Will Klotz is fast approaching his first anniversary in August as president of Miracle Farm Boys Ranch in Brenham.
Klotz says the past year has reaffirmed the ministry’s calling to do more than provide troubled teenage boys with a place to live.
Miracle Farm is a boys ranch for at-risk teenage boys, “rooted in Christian faith and western heritage,” offering academic, vocational, and ranch-style instruction to offer young men structure and safety.
Klotz’s decision to lead the ministry was deeply personal, rooted in his own experience as a troubled teenager. He entered a residential program at age 16 after becoming “addicted to some heavy drugs” and “causing pain and destruction in every area of my life.”
There, “I met the Lord. I was discipled, and it changed the entire trajectory of my life.”
Reflecting on the opportunity, he realized God might be calling him “to offer the same type of impact” to the young men at Miracle Farm.
The experience became “kind of a full-circle moment,” as he went from being “on the receiving end” more than 20 years ago to serving in a leadership role now.
Klotz recalled praying, “Man, Lord, if you would have it, I would love to join your work here at Miracle Farm.”
Identity crisis
One of the greatest challenges facing boys today is an identity crisis, Klotz said.
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
Many young men struggle to understand their purpose and channel their strength and ambition in healthy ways, often turning to destructive behaviors instead, he said.
Many of the boys who arrive at Miracle Farm are carrying the effects of childhood trauma, leaving families struggling to manage behavioral issues.
Miracle Farm staff focus on building character by teaching honesty, self-control, and healthy conflict resolution, while recognizing healing often requires months or even years of patience.
Some boys, he said, may appear older physically but lag emotionally because of past trauma.
The absence of a father, he added, can deepen that struggle by removing a consistent voice of affirmation, leaving boys searching for identity, value, and direction.
Miracle Farm seeks to address that need through biblical discipleship, structure, and mentorship.
Beautiful moments
“It’s a beautiful, very peaceful property. You really step into a place of just peace and, dare I say, serenity, and there’s a real draw to the place God has set aside for Miracle Farm,” Klotz said.
“But then the thing that maybe draws you in, the thing that causes you to want to pour all your heart, soul, and mind into this thing is when you begin to build relationships with the young men who are here.”
Klotz has seen boys who were socially and emotionally closed off, who had no fathers, later build relationships with him and others. He saw a boy whose athletic skills were minimal be cheered on by other men and boys.
“It’s those little moments of building relationships with these guys and being able to fill that void a little bit, of just there being no father figure there, and how important that is in their life, and being able to pour into it,” Klotz said.
Strengthening the mission
“Our mission is to join Christ. That’s probably the most important part, joining Christ’s work to forge broken and hurting boys into men of character and purpose,” Klotz said.
“Just this movement from boyhood to manhood—societally, we do a very poor job of moving boys into men. … We want to be much more than a home for boys to come live and hopefully stay out of trouble. We want to watch God transform their lives from where they’re at to who he’s calling them to be.”
To better serve boys after they have aged out of the Miracle Farm program, Klotz and his team strive to assist the young men just starting into adulthood, assisting with housing and hands-on discipleship through two new resident initiatives.
David House
David House, named in honor of the son of donors, is a new residence that will accommodate six boys and help Miracle Farm reach its highest occupancy to date, serving approximately 28 to 30 boys on campus.
David also carries biblical significance, Klotz explained. “It means favored one.”
He explained the biblical story of David reflects Miracle Farm’s vision for the boys it serves.
“Of course, in the Bible, when David gets started, he’s not the favored one. He’s the forgotten one,” Klotz said.
The organization’s hope is to see young men experience a similar transformation, he added.
“What we’re dreaming that God would do through David’s house is move young men who feel forgotten, or quite literally have been forgotten, from forgotten to favored as a result of being in that house.”
Cornerstone Residency
While increasing capacity is an important objective, Klotz emphasized the mission extends beyond filling beds.
Another major initiative is the launch of the Cornerstone Residency, a new transitional program for young men who age out of Miracle Farm. The age range for Miracle Farm is 13 through 17.
Klotz recognized a gap in services for residents after they turned 18, noting many lacked practical life skills needed for independent living.
The residency is designed for graduates pursuing either a college degree or vocational training while receiving intensive discipleship focused on topics including biblical finance, relationships, servant leadership, and church involvement.
The program is built around the belief that ages 18 through 21 are “the cornerstone years” of a young person’s life, because the habits formed during that period can shape long-term success.
The Cornerstone Residency launched this year and currently serves four participants, providing continued support as they transition into adulthood.
Open invitation to churches and supporters
Churches and supporters can support Miracle Farm by praying, Klotz said.
“We need and covet their prayers,” he said, explaining some of the boys face wounds “the best program for young men on Earth cannot help them with.”
Lasting change comes only through “a miraculous work of God redeeming and renewing and restoring what’s broken inside of them,” Klotz said.
Klotz also invited churches and individuals to visit the ranch and learn about its ministry firsthand.
“Come and visit us. That’s an open invite,” he said, encouraging supporters to advocate for Miracle Farm in their churches and communities so more people can learn about the work being done to serve young men.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.