HISTORY
Paul and Linda Neighbour, founders and directors of Teen Harvest, were serving as youth pastors in a new church plant. They began working with teens through the youth outreach who would “hang out” on the streets. More than 60 teens were involved in that youth ministry. Before long, they had three teenage girls living in their home who needed an alternative living situation. Very quickly they realized that not only did these teens and others need a place to live, but also needed intensive discipleship and an alternative school environment as well.
That same year, Paul and Linda began formally organizing the ministry of Teen Harvest to provide a safe home and boarding school for youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Through a series of miraculous circumstances, they were donated a church building and parsonage in Ashford, Washington, which became the home to Teen Harvest Christian School and Ranch. The first student was graduated in 1993.
In 2002, because of the lack of space to grow the ministry in Ashford, the Neighbours moved the ministry from there to a 275-acre ranch in Ava, Missouri. There they have been blessed with being able to provide a safe home and school for many dozens of struggling teens.
In 2009, Teen Harvest Ministry began holding formal Family Reconciliation Retreats to help families of the students who were enrolled in the program as well as open to any other families who were in crisis, or those who just wanted to come learn how to be a better family. Soon, the need for accommodations for the families who were attending the retreats led to the building of six “family” cabins with plans for six more to come. The name was changed to Divine Design Family Retreats to reflect the fact that what we teach in these retreats is God’s design for families to thrive.
In 2019 we found it necessary to discontinue bringing students into our school and fully devote our time and energy into providing help and training for today’s families and the future generations of parents.
That same year, Paul and Linda began formally organizing the ministry of Teen Harvest to provide a safe home and boarding school for youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Through a series of miraculous circumstances, they were donated a church building and parsonage in Ashford, Washington, which became the home to Teen Harvest Christian School and Ranch. The first student was graduated in 1993.
In 2002, because of the lack of space to grow the ministry in Ashford, the Neighbours moved the ministry from there to a 275-acre ranch in Ava, Missouri. There they have been blessed with being able to provide a safe home and school for many dozens of struggling teens.
In 2009, Teen Harvest Ministry began holding formal Family Reconciliation Retreats to help families of the students who were enrolled in the program as well as open to any other families who were in crisis, or those who just wanted to come learn how to be a better family. Soon, the need for accommodations for the families who were attending the retreats led to the building of six “family” cabins with plans for six more to come. The name was changed to Divine Design Family Retreats to reflect the fact that what we teach in these retreats is God’s design for families to thrive.
In 2019 we found it necessary to discontinue bringing students into our school and fully devote our time and energy into providing help and training for today’s families and the future generations of parents.
BELIEFS
We Believe:
- the Bible is the Holy Word of God and is the final authority on all issues of life and godliness.
- marriage was instituted by God as a lifelong union between one man and one woman to love and serve Him and to raise up children to love and serve Him.
- that God intended the family to be the basic social structure of humanity and demands first priority in all of society.
Teen Harvest is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible and are greatly appreciated.