Grace Gate Farm

Recently, I found myself on a very dusty and dirty gravel road while driving to eastern Lancaster county to do a story about a couple who bought a farm and want to make it into a therapy sanctuary for veterans. It was a very windy, dry, and dusty trek and the haze only adds to my reflective state of mind. This couple, Bryan and Kirstie Madsen, stepped out in faith to find their calling and through fasting and prayer were led to establish this farm. I think about how it is possible that God has called them. I wonder daily what my purpose here is supposed to be, and because of my easily distracted nature if God is calling me I must not be listening! So, already in awe of what they are doing, I pull into the driveway and immediately my eyes are drawn to a big red barn that has a very dominant presence. As I step out of my truck, I can hear chickens clucking in the background, and miniature pigs snorting in the distance. Goats, ducks, small calves, cats, a dog, and even a turtle are roaming the property at their leisure, seemingly basking in their own livelihood.

Seven years ago, while Kirstie was a nurse in a pediatric mental health hospital, she was literally resuscitating a youth when she was overcome with a deep desire to find a way to help struggling youth through therapy with animals. Seeing so many of our youth experiencing mental health issues was overwhelming, and she was drawn to finding a solution to help them before it came to this. That night, and many nights after, she had this reoccurring dream with a vision of a big red barn. Over the next several years, she would continue to have this vision and desire to move to a farm with a big red barn where she and Bryan could follow their calling of helping people.

Bryan is a United States military veteran. He served four years of active duty and two years in the reserves. He was stationed in Port Hueneme in San Diego, and was then later deployed to Okinawa island in Japan for nine months. While serving, Bryan saw so many veterans struggling with mental health issues. Integrating back into society after what they have witnessed and gone through is one of their most challenging issues. The hardship and guilt of not being with their families, and all the important milestones they have missed, can be unbearable and only a fellow veteran can relate to what they go through. Those experiences can take a huge toll on their mental health.

So when two great minds filled with faith in God come together - nothing is impossible. They started by fasting, studying the Bible, and extensive prayer. They learned that from Kirstie's vision of the big red barn that God was calling them to start an alternative therapy farm for veterans first, and then they would integrate youth into the program at a later date. They started the search for a farm that could house animals, have space for gardens, could be made wheelchair accessible, and of course had a big red barn. When the place they wanted came up for sale - the sellers actually asked to meet with them after they heard what the plans were for the farm. Being a military and Christian family, the sellers wanted to show Bryan and Kirstie how this farmland could sustain itself by producing alfalfa that could be cultivated and sold - with enough left over to feed all the animals. Feeling some relief from financial worries, Grace Gate farm was finally established and their vision started coming to light. Grace is Henri's (their daughter) middle name and John is Sullivan's (their son) middle name. In John's 10:9 in the Bible it reads "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved". The name is absolutely appropriate and fully reflects their mission.

At Grace Gate Farm, they believe that healing is possible through one's belief in Jesus. The Madsens said "We believe that when veterans and first responders encounter God's presence in the simplicity of His creation, in the quiet of a pasture, in the eyes of an animal, or in the laughter of a child - walls begin to fall. We are building a place where stories don't end in brokenness, but in redemption". They are aware they need to walk in obedience and faith, and they know they can't do it all alone, so to make all this possible they are looking for volunteers to help get their program on track by next summer. Help is needed in building garden beds, working and caring for the animals, and farm maintenance. They are partnering with other veteran groups like "Hero Stock" to build their community of men and women who share similar experiences. They have a Facebook page under "Grace Gate Farm" that has a volunteer sheet where you can sign up to help. The first phase of their goal is to build a community of veterans that will find healing through God's presence, and then the second phase would be to build a mentorship program with troubled youth that are experiencing trauma that could find a group with similar issues. The plan would then possibly be pairing veterans with youth for continued growth and healing. For now they continue to nurture the land, care for the animals, and prepare for how God wants them to continue to move forward in their vision.

As I left there, I felt a sense of awe and admiration for these two people who are so completely rooted in faith and fully seem to understand their calling - and I couldn't help but ask myself - what is my calling? Is God talking to me? When I got home - I looked up the definition of listening. It means "the act of paying attention to sounds, especially interpersonal listening". I decided I can do that. So God, it's me, and I am really listening.