Make this Christmas one our kids will never forget. Come along side us this holiday season
Three children fish off the end of a dock on a still lake at Big Oak Ranch as the sun goes down.

A Christian home for children needing a chance

Jesus is our message. Children are our heart.

Request Help
Two girls make beaded bracelets at a porch table, one laughing out loud.
Young adults share a meal at long tables in a bright timber-framed hall, a sculpture of tree roots on display.

50+

 Years of Service

2k+

 Children Rescued

100%

 Privately Funded

Our Story

Since 1974, Big Oak Ranch has provided a loving, Christian home for children who have experienced hardships beyond their years. We have dedicated ourselves to raising children with the hope that they will break the cycle and become productive members of society. Our mission is to share the unconditional love of Jesus and the hope that flows from it, offering children the chance to discover God’s true purpose for their lives.

Who We Are
The Big Oak Ranch family, children and adults of all ages, stands close together on a white-sand beach as waves break.

Our Mission, Rooted in Hope

We may have started as a Christian home for boys and girls needing safety and security, but we didn’t stop there. When we see an opportunity to better serve our children and our community, we go after it. Each and every ministry at Big Oak Ranch reflects our purpose of sharing the unconditional love of Jesus and the hope that flows from it.

Our Mission

Where We Serve

Boys’ Ranch Three teenage boys stand shoulder to shoulder by the lake in polo shirts and jeans, two of them smiling.

Our Boys’ Ranch provides everything a young boy needs to grow into a responsible, Godly man. With a loving, Christian couple serving as Mom and Dad, this is the first real home many of our boys have ever known.

Learn More
Girls’ Ranch Four girls squeeze together on a porch sofa, all smiles, one holding a black-and-white cat.

Our Girls’ Ranch offers a safe, nurturing home for girls who have experienced hardships beyond their years. We provide them with love, support and the opportunity to grow into strong, confident women of faith.

Learn More
Communities A boy in a bike helmet rides a lakeside path with a companion close behind, under fall trees in warm light.

Our Communities expands our mission of providing stable, loving Christian homes to children in foster care by establishing neighborhoods of foster families supported by resources and training throughout the state of Alabama.

Learn More
A family bows their heads to pray around the dinner table before the meal.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Your support helps us continue providing a loving, Christian home for children in need. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer or become a houseparent, your involvement makes a lasting impact on the lives of our children. Get Involved
Stories of Hope

These stories reflect the incredible impact of God’s love,
your support and our shared mission.

More Stories of Hope
  • A 'Celebrating 50 Years, Est. 1974' banner hangs over the arena gate as two riders walk their horses past.
    Play Video

    “We believe home is where family is found which points to the Hope that is found in Jesus…”

    50th Anniversary Recap

    Celebrating 50 years of Changing Lives

  • Scarlet smiles in her college cap and gown, holding her diploma and an award.
    Play Video

    “I chose the ASCEND route because it put me a step ahead…”

    Scarlet

    ASCEND Graduate

  • Young man riding horse while holding American flag

    “It was amazing – I haven’t done anything else like it. Being able to ride a horse and carry the American flag at the same time in front of a huge crowd was really thrilling. It was a moment I will never forget!”

    Kaige

    Big Oak Cattle

  • A family gathers for a fall wedding portrait: the bride with her bouquet, boys in navy suits, a flower girl in front.
    Play Video

    “They find a Christian home with parents who give them unconditional love and a nurturing spirit…”

    A Moment In Time

    Lives changed over the last 50 years