The young men who arrive at Salem Ranch in Flanagan, Illinois come with baggage: not just their luggage either, as it is a boarding school. They come with spiritual and emotional baggage. Some are chronically truant and failing school, while others come disrespectful and hard to manage. Mike Hansen and his staff at Salem help troubled teens change destructive patterns and become successful, Godly young men, using AOP's Switched-On® curriculum for the past five years to assist them in that lofty goal.

As Mike puts it, "Salem Ranch is three things: school, behavior program, and ranch." These three aspects of life at Salem intertwine beautifully. The boys are all responsible for caring for and training horses as well as completing their daily schoolwork. The horses are usually the first things at Salem that the students bond to, even before the teachers. The chapels, devotions, church attendance, and Bible-based curriculum created by Alpha Omega Publications® tend to their spiritual needs. In all this, they are guided step by step by their on-site teachers and counselors.

Mike told me one of many stories of spiritual awakening at the ranch. While studying his Switched-On Bible lesson, one young man read about repentance of all of a person's faults and sins. He realized that he was not admitting to ALL of his sins, and for him, that realization was a turning point in becoming a true believer.

Every spring, there are two auctions at Salem, a general auction and a horse auction. This year's events will be held on April 10, and the proceeds will provide funds to those who cannot afford to pay tuition at Salem.

The student body is fairly small, generally from 20 to 25 boys. They live together, work together, study together, and worship God together. Praise God for the work He is doing at Salem. Praise God for the loving care given by Mike Hansen and the rest of the staff. We thank God for our part in caring for these most precious sons of God.

How does your school use AOP's Christ-centered curriculum to serve the Lord and the needs of your students? Take a minute and share your story with us in the comment section below. We appreciate you and the work you do in His name.