Greg Hawley

Friendship with Troy and Kim Meeder extends to a time prior to the ranch’s existence, which means we’ve known each other for a long, long time!  I can still remember my first introduction to each of them separately: I was so drawn by each of their radiant smiles, welcoming personas, and exuding light.   Our friendship was rapidly growing when my wife, Ann, and I were called away to Portland right around the time of the ranch’s inception.  As our Yeshua directed, we stayed in close communication with each other and remained a part of each other’s lives.  There came a time when the Lord directed them to invite me on the Board of Directors.

CPYR is one of the greatest examples in my life of what Yeshua can and will do if we are willing to be OBEDIENT to the call and the ask!  CPYR exists today because of Troy and Kim’s obedience to what our Lord asked them to do.  The ranch is not a product of strategic planning.  It is the direct result of Kim and Troy reflecting the LOVE of Christ openly and willingly to others and following HIM.  The ranch is not a copy of a prototype the Meeder’s had seen elsewhere and then strategized a plan to launch a similar outreach.  CPYR is a product of two children of God who - out of their Love for Jesus - said YES WE WILL….not knowing exactly what that meant, where that would take them, or how it would reflect Yah’s love to others.  This abandoned act of Obedience, Faith and Love for Yeshua is what attracted me to the ranch.  As a Board, we continue to try to follow the Lord’s leading regarding HIS plan for what is next for the ranch.

What our Jesus has done at the ranch from this act of obedience is nothing short of miraculous.  What I most adore about the ranch today is how it reflects God’s love for us.  CPYR is literally a place to come experience the love of God.  I believe that it’s so important in the development of our friendship with our Savior to not just fully understand and comprehend how much our Jesus loves us, but to actually EXPERIENCE His love for us as we seek His face.  The Spirit of our living Yeshua is so palpable at the ranch - taking some time to walk the ranch or worship at Refuge remains some of my most cherished moments at the ranch.

Life lessons from my time at CPYR?

Yeshua’s love for me is incomprehensible – so deep, so wide, and so vast that I should never ever, question that He has my best interests in mind no matter what I may be going through.  Further, since He spends time focusing on my good qualities and traits (even in the midst of me focusing on my “bad stuff”) - I need to extend that grace to all of my human relationships.  Jesus asks us to focus on people’s positive qualities and to stop nitpicking their less than desirable traits.  Although it’s easy to judge others (because we are all sinners) – Jesus asks us to stop focusing on the evil and instead, focus on the positive.  It’s not only good for the relationship, but it feels so much more Christ-like and uplifting than focusing on the shortcoming of others.  Our Savior is the only judge we need.

Anything else I love at CPYR?

Worshipping Yeshua anywhere - but particularly at the ranch - is time well spent.  It’s always hard to get enough!

What do I like to do with my free time?

Great joy in my life comes from anything and any time spent with my family which includes my wife, Ann, of 41 years, my 2 daughters, Kate and Emma, their husbands, Trevor and Kevin, my 5 grandchildren (Elias, Gideon, Nora, Jude and Eliana), my mom, Carol and my sister Kathy and her husband Josh.  I love fellowshipping with friends while we golf, hunt, fish, hike, ski and tell stories around a nice fire!