From Parents:
By the time we decided to send our daughter, Megan, to Shepherd’s Hill Farm we had by then spent over two years trying to get her back on the right track. Our daughter was always a very loving and sweet child who was involved in many school and church activities. However, towards the end of eighth grade her grades went down and her behavior began to change as she lost interest in church and school activities. By the time she was in ninth grade she became very involved with boys, drinking and drugs. She would sneak out of the house at night. This continued into tenth grade when she became involved in a theft at school. All during this time we battled with her with contracts and consequences, but nothing seemed to work. We spent two years working with therapists, but she just fooled them and herself into believing nothing was wrong with her behavior; she just couldn’t live with us as we were so unreasonable.
As time went on living with her became a nightmare for the whole family. Her behavior was having a negative influence on her younger sisters and she would not admit or take any responsibility for her decisions or actions.
As hard as it was to give our daughter to people we didn’t know, to spend a year of her life while still a child without her family, we had decided this was her last hope to have any life and future. She needed what SHF could offer — a chance to get away from all the distractions of the world and focus on what God intended for her life. At SHF Megan went from defiant and disrespectful to remorseful, appreciative, loving and forming a relationship with Christ. Megan even requested to be baptized. Seeing the transformation in her was miraculous. The peace and love that we felt during our visits to see Megan at SHF was encouraging to us that Megan wasn’t missing out on her childhood, but rather she was getting it back while at SHF. She was enjoying the simple pleasures of life again.
Megan appreciates her family now and the love they have for her. It didn’t take long to see that SHF was changing Megan, but what we didn’t expect is how our whole family would be changed for the better by this experience. We all saw how we could make more room for God in our lives. We cannot thank SHF enough for giving back to us the daughter we always dreamed we would have. The distractions of the real world are still challenging. But remembering the experiences and the lessons learned at SHF for dealing with these challenges is going to make the difference in Megan’s life.
We cannot thank SHF enough for what they have done for our family. God is truly working through SHF to change hearts and lives for families in crisis.
John & Diane
My husband and I would highly recommend SHF to any parent with a teenager who is having self-esteem, anger, disrespect for authority and academic/social skill problems. The wilderness program helped our boys to learn valuable life lessons such as planning ahead, cooking/cleaning, respect for rules/boundaries, respect for themselves and others, the consequences of bad decisions, problem-solving and communication skills, and that they were loved no matter what their problems were.
The transition program continued the supervision, but added the dimensions of more freedom, accountability sessions, re-integration into the family, college plans, job applications, budgeting, etc. We were impressed with the dedication of the SHF professionals, who were committed to helping our boys succeed. A family friend who has been our educational consultant since the boys were in grade school has visited SHF on two occasions, and was impressed with the quality of the academics offered by SHF Academy. Trace and Beth Embry are wonderful Christian role models, and ensure a positive, encouraging, therapeutic environment.
Linda
Shepherd’s Hill Farm (SHF) has become a part of my family. I have seen Josh transform from a self serving, self gratifying boy to an appreciative man willing to serve others. Trace, Beth, Rebecca, Eric, William and the staff are without a doubt doing God’s work. The Holy Spirit’s presence is all over SHF. Not only has my son Josh grown in the Lord for being at SHF, my entire family has also. I am very thankful for the opportunity to become a part of SHF.
Eddie
We felt like we lost our youngest son Randall to the drug culture and the lifestyle that goes with it at the young age of 15. He had decided to drop out of school and leave home. My wife and I turned to God and prayed for the answer on what to do next. We felt led to find a Christ based program for our son and we prayed for guidance. Even though we looked at several options we felt most comfortable with the staff and approach of Shepherd’s Hill Farm.
We took Randall to Shepherd’s Hill against his will and he did not want to be there for quite a while. Through it all he did know that the staff loved him and once the drugs were out of his system you could see God begin to change him. Each month we could see him getting stronger in his walk and we began to really enjoy being together. Randall was there for 14 months and when he finished the school year we were all so excited to have him home.
