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Testimonies from C.A.M.P. Graduates:
Matt Smith
First Year Apprentice 1992
"Through my time at the ranch God showed me His purpose for me, as well as what stood in my way. My pride was such a great hindrance to me that I was blinded to the freedom that God desired for me. After much struggle God began to take that pride away and replace it with an incredible freedom that can only be found through humility."
Kyle Augsburger
First Year Apprentice 1992
"The C.A.M.P. program has not only changed the way I work, but also transformed my whole life. I never knew the freedom there was in Christ until I came through the program. I, like many Christians, was living life as if I was defeated. But Jesus says, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free". It was during my apprentice year that I finally discovered that God had really designed me to be more than a conqueror. I've learned and grown so much as a result of the time spent in the program. It was well worth a year of hard work and discipline."
Greg Pike
MMRM Board Member
First Year Apprentice 1982
"Two guys, starry eyed for the horse knowledge that Lew possessed, sat considering what a year at Miracle Mountain would mean. The flesh in me screamed No, but the spirit gently spoke to me of my lack of love for people and the need to say no to my flesh and yes to God. My spirit came to the end of itself one day in October or November. It was jumping class and I was struggling to perfect a two point position under Melodie's fine instruction. As I became more and more frustrated with my body's lack of performance, Melodie called me over and reminded me that we can't learn to do things without God's strength. God wants us to fall, to come to the end of ourselves, for it is at that place that we find Him. This "would be" cowboy sat upon his mount and broke into tears. For the first time in my life, I chose to be truly broken, and there before Lew, Melodie and God, I found freedom in Christ to accept His work and live in His strength, not my own. We all wrestle with self-life, and the slow subtle destruction it brings to our lives. Choosing crucified living was the deepest truth I left the ranch with."
Pat & Jeannie Patterson
Pat - First Year Apprentice 1985
Jeannie - First Year Apprentice 1983
"The most formative aspect of the apprenticeship program for me was the staff's commitment to honestly living out the Biblical principles they taught. The staff also genuinely loved us and were committed to being personally involved with our growth process. The most important thing I learned in the program was how to truly take personal responsibility for my walk with God and my influence on other people. While I learned many valuable skills, character and spiritual maturity are far more valuable than any piece of knowledge or technical training. MMRM was the gateway to a journey that I hope will never end."
Andrea J. Mohr
First Year Apprentice 1992
"I left MMRM with a greater understanding of God's character and the wonderful truths of who I am in Christ. I came to deeply appreciate my fellow apprentices and staff and the growth everyone was committed to. Being naturally "shy", I found myself in an environment of people who drew me out and I discovered a lot of freedom in learning to share. Talking has, perhaps, been the most important thing that I've been able to put to use as a professional wall paperer, not to mention what an asset it has proven to be in building relationships! During the time since I left the program, God has faithfully continued to apprehend me and I am confident that He will complete the work He has begun in me."
Rich Fodey
First year Apprentice 2002
"Throughout this year God has worked in many areas of my life. Let me just share with you one of those things. Over the past years I have had areas in my life that I struggle with and that I had not fully surrendered to God. I kept praying for victory over these areas, but was not experiencing it. This went on until God spoke something to me thorough a book I was reading by Jerry Bridges called " The Holiness of God." There was a quote in there that said that sin in a Christian's life is not a matter of victory or defeat. Christ won the victory over sin on the cross. Now it is our responsibility too appropriate that victory and makes it ours. For the Christian, then, it is a matter of obedience and disobedience rather than victory or defeat. Once I realized the truth of that statement, whenever temptations arose, I was able to take a stand on the victory that Christ has already given me, and to voluntarily choose to obey. For God even says in His Word; "behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. " (1 Sam 15:22) It puts the responsibility for my actions back on my shoulders, and it also causes me to be accountable to that which I already know, and I just thank God for that insight."
