Transformations at the Ranch: A First Responder's Journey

By, Gabe DeLaRosa

On September 19-24 we had the pleasure to have a Mighty Oaks Legacy program for a group of 1st responders. All these heroes showed up to the Blaylock Ranch on the afternoon of the 19th unsure of what the week had in store for them.

Like most guys in the past that showed up, these men were no different. Anxiety, stress, and nervousness was so apparent, you could see it on their faces and in their body language. When they believed whatever was weighing heavy on their hearts, they soon found out after the Ice Breaker that they were not alone. The same things that were in their chests were in the chests of all the men that were present in that room.

As they sat through class after class, they soon started collecting the tools that would make them successful in dealing with whatever was weighing heavy on their hearts when they would return home.

They learned through the fellowship that they shared that week that it was important to be transparent, perhaps for the first time in their lives. Once they started to understand that they needed to have a relationship with their Lord and savior, the walls they had built up started to fall apart and the hearts that had been hardened over time, God began to soften them to a heart of flesh.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – ESV 10-9:5 Matthew