Revelation Ranch: A Monument to Faith
The journey to Revelation Ranch/Revelation Retreats ministry for Doug/Kristi really began in August of 2002, our 10th year of marriage, when we left Indiana and relocated to Highlands Ranch, Colorado with a 3- year old and 5- year in tow. Our disillusionment of “corporate America” led us to a new adventure where we would attempt to run a pediatric home health care business in what we considered a less bottom-line driven and a more patient-focused way. We learned early on through a roller coaster ride of ups and downs to pay close attention to what God was doing in and through this business and that we must have open hands when it comes to everything we are given. We have been blessed to meet people along the way that have helped and encouraged us with similar views on stewardship and our desire is to be a blessing to others through the sharing of our experiences.
One of our initial stewardship goals with the business was to be debt free, so we worked to pay off our business loan and personal debt as the business grew and over time we were soon in the position to consider estate planning, kingdom-giving and succession planning. We began implementing some estate planning concepts and in addition to our personal donations, we also started donating a percentage of our business gross income to the kingdom. In 2011, we sold a majority share of the business to a private equity company while staying on to run it, enabling us to form a Charitable Trust with a large portion of the proceeds. In October of 2013 Revelation Ranch was purchased through the charitable trust, and the 501c3 of Revelation Retreats was created to manage the retreats at the property.
Revelation Ranch began as an idea several years before (2006) as more of a personal/selfish desire on Doug’s part to have a property in the mountains for himself and his family, while trying to justify it by promising God that he would give it to ministries to use as well. The idea was set aside until 2013, when God moved in Doug’s heart to consider a retreat center with a ministry friend, Blake Frye. Doug asked God to provide a property so amazing and for such a good price that we would know it was from Him. Doug found a property online and went to look at it and one other property on the same day. But the first property was clearly the property that God was giving us. We went under contract on the property and Doug went to a silent retreat to seek God’s confirmation about the property. Within the first 15 minutes of the retreat God told Doug that if he was buying the property for himself, then the answer was no. However, if he was ok with never getting to use the property for his personal use, then the answer was yes.
Therefore, Revelation Ranch was purchased and given/dedicated to God for His purposes from the beginning and is living proof that His plans are better than our own. Revelation Retreats ministry hosts marriage retreats, silent retreats, and other independent ministry retreats. The ranch is a place to hear God’s voice, to receive ministry and healing, and has been a place for people to be a part of something bigger than themselves. We are grateful that there have been many precious people that have volunteered their time, talent and resources to make the property even better and we want to make sure we continue to build upon that sense of community.
We feel that what makes Revelation Ranch special is it’s remoteness while only being an hour from the west side of Denver (and 1:45 from Denver International Airport). Because of its remoteness, attendees consistently find that they step on the property and are able to slow down and disconnect from the outside world. This allows their spirit to quiet and they actually start hearing what God has been trying to tell them all along. This is what makes the ranch so special. Whether it is the luxurious, welcoming and comfortable interior with incredible views of God’s creation out every window, or the opportunity to hike, walk, or sit and reflect on God in nature. There is a place for everyone to reconnect with God. It is our desire that everyone who comes to the ranch hears from God and is able to understand that abiding and connecting to the vine is a real and tangible thing that they can seek to continue as they head back to their homes and busy lives.