Tara Meister
First Year Apprentice 2002
"I feel that through this year one of the biggest things God has been showing me and changing my life with is having a confidence in my identity in Him. I was and sometimes still am very indecisive and uncertain about my beliefs. Always being afraid of what others would think, so I would change just to please them. I feel that having a little more understanding that I am a child of God and accepting that he made me an individual has increased my confidence. I knew coming into this year that I would struggle with being open and being willing to share my heart. I never allowed my feelings to show because I always told myself it doesn't matter and I will get over it. On the surface I was just trying to be like and didn't want to make things harder, but through many situations God has shown me that I wasn't placing my security in him, but in what others thought of me. Struggling with this a lot, I also have too realize that God still wants to hear my heart, even my feelings towards him at that moment. God reminded me of this many times with this verse. Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us."
Sarah Cronk
2002-2003 CAMP Student
"I am here at MMR as a first year apprentice majoring in horsemanship. I have lived all of my life out West, mostly in Wyoming and Utah. Going into this year, God has challenged me with the words found in Jeremiah 3:4: "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me: My Father, Thou art the guide of my youth?" I had to ask myself: Is Christ really the guide of my youth? Am I crying out for His direction in my life or am I going through this year looking at my road map? I love travel, however, as I've driven all over parts of the U.S., I've learned one thing really is true: My direction determines my destination. If I have a heavenly destination, I think I'll stick with a Heavenly Guide! God brought me here for the first time as a counselor this past summer, one year after I heard of MMR from a friend in Oklahoma who knew I liked horses. For several years I struggled with depression and a general sense of hopelessness even though I knew I was a Christian. Basically, I was stuck with a lot of head knowledge about God but I didn't know how to experience the power in my life by applying it. Coming here has really helped me with that. It has been encouraging to me to hear people who've known me all my life comment on my growth and the freedom and joy they see in me because I was willing to humble myself before God and others. I'm just excited to share my life with others because God really does have a plan for my life - "plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Plans to give me hope and a future" just like He has promised for you, too, in Jeremiah 29:11."
Mary Didocha
CAMP II student 2002 - 2003
"In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, "...If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." As much as I have quoted that throughout my Christian walk, I rarely tried to live it until this year. Life for me, before the Ranch and even throughout much of my first year here was all about my plans, my desire, my comfort and my "rights", all of which were painted in the "Christian" light. But this year, I have continually striven to make my life all about Christ. As a result, all of my life has been touched. I've learned to give more from the heart. I have grown more in the area of obedience and desiring God's commands and principles and not my own thoughts or plans. The greatest area of joy to me is how much I've grown in my relationship with my family. Learning to trust the heart of my dad has been one of the most amazing things to me. I never believed I could have such a close relationship with him, yet God has blessed me richly with that as I have learned to be open, honest, and humble. It is amazing to look back and realize so much has gone on and we are not even half way through the year! I still occasionally get caught with "my hand in the cookie jar" of disobedience. But I've learned now that it is not so much about the fall but about the getting up again. And I'm excited about seeing what these next few months will hold.
Melissa Haught
CAMP I student 2007 - 2008
"This is the most real place I have experienced. I have dealt with real problems, built real relationships, experienced real sorrow and real joy that cannot compare. I have been equipped with tools that will enable me to go out and tell people about the truth I have found in my God, Lord, and Savior."
Testimonies from others about C.A.M.P.:
Bob Kobielush
CEO of Christian Camping International
"If you are serious about developing inner character, learning camping skills and growing in leadership the Miracle Mountain Ranch Camp Apprentice Ministry Program may be for you. This year-round discipleship is under the skilled and caring direction of Lew and Melodie Sterrett. I would highly recommend the program and their leadership to you.
Matt Wiley
Executive Director of
"We have been privileged to have several former Apprentices on staff. It has been an encouragement to me to work with these staff members and to observe how they have applied God's principles to their daily living. Their testimony and various leadership skills have been very beneficial to our camping ministry." . . . "I would highly recommend C.A.M.P. to anyone who would like to develop their leadership skills and deepen their walk with Christ."