Brenna Gomez

Jesus has been long term planning for me to join the CPYR team, without my knowing. I first learned about Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch from my mother-in-law, Deirdre Gomez. She gifted me one of Kim Meeder’s books, Encountering Our Wild God, and I was captivated.

I attended a women’s conference to hear Kim speak, read all of her other books and listened to each one of her podcasts I could find. God had planted a seed and was tenderly watering it, creating the perfect timing for me to join the ranch.

Fast forward a few years and I was finishing up my doctorate amidst the pandemic. My husband, Trevor, and I were finally going to be able to settle down and “begin life” after years of school. We carefully laid out our ten year plan…but God sure had other ideas! The Lord called me to walk away from what I thought was my dream career and asked us to move to Bend. With no career lined up, I began volunteering at Crystal Peaks on the equine side. I was approached to prayerfully consider applying for a ranch position. God once again flung open the doors and here I am, literally walking out His true purpose for me.

What I love most about my job at the ranch is that for the first time in my life, I have true joy with my “job”. I love the peace and purpose here at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch and experience it every day as I walk up the driveway. I cherish the people that come to work, visit, volunteer and partake in all the ranch activities. Each and everyone’s story is amazing and seeing Jesus work first hand in people’s hearts is incredible.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9

Who is your favorite horse on the ranch and why?

Freedom; I have grown up with paint horses so I love that she is the only paint in the herd. Even from the top of the ranch I can spot her unique and flashy coat pattern out in the lower fields. I also love what her name and story stands for: Freedom from all the brokenness in the past, only through God’s love and salvation.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love being active and Central Oregon is the perfect place for it. I enjoy to reading, backpacking and/or hiking and training for triathlons. Because Central Oregon is high desert there is not nearly the amount of rain like there is in the Willamette valley. Pretty much any time of the year there is an activity you can be doing outside!

An interesting fact about you?

My heritage is not actually Hispanic (I married into that- my husband’s grandfather is from Trinidad).  I am actually German, Scottish and English/Irish!