What does a school president with more than thirty years’ experience in education do when he sees a disturbing trend in teenage boys that revolves around a lack of work-ethic, overall resistance to hard work and a general inability to persevere in the midst of challenge? 

If that school president is Dr. Ed Smith, he steps out in faith with his wife and launches a non-profit. And they envision boys spending time together in rustic cabins where they will be taught, mentored and encouraged to live productive lives as they mature to become responsible husbands, fathers and citizens.

As a school president, Dr. Smith sees boys from “good families” who simply do not respond to what he refers to as Traditional Correction. These boys are moving deeper into foolish behaviors and are becoming more mischievous, dishonest, and disrespectful with seemingly little hope for change. Most of their families are very involved at church. Many of the parents are successful entrepreneurs, executives, physicians or ministry leaders. There would seem to be every reason for their sons to excel at school and in their personal lives. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

One such couple, faced with the need to remove their son from Christian school, felt such a strong desire to try to “save” other boys before they reached the point of military school or long term residential intervention, they became the Founding Donors of Impact Ranch. Their generous “heart gift” was the catalyst that brought the Ranch to life.

Subsequently, in December, 2010 three families signed a note to acquire 120 acres of rugged lakefront property just outside of Bowie, Texas. Then they prayed and planned. Fortunately, the landscape has improved dramatically the past two years. One of the two original rustic cabins has undergone an interior “extreme makeover,” significant improvements have been made to the main access road and increased electrical power has made it possible for future growth.

In 2015, a couple who caught the vision for a safe place where teen lives could be transformed generously funded construction of Big Red, the Ranch’s 6,000 square foot gathering place for retreats, conferences, and camps. And God continues to bring people with a heart for teen boys to Impact Ranch to fund additional improvements and needs. View our Wish List of specific needs here.

In the early days, as Dr. Smith prayed on the front porch of a cabin on the property, the Lord led him to create Impact Ranch’s first program for boys called The Journey. To date, seventy-five high school freshman have been taught and encouraged through the program. Learn more about The Journey here.

“Our true mission is about the hearts of the boys who walk, work and encounter Christ
on this land. We may not be able to change a million young men across the United States, 
but we can impact the few God sends to us.”

Ed Smith, Founder of Impact Ranch