Chaplain Rick Jones is one of God’s great gifts to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. Chaplain Rick came here as a vicar while in seminary and then was called to the Ranch right after completing his studies. Being a Chaplain in a Youth Residential Treatment Facility is a very special calling. It means ministering to children who may not have heard of Christ. It also means ministering to staff who, like him, are called to work with some of the world’s most vulnerable. It means teaching other called church workers about trauma-sensitive mercy care. He is really good at his, and His, work.
One of the ways many of us at the Ranch start our day is by reading Chaplain Rick’s daily devotional email. I have previously shared his writing in these emails. The daily devotion acknowledges the challenges of the work at the Ranch and encourages us in faith. The devotions usually start with some passages from the Bible, then Chaplain Rick’s message about those passages’ application to the Ranch’s mission.
This one, although written for our staff, was one I wanted to share with you. Your prayers and support are one reason we can wrap each precious child in the care they need… we can touch the bier in the name of Christ. Through Him and you, we persevere. Thank you. Enjoy.
Luke 7:11-17
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
This account of Jesus raising the widow of Nain’s son from the dead is much more significant than it appears. Obviously, the ability to raise someone from the dead is nothing to thumb your nose at. It is an incredible miracle in its own right, but it is staggering what the event reveals about Jesus besides his divine power of life and death.
Jesus is just walking along, and suddenly a funeral procession comes across his path. Instead of moving away from the pain and grief of those mourning the lost life of this young man (and the bleak future for his mother as he would have been her main means of survival), Jesus draws near to these hurting people. Then, instead of distancing himself from the dead body (something the Jews considered to be extremely “unclean”), Jesus walks right up to the funeral bier and touches it as an invitation for the procession to stop. He is not afraid of these people’s suffering, and he does not evade their uncleanliness. He comes near to them in this time of need, and then he reverses the reason for their suffering. He raises the boy to new life.
This passage shows us that God is near to those who are suffering. The miracle shows us that God is not put off by our pain. He does not shy away from our brokenness. He does not abandon us in the tragedies of this life. Instead, he is right there with us in the midst of our pain, our fear, our uncleanliness, and our suffering.
This is a direct motivation for why we do what we do at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. We offer our care “in the name of Christ.” This passage shows us what that means. We draw near to the at-risk children and families who need our help. We give them help in the midst of their suffering. We provide care in the presence of their pain. We offer compassion in the moments of raging emotions and psychological distress. Just as Jesus offers a new life of redemption and salvation, we strive to offer a life of stability and success. “God has come to help his people,” and now we do the same.
God bless you. Please keep praying for our children and staff.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
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