About Us

Discipleship 19:11 is a Biblically-based

Christian Leadership Work-based Program.

(Females Only: Ages 13-18)

**ALL participants MUST have basic horse experience/safety training AND have participated in at least 1 week of Shekinah's Overnight program BEFORE registering for Discipleship.

Discipleship Campers are required to register for the Bootcamp training on Saturday, June 8th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Discipleship will spend time in the barn, arena, petting zoo, day camp, kitchen, recreation areas (assisting with our zipline, climbing wall and other games), and in housekeeping (humbling oneself to keep Shekinah clean and comfortable for all of us).
Several evenings will be spent taking a riding lesson on a ranch horse in which you will practice, under supervision, more advanced riding skills. These may include learning better control and balance, negotiating a barrel pattern, jumping, and practicing your bareback riding abilities.
Discipleship will be led each day in morning devotions, participate in a Bible study and worship times, and also be required to complete several assignments based on Biblical principles.

Teen Discipleship participants are biblically trained and stretched in their thoughts, views, beliefs and actions; not only in the classroom, but through daily onsite community living and horsemanship training.The discipleship program is a residential training, combined with classroom and outdoor camp ministry experiences.

COURSES/TRAINING OFFERED FOR DISCIPLESHIP PARTICIPANTS

The Nature and Character of God
Developing a Prayer life & Faith story
Discovering and understanding your Temperament
Developing a Christian Worldview
Horsemanship 101
Basic Horse Care
Arena Training

The Nature and Character of God

Knowing sides of God will help students to increase their faith as they encounter different situations in their lives.

Developing a Prayer Life and Faith Story

This course addresses necessary aspects of developing a personal prayer life. It further helps the student form effective corporate church-based prayer strategies.

Discovering and Understanding Your Temperament

The temperament of students is like an artist’s canvas. It is their God given style. It is the way they are wired. Generally speaking, two of the basic temperament types are outgoing or extroverted and three are more inward directed or introverted.

Developing a Christian World View

In this course students will discover how every young person tries to make sense out of life. "Where did everything come from? Who am I? Why are we here? What’s right and wrong, and who decides? What happens when we die?" The Bible provides answers to all of life’s most important questions.

Horsemanship 101

In this course the student will learn how to prepare and clean stables, maintain the health and well-being of horses, prepare horses for use, load and unload horses under supervision, ensure their actions reduce risks to health and safety and maintain effective working relationships

Basic Care and Health of the Horse

Equine Health and First Aid provides a basic understanding of horse health issues so that the student will understand and recognize common injuries and illnesses. Students will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make critical decisions and aid their horse to recovery.

Matt gave his life to Jesus at camp in his home state of North Carolina at the age of 15, so camp ministry has always been close to his heart. Matt first served at Shekinah Ranch in summer 2014 while he was pursuing his future wife, Kalyn (Pastor Tom's daughter!)

After Matt & Kalyn married in 2016, the two served with Shekinah Ranch as the program and staff directors. At the end of the 2016 season, Matt & Kalyn spent the following 5 months living & serving God in Indonesia. Upon their return, they both continued to serve with Shekinah until, once again, God called them back overseas in 2019 to share the love & truth of Jesus; this time for 11 months in 11 different countries!
Having returned to the states in 2020, this dynamic duo jumped right back into the swing of things; serving once again as Shekinah's Program and Staff Directors. In most recent years, Matt and Kalyn became parents to Ember Rose in August 2021 and Lily Lynn in September 2022! They truly believe it is one of Gods greatest gifts to be parents.
Matt is a "Disc Golfer" (it's ok if you don’t know what that is, but when your child comes to camp they will surely learn!). To sum him up simply: Matt is pretty much a lover of every sport out there, with a passion for youth and worship. Outside of camp, Matt also has the incredible opportunity to serve as the full-time youth Pastor at Journey By Grace Church in Belle Vernon, PA.

A Word From the Ledford’s:
“Camp runs in our blood. There is no place we have found better than camp to experience an adventure with Jesus. Being surrounded day and night with incredible fun & faithful fellowship is a rarity, and it breaks down walls like nothing else can do. Once the walls are down the freedom of a relationship with God can be fully lived out. Environment is the key, and nothing is better for a God-centered environment than a camp. We cannot wait to be a part of your child’s journey with Jesus through the power and joy of camp!”

Sharon is new on the Ranch Staff this year and is looking forward to meeting everyone! She is a devoted Jesus follower, wife and mom of 6 daughters, ranging from 19 -4 years old. She stays active in Gods church and service, in many local locations. (Luke 10: 2 )

Her home church is Crossroads Ministries, but she is a member of various small prayer groups and studies in the surrounding areas. She has 3 kids attending Cornerstone Preparatory Academy, where Sharon was also blessed to be on staff this year. She describes the school as going to Heaven every day. She absolutely loves being there!! She has one H.S. grad who just finished her first year of college with straight A's and is headed to her second missions trip this June. She has one more year of homeschooling with her 17 year old, who requires some special care, and is PUMPED to see what God plans are for her life! In addition, she works alongside her 14 year old daughter (who opts to cyber school with Agora) and is mentoring her as she jumps over hurdles in the building up of her faith as God builds her trust in Him. She is one proud mama and so very thankful to the Lord who has trusted her with such gifts as these children are. She’s also very thankful to have a husband who is so supportive in giving her the freedom to cultivate Gods order and good soil at home. (John 14:26) Our good Father and Creator has been calling Sharon out since she went in hard after Jesus in 2005, responding quickly after “her lights came on.”

Sharon awaits each new day as another chance at opportunity to help others and serve wherever she’s placed, Gods way. She talks about Him taking her higher than any other thing possibly could and once she thinks she can’t get any deeper or any higher, it’s time for another layer. You hear her refer to herself and other Christian’s as “Jesus with skin on” often and saying, “C’mon church!!”, when she knows Holy Spirit is calling for a stirring and is calling out names. She aims to get the attention of the humans being called out so they can hear and prayerfully respond! She knows how good God is because she “has tasted and seen.” (Psalm 34:8)

"All three of my children have been day and overnight campers at Shekinah Ranch since 2005. We have watched as they’ve grown and expanded their program from its beginning; and we have LOVED every moment of it. Every year my children beg to go back, therefore, we usually attend multiple camps each season! I can’t say enough wonderful things about Tom Ravasio, Shekinah Ranch, and their program. I accredit this program to my daughters current love of horses, equestrian skills and her strong faith in Jesus Christ. She was one of the original campers to Shekinah, starting out at five years old in the lil' buckaroo day camp during their second season. She has grown into a wonderful well rounded young lady and some of her fondest childhood memories were made here at Shekinah. Now, her little brothers (6 & 8 years old) attend camp every year and she is always excited to share her stories and memories with them & to hear about their experiences as well!"

" It’s Shekinah! Only like the best summer camp ever! There’s so many things to do, you were never bored at camp, and that was like 5 years ago I’m sure there are more activities now than what there were before. I remember the cleanest room competition in the morning to riding horses (obviously) to the arts and crafts down to the rock wall and the hikes and paintball...Whenever I see pictures of me being at camp with my friends I see nothing but smiles! And I’m pretty sure I will always remember what was on the back of all of the shirts that I still have today... “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.” So if your debating sending your kids here. Please send them, they will have the time of their life, I know I did."