Youth Residential long term program.
Youth Sailing TREKS
Youth & Family counseling

Attached is a detailed letter of who and what we are. In brief we are a United States registered non profit, public charity, set up to help youth and families.

Spring cleaning time is here. If you have any useable; sports, tools, boating, hunting, fishing, farming, computer equipment or books, CD’s, DVD’s or VHS that you would like to donate, and get a tax allowance, please send them to us. It is much easier, than trying to sell them yourself and most times, the tax benefit is more than you would have received from the sale. Besides it will go to a great cause.

____ I Will Support in
Prayer


Name_________________________ Phone _______ _________ ____________
Addr ______________________________ Email _________________@_________._______
City, State, Zip _________________________________, ____________, ________________
Other support
____ Volunteer $ ______ Gift $ ______ per day $ _______ per month
____ $ .50 per day _____ $1.00 per day _____ $61 per day sponsor a child
Other donations ______________________________________________________
Please use my donation for: %
____ As needed _____ Building ____ Bible material _____ Sailing TREK
Credit Card ________ ________ ________ ________ CVV ______ exp. ____/ ____

SonRay Youth & Family Inc.
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Dear Friends, 04/01/2007

We know what you are thinking…you want to know who or what is SonRay, Youth & Family, Inc. Through this letter, we will tell you what SonRay is, who is behind SonRay and what makes them different from other programs.

SonRay is a newly formed corporation to provide care and therapeutic help for youth while respecting the individual needs of each youth and their families. The main emphasis is to nurture the youth emotionally and spiritually to ensure growth and a more positive and healthy relationship both in the home and community.

Now we will tell you a little bit about our history and how we came together. We have all been brought together from different walks of life, with the same vision. We began as colleagues employed at Teen Ranch and since have developed a common bond and discovered a life vocational call that exceeded the agency’s boundaries. God’s leading and timing about forming a non-profit corporation to minister to youth in residential care was sought. In November of 2005, the four of us, (Dale A. Mero, Michael W. Hutchens, Michael E. Wilson & John C. Diel), began meeting weekly seeking God in prayer regarding the original vision of Teen Ranch founder Ray Clendenan. Then, in February of 2006 after several God incidence confirmations, the paper work for incorporation as SonRay, Youth and Family was accepted. Currently our 501(c) (3) non-profit status has been filed and is pending. As a lead team, the four of us have over 30 years of youth work experience that includes all levels of operation including direct care staff, therapy, management, chaplaincy, and administration. In addition, each of us bring a varied background of education and work experience that is highly complementary to the fulfillment of our vision. In the next few paragraphs we will let you know a little bit about ourselves.


• Dale A. Mero M.Div., L.M.S.W.

In 1991, after 5 years of residential experience at a State juvenile facility, I began a spiritual and academic journey of graduate studies pursuing dual master degrees in divinity and social work. At the time I envisioned two different ministry paths emerging; one being directed at the church as a therapeutically, minded pastor, and the other being directed at society as a theologically, minded social worker. Five years later at the completion of my education and with much theological reflection, I concluded that today’s neglected and abused children, incarcerated youth, dysfunctional families, and the neglected elderly most strongly reflect Jesus’ ministry announcement that it is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick (Mark 2:17). As a result I decided to apply my pastoral degree to working with societal people whose unmistakable needs are for spiritual hope demonstrated through therapeutic and practical expressions.
In 1997, Teen Ranch provided me with a unique clinical management opportunity to blend my theological and therapeutic understandings into a practical “societal” ministry focused on residential living for teenaged men and women. Behind this management position, my passion was fueled by a deep heartfelt conviction of the advantages that God’s “preveniant grace” had been in my life. Honest reflection revealed that had I been raised in a similar home environment of these “troubled” youth, I doubt that my choices and life direction would have been any different. Many faces and tragic life stories have been imprinted deeply in my heart throughout the years. So any goodness or wisdom, or any achievements that I have as a person, I recognize as gifts from God without any room for boasting (Ephesians 2:8-10). Having been given so much the call to give back was a natural result.
However, prior to the final demise of Teen Ranch, it was necessary for me to seek other employment. I currently work full-time as a hospital social worker responsible for patient needs in their emergency, acute, and rehabilitation departments. In addition, I have been doing part-time bachelor and master level instruction for Spring Arbor University as well as some continued clinical consultation for the Ranch. My church ministries include facilitating the high school youth group and conducting an in-home adult Bible study.
Overall, I have over 20 years experience in the human service field including the not-already-mentioned practices of a caseworker/counselor through Hospice, a directorship of an elementary school’s family resource center, and a chaplain for a Veteran’s Center. Currently I possess new State of Michigan exam approved social work license.


