How it all started
Back in the 1970’s, founding director Trish Lenihan, was called to start a Bible based ministry in a western ranch environment at her home place just north of Bismarck.
God blessed Trish’s vision and during the 1980’s, Circle C Ranch was founded and became a successful Christ centered, interdenominational horse and rodeo orientated youth camp. It featured Bible Rodeo clinics, youth camps, Bible horsemanship camps, trail rides, wagon trains and more. Guest speakers and clinicians at the Bible Rodeo Clinics included world renown champion cowboys and cowgirls such as Lyle Sankey, Paul Tierney, Joyce Loomis-Kernek and Lynn McKenzie, who would train young would-be rodeo hopefuls the skills of calf roping, bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding. But a part of the week included these rodeo stars sharing their faith in Jesus Christ. And many people of all ages came into a relationship with the Lord through those camps and clinics!
During the mid 1980’s it seemed like God’s amazing work at Circle C Ranch was only going to continue to build, but by the late 1980’s the death of a vision occurred. In the history of ministries, there is almost always the “birth of a vision” and the “death of a vision” followed by a “rebirth of a vision” in a miraculous way. Just like Joseph in the Bible, it is hard to understand why God allows the things he does, and that is what occurred at the ministry.
The ministry became dormant for many years and then God gave Trish a vision of resurrection over the “cemetery” that had become Circle C Ranch. God began a new work at the ranch and now the Ranch is seeing a rebirth as God’s ministry in a miraculous way!
There are so many incredible God stories and you are welcome to click on the links below to read more about what has happened in the past and also what is happening right now!
