HELP The Little Children

Serve Opportunities

• Please see the Helper Helper app to see what needs are available at Big Oak Ranch.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

God called me to ministry at the Big Oak Ranch specifically because I’m not good enough. I’m not a good enough or engaging enough, or knowledgeable enough speaker to be a stand in the pulpit preacher. I’m not eloquent. I’m not a particularly good son, employee, husband, or dad. I’m not outstanding. God knew this when He called me. He also made sure that I was painfully aware that Mark 16:15, Luke 14:23, and Matthew 28:19-20 applied to me even though I wasn’t called to preach. He guided me to understand that the only recourse I had to share the Gospel was to live it out, but it takes time to share a message (any message) by example...so God put me here at Big Oak, in a family full of kids that needed to “hear” by seeing. Kids don’t value words much but these children, especially. So I initially thought I’d be a good fit, as I could have lots of time with them, in front of them, to walk out my faith. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that I’m just as bad at walking out a “perfect” Christ-like life as I am at sharing the Gospel message verbally. I am constantly reminded of Romans 8:28, specifically about how it applies daily to me...my past and my present in relation to my kids. Although I don’t share a similar background with any of them, in my past I made poor choices growing up that allow me to understand where some of my kids are coming from, where they are and where they could be headed...so we have a semblance of common ground and perhaps where they could learn from my mistakes. When I err in the present, they can (gleefully) hear me admit (confess) my mistakes, acknowledging those that I have wronged and then hear/see me apologize (repent) both verbally and through working hard not to do the same wrong thing again. For them to see a dad who professes his faith in God, who admits his sins, confesses them, and repents of them regardless of the consequences; a dad who leans into the mercy and grace of that almighty God, and then extends the same mercy and grace to them (James 2:12- 13) is the most powerful witness I have. In short Ezra 7:10 is my why...I’m blessed to have a place like the Big Oak Ranch where I can attempt to fulfill my calling by ‘studying and being obedient to scripture, so I can teach it by living it out’ and I believe that’s applicable to all of us.

Mike Miller
House parent for the Big Oak Girls Ranch