Shepherd’s Hill was definitely the turning point in Randall’s life and we thank God each day for getting our son back. What the devil has meant for evil God has turned into something very good. Our whole family is much closer to God and to each other through this experience.
God Bless.
Mitch and Rhonda
I’ve thought about writing this more times than I can count, but I can’t ever seem to get what’s in my heart on paper! At the therapist’s recommendation, I searched for a therapeutic boarding school for several weeks. Everytime I spoke with someone I was literally sick to my stomach. When I finally gave the search to God, told Him I couldn’t do this, I needed Him to show me – boy He showed me! A new website pulled up – I had done the same search word for weeks!
Trace answered and spoke with me the first time I called. I knew God had answered my prayers. Leaving Jessica at the farm was one of the hardest things I have ever or will ever do in my life. I realize that although Jessica is my daughter she is really Gods and He knows far more than I do and is very capable of taking care of her without me. Well, He used each of you to do just that. Thank you for allowing God to use you in the lives of these kids! I know that you sacrifice much of your personal time, and lives to minister to the kids and their families.
Have you ever seen the show Extreme Makeover? Where a family is really struggling and the show comes in and tears their house down and builds them a brand new beautiful one? They usually get a few more surprises throughout the show. Well, I think God has done an Extreme Makeover on (or in) Jess’s heart-He got to all of the yuk-cleaned it out and began to build it again with things of Him. The time in the woods-away from the world, away from us-allowed that to happen. She’s not perfect never will be and I don’t expect her to be. She will stumble but she is striving to honor God in all that she does, in her thoughts, speech, actions and attitudes. She is now humble enough to admit when she’s wrong and ask for forgiveness to extend mercy and grace to others as Christ has offered it to her.
We communicate- not always agreeing, but communicating in love. She accepts instruction and correction with a very respectful and submissive heart attitude. God not only worked on Jess’s heart, but the time away from Jess allowed Him to work on mine and Stuarts-Well on a lot of people in our family. There was much healing that took place. God showed me I had some pride issues I needed to get rid of. He really revealed to me areas of my life I needed to work on-how and what I communicate, extending the same love that God extends to me to others-Even when it’s really hard! Being a better listener-The list could go on and on.
I feel like I’m rambling anyway. We are all much more spiritually and emotionally healthy. Jessica has come home off of all the medication she was on-(Rebecca ripped that in the bud real quick) Sometimes it’s hard to grasp how much she has changed! She knows how much each of you truly love her-it was very difficult for her to leave you! She loves you all very much. She knows that God will use her past and her experience in some way for His Glory and she is willing to be used by Him. Know how grateful to God I am for bringing SHF to our lives.
Much love, Tami
From Residents:
My parents gave me a second chance to live when I came here! I may not have known it when I got there; but, that’s because I was spiritually dead. Then, as the days turned to weeks and months, I started to come alive again! Now, you may not believe in God and His Son; but, even if you don’t, you will still grow to become a man or woman from being a child. This place changed my life, from my relationships with my parents, to myself. If I could go back in time and change anything, I wouldn’t. Give this place a chance. I did, when the world didn’t!
Student
SHF has been a year in which I have been equipped with tools in which I can live my life for the Lord. At SHF I have found where my identity lies–and that is in Christ. without the guidance of SHF, I would be in a lot of trouble and I can honestly say that Shepherd’s Hill Farm has changed my life for the better.
Student
Growing up, I was a problem child, always getting in trouble with, not only my parents, but a couple of times with the law. I lived for the parties, the drugs, the alcohol, and the sex. But, since coming to SHF, I have found God and a new way of life. Like they say, “Seek the truth and it will set you free.
