October 2025

The Ruth Project

Ruth Retreat Welcomes 50 Women

Fifty women gathered at The Farm last month for our first Ruth Retreat! The weekend offered a balance of encouragement, friendship, and fun – and digging into the Book of Ruth in the Bible. We also had relaxed times of shopping, pampering, crafting, solitude, and rest. Everyone loved it, especially “meeting so many wonderful women, having meaningful conversations over delicious meals, and reading and understanding the book of Ruth in a new way,” as one guest shared. This is the first of many Ruth Project retreats that will encourage women to get into God’s Word and grow their relationship with Him!

Clausen Landscaping does it again! Steve Clausen and his team continue to transform The Farm with meticulous garden beds of trees, bushes, and flowers. They outdid themselves on our Finish the Farm effort with new foliage along the Storage Barn and a spectacular retaining wall and garden to frame the new Hangout Barn entrance. The view will take your breath away as you drive into The Farm. Thank you yet again, Steve and team!

Our Animal Barn remodel has been another top-priority Finish the Farm project. Thanks to several highly-skilled and generous men’s groups, the final details have been completed! They power washed and painted the animal stalls, installed the interior barn doors and two tack room doors, and built benches to store the animal feed. Their list goes on and on, but these big jobs truly finished this beloved barn. Thank you is not enough!

Naomi’s Circle continues to widen! These extraordinary women gather quarterly to provide counsel, wisdom, and financial support for behind-the-scenes projects. Last month brought our largest group yet as we gathered in the newly-renovated Hangout Barn and used the beautiful folding chairs Naomi’s Circle provided last quarter. Our next project is to paint the Silo with the Ruth Project logo visible to guests arriving from any direction. What a beacon of hope for our kids to see as they approach “their” Farm! Join this sweet group here>Naomi’s Circle.

DeKalb Christ Community Church rallied 88 volunteers on a Saturday morning to paint the newly-installed perimeter fence at The Farm. It was amazing to see how quickly they applied 15 gallons of white paint to beautify the fence. Pastor Paul manned the paint table to make sure everyone got what they needed to keep progress and smiles going. Our gratitude is over the moon for this incredible group who tackled this gargantuan job!

The first Activity Path Spot is complete – and it defies description! The delightful Art Spot is installed and ready for kids of all ages, thanks to Outdoor Adventure Group Trail Life and the leadership of member Ethan Cartwright. The themed shed, paint, landscaping, and adorable decor was donated by this group and their supporters – and showcases our vision for many more Spots. Come use your creativity in this inspiring space!