Heart of Florida Youth Ranch Offers Shelter
The Heart of Florida Youth Ranch is a Church of God ministry administered by John and Jo Ann Sweet. It is a safe haven for troubled, neglected, and abused children and young adults.
It is not uncommon for the Ranch to receive requests for placement from the hospital emergency room … this particular call came at 3:30 am and the Sweets knew it was an abuse case. Although the home is nearly maxed out, they just could not turn down this child in need.
Shortly thereafter, a car arrived, and when Jo Ann opened the door, a beautiful third-grader named Anna bounded from the car. Her first words were, “I am afraid of the dark.”
Jo Ann composed herself and responded, “I sleep with my light on, too. You must be like me.” The wounded, but resilient, child went into the office with only stuffed animals and throws provided by child protective workers. Anna announced, “I like to read.” John immediately brought to her a Fire Bible Children’s Edition that is provided by Church of God World Missions’ Marcelly’s Dream Project. Anna embraced the Bible and began looking at the pictures. John says, “I have given literally thousands of these Bibles to kids all around the world, but I don’t think I have been any happier than I was for Anna.”
Because of donors’ investments, children like Anna are provided love, care, and safety … Anna will soon come to realize that she doesn’t have to fear the dark any longer.
To donate to the Heart of Florida Youth Ranch, please visit Church of God World Missions (www.cogwm.org) and be sure to indicate project #740-0350.
(Source: Church of God World Missions)
