It's been a while since I posted anything here. I've been busy writing, playing, and freaking out over getting my house cleaned up before next weekend. (more about that later).

I thought I'd let you all read an article that I wrote for the August issue of Quad City Family Focus Magazine. When you're done stop on by the Miracles Can Happen website.






Miracles Can Happen Boys Ranch
By Robin Paulsen
For QC Family Focus

How would you label a 13-year-old boy who was always in trouble, running the streets, had no respect for his parents or authority of any kind, and was generally headed down a destructive path in life with very little hope of a productive future?

What then, would you call this same boy a dozen years later, who now is a responsible husband and father, a full-time employee and home-owner, and an active member of a local church?

Some might call this an amazing and rare success story.

John Fogle, of Davenport, Iowa is the young man in this story, and he calls it a miracle. One that he may have never experienced if it weren’t for Jim and Cathy Fry, the founders of Miracles Can Happen Boys Ranch.

Miracles Can Happen Boys Ranch is a home-setting correctional facility for boys 14 to 18 years of age. The boys who are enrolled in the program come from a variety of backgrounds and home situations. Generally, the parents of these boys are stressed and looking for an option for their boys needing direction. The boys in the program live with house parents and stay at the ranch for approximately 2 ½ years where they are treated as members of the Miracles Can Happen family. The MCH program focuses on developing respect for each family member, setting specific routines for rising in the morning, retiring at night, as well as set times for meals, work and recreation. Special educational and vocational training opportunities are tailored to fit the needs of each individual. As a member of the MCH family, each person is expected to contribute to both outside and inside chores. “We believe that this instills a sense of responsibility, self-worth and self- discipline,” states founder, Jim Fry.

In all of their efforts with the boys, the Fry’s incorporate Christian teaching and values behind everything they do, claiming this to be the key to the success of the program. Because this is a Christian based program, the Ranch does not receive funds from the government and is completely supported by churches, organizations as well as individual donors.

Jim and Cathy first opened the MCH Ranch in the early 90’s and have seen much growth since they first began. Located on 50 acres north of Wilton, Iowa, this house family and the boys currently operate and live in what they call the CITRA Cabin, standing for Christ Is Turning Rebels Around. Recent additions to the Ranch include the RC Barn (Responsibility Center), where responsibilities with animals are taught, and the SURGE Cabin, (Setting Up Righteous Guidelines Eternally) which is a place for boys who have graduated from the CITRA cabin to move into. This optional phase of the program serves to help the young men to hold themselves accountable while they look for a job and deal with the realities of life beyond the Ranch.
A dairy barn has recently been completed and cows are being purchased as funds become available. The income from milking cows will be used to help pay for ranch expenses. The next phase for Miracles Can Happen Boys Ranch is to build an administrative cabin, which will house a new office and administrators. Also in the plans are to add another cabin large enough to for another staff couple, their family, and 4 more boys.

Seeing the lives of the boys change is just one of the Miracles the Fry’s have been witness to over the years. The other significant and ongoing miracle has been keeping the doors open every month. Up to this point, the donations coming in have been just enough. But the Fry’s can’t argue that making those ends meet and making adjustments to fit the budget has indeed been a juggling act.

Says Iowa State Representative Jeff Kaufmann of the Fry’s and the MCH program: “Jim and Cathy have shown me that no matter where we live or what our vocation, the key to helping people, especially young people, depends on dedication and a passion to make a difference. They are a real model for missions.”

Call it what you will, but Miracles Can Happen Boys Ranch is truly a place where miracles do happen and lives are changed.

On August 12th you are invited to bring your family and come to see what it’s all about.