“Tell them who you are!” This is the immediate request from
child advocate John Croyle to any one of the Big Oak kids when they
are introduced to someone. It’s a declaration that who they are
carries value. Value that is not defined by the circumstances that
led them to be in at the Big Oak Ranch. Value that is also not
defined by what you believe God can or can’t do through
you.
This is a lesson that John Croyle, his family, and the team of Big
Oak Ranch have learned well. Faced with one of the most important
decisions of his life — whether to play professional football or to
start a children’s home — John followed the Lord’s leadership. In
the decades since that decision, they’ve seen his dream of helping
hurting kids grow into a ministry that has shaped the lives of more
than 2,000 children.
Surely we, too, would be changed to experience a ministry with this
kind of legacy. This isn't a dream and a hope or the seed of a
ministry. This is well scarred, deep rooted ministry that grows
strong, oak tree kind of faith. It's faith-building for the kids
reached through the ministry and now for those of us who can hear
the story of it.
Who You Are tells this story of the life shaping, Kingdom
transforming ministry that God used one man to begin. Yet, the
bigger story is in who you are and what God can do to use you in
the lives of others. Come along for one incredible and improbable
story of how God has worked and in doing so, truly discover how He
can work through you.