Student
The reason I came to Shepherd’s Hill Farm was because I got into drugs and was very disrepectful to my mom. When I came, I absolutely hated it, and I wanted to go home to my friends. Now, I am extremely thankful for my mom sending me here; because, if she didn’t, I would probably be dead. I came to know Christ at SHF. Since then, life has been filled with joy and happiness.
Student
I was always doing drugs, having sex, and drinking alcohol. When I first came to SHF I did not agree with what they were telling me. But, now my eyes are open. I see what they are saying to me–that God is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He will set you free!
Student
From Staff:
Ministry at SHF
Serving at SHF continues to be “a time and season” of God’s plan and purposes for my life. Being able to serve the students, staff, and leadership brings a joy and fulfillment to my life that I’ve never known before. Not only am I given the opportunity to serve, teach and share Christ with those around me, God continues to transform my life as well with the people He has connected me with.
Walt Reed
Servant
Expect a Miracle
One of the coolest perks, working at SHF, is having front row seats to a miracle.
Our children so caught up in the pace, pain, and pressure of their lives give their hearts to anything promising to relive their distress. Praise God, for supplying us with an abundance of love, patience, and discipline to extend to them as they struggle, hide, lie, and whine, before they realize it is impossible to win under their own strength.
And then it happens, they renounce their pride and confess their sins – they hit the bottom and admit their own brokenness. This brokenness rarely comes without shame, embarrassment, great heaving, and a flood of tears.
Most wonderfully, I’ve never seen this happen without God showing up in the form of miraculous and loving power. Forgiveness occurs, and the heart transformation is visible, bringing with it a peace and joy that can only come from God’s healing touch. I would admit to this being one of life’s greatest lessons- that God loves to meet and embrace us in that awful/ wonderful place of brokenness.
Mary Anne Brookshire
SHF Therapeutic Counselor
For me, Shepherd’s Hill Farm has been a leadership training ground. I was seeking employment at the farm to learn all I could about being a youth minister/counselor. From the first day I began learning more about my personal life more than anything else. I began to understand that the farm was not a job, but a ministry. A ministry in which my world view, my walk with Christ, and the way I interacted with people would be challenged in ways that I have never experienced.
God began putting me in the position of leadership–something I never realized I was capable of. Today I can easily see the areas in my life in which SHF has challenged me to become the leader God intended me to be, both in my ministry at the farm and as a husband.
Josh Wallace
Counselor
Working at Shepherd’s Hill Farm has been a blessing in many ways. Seeing the young men and women who come to SHF go through the healing process is amazing. They arrive broken, angry, and lost; but, while here, a visible transformation occurs. Their faces go from hard and hopeless to joyous and free. We get to see a physical manifestation of their inner healing. Witnessing once broken families having fun throwing frisbees and grooming horses gives me the peace of knowing that the Lord is truly working through SHF and changing lives. I am truly honored to be used by the Lord to help reach into the lives of others.
Jeremy Brown
Therapeutic Counselor
Teaching at Shepherd’s Hill Farm has really changed my view of education. What I am realizing is how vital loving discipline is for the wayward soul. Since we focus so much on behavior issues, this often takes the forefront as students enter the program. Students are immediately confronted with a set of rules that may at first seem arbitrary to the real issues that got them here. The classroom rules when boiled down are actually quite simple: don’t talk or leave your seat without permission, and respect your teachers and peers. The real catch to these rules or any other lies in enforcement and consistency. Often this requires us to be all the more obstinate in our determination to do good for them than they are in defiance to the good.
Discipline is truly a key. It aligns the soul towards growth and weeds out the many dividing factors that fight against such growth. From this point we can begin to plant seeds. Education is a great mode for invoking questions and imparting truth. Therapeutic counsel and the development of healthy mentor relationships, though, is our greatest thrust at this point. So essentially, I guess what I am saying is that discipline is not the old ogre that modern society has made it out to be, but rather a great instrument for love and healing. I am grateful for this life lesson the Lord has taught me through ministering at SHF.
Amy Laird
Teacher