• Michael W. Hutchens MA, LLMSW

My journey in learning how to assist people in solidifying the spiritual and emotional sections of their lives began immediately after high school when I worked with Campus Life. I committed a great amount of time and energy into a group of teenagers at a specific high school. During that time I learned what it really meant to pour yourself into the lives of others. A year later I began college and earned a Bachelor in Social Work. During those college years, I counseled children and their families at a summer camp in Texas and learned that the stability of any society as a whole is totally dependent on the overall health of the families within that society. This is when I committed my life to the healing and solidification of the family system within America.
After graduating in 1983 I began working for a company which focused on family finance. The reason I focused on this specialty was because within marriages, financial issues are one of the primary causes of divorce and I was able to work directly with families to strengthen this area of their lives. It was during this time when I also developed a weekend seminar focusing on solidifying the marriage relationship. It has been my privilege to present this seminar on many occasions throughout the years and watch the Lord use it to strengthen marriages. In 1988 I decided to leave the finance company and work on two closed psychiatric units with the primary goal of helping individuals and their families deal with their specific issues.
I knew I needed to increase my effectiveness in the therapeutic realm by obtaining more professional training. Therefore, in 1993, my family and I moved to Kentucky and within five years I obtained two master degrees, one in Social Work and the other in Parish Counseling. It was during this season of my life when the Lord solidified my professional commitment toward the healing of the family system. Having a private practice through the church I was attending offered a practical method to put into practice my professional commitment.
In 1998 I was invited to join the ministry of Teen Ranch in the realm of heading up the therapeutic endeavors of a home, working with troubled teenage boys. Within the eight years I was there, I also worked within their foster care department where my main goal was to strengthen a healthy family system where the child could permanently live. My final responsibilities included developing and directing a 12 week, private pay, residential program. It was at this time that I also became a teacher at Spring Arbor University, which continues to the present.
As of 2006 I began working for Sanilac County Community Mental Health as a case manager for approximately forty adults who are mentally and/or emotionally impaired. I work with the clients, their psychiatrists, therapists and a variety of different programs within our society to meet the primary goal of empowering the clients to obtain a successful life to the best of their abilities.
My interaction with hundreds of families throughout my professional life has consistently solidified my belief that there continues to be a strong need to work toward obtaining the goal that my Lord gave me many years ago. This goal is to be used by Him to heal and solidify the family system.


• Michael E. Wilson BA

My entire career has been built around my passion and calling to work with youth. Building healthy relationships with teens and being able to have a positive influence on their lives has been a sole purpose and goal for me. I served as a youth pastor and associate pastor in several churches and as a missionary to inner city youth through a para-church organization (Youth for Christ). Every step along the way in those first 20 years of working with youth, I always felt like I was being prepared for another position. Then, I went to work as a chaplain for a residential program (Teen Ranch), working with abused and neglected youth. From the moment I arrived, I knew that this was what I had been prepared for. My own background of being abused severely by an alcoholic father and every other ministry setting I had been in were preparation for working with this group of young people.



• Captain John C. Diel BS, MBA
I have more than 25 years experience in management, engineering management of Kasper Machine Company, owning and running a custom home building business, being the campus coordinator of Teen Ranch, and currently managing 5 internet stores.
From 1977-1992 my main responsibility for Kasper Machine Company was to supervise the design and production of Computer Controlled (CNC) machines, most of which were purchased and used by the automotive companies. My duties also included traveling out of state to customers’ sites to trouble shoot or fine tune a machine and do some Personal Relation work. In 1992 I started a custom home building company. We built and designed low income basic homes up to 4000+ square foot executive homes. My duties within this company involved extensive customer contact, as well as the mechanics of ordering products. I also managed and participated in the work on the many different stages of building, from breaking ground to the final trim. While running the building business I was doing online courses from Moody Bible Institute, studying Larry Burkett's "God's Principles for Operating a Business", as well as meeting with 3 pastor friends weekly. During a bible study with a good friend, Pastor Steve, I came upon a chapter in the book by Henry T. Blackaby, which said to "find where God is working and join Him". Teen Ranch was where God lead me. He was at work there in the lives of many troubled teens. Since my own teen life was much like that of the children being cared for at TR, I was able to join God in His work at the Ranch. From 1999-2005 I worked in Teen Ranches residential treatment setting. I worked as online staff - working directly with the kids, Team leader - leading the other staff and working with the kids, and campus coordinator of both the boys and girls campuses.
During my time at Teen Ranch I was in charge of the summer trek on my family sailboat. This consisted of planning and executing several 5 day event of travel by sailboat in Lake Huron to the remote northern areas of Michigan and Canada. The boys learned to work together as a team and were able to work through many of there issues while enjoying Gods creation. I am a Captain holding a United States Coast Guard Masters License, #1027033. My wife and I are also foster and adoptive parents and have enjoyed helping over 50 children in our home during the past 8 years.
As a current member of the American Association of Christian Counselors since 2001, I have taken numerous courses through their Center for Biblical Counseling. Another training I have enjoyed was from The Institute of Basic Life principles which present both the basic seminar and the advanced seminars for resolving youth conflicts; I have attended these 4 times during the past 12 years.
With the many skills that God has given me I am able to build relationships with youth and families, helping to teach and guide them.


SonRay is currently in the formational stage of development. We have attended a Discovery Exchange Session with Promise Village, Davisburg Michigan. We are pursuing a cooperative affiliation with them and possible financial assistance through their Kellogg Grant Project. We are putting finishing touches on a business plan of action and then will be pursuing property locations and facility options. SonRay is committed to stay within Sanilac or Lapeer Counties where educational and vocational opportunities are most advantageous. SonRay is also committed to location and facilities that will enable animal husbandry to be a daily aspect of residential living. The plan is to begin with one home for boys ages 11-17 who come from a neglect and abuse background. We will be licensed by the State of Michigan but will accept both privately or county paid youth.

It is our commitment to avoid the State financial dependency and dictation of treatment and is therefore researching the creation of a for-profit side of SonRay. Creative but yet practical options are being considered as well as coop relationships with existing businesses to mobilize their employees as volunteers and partners in funding.

We received the blessing of Ray and Hilda Clendenan in this extended version of Ray’s vision, we are asking that you consider continuing to support SonRay. We are asking for your support in any way possible but most importantly by praying for God to continue to guide and direct us in the path that He wishes us to take.

Since 1999 we have been doing summer sailing T.R.E.K. with the residential youth from Teen Ranch and foster care children. In the beginning it was day sails on a 36’ boat. Then we did 3-5 day sail camping trips in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The next stage was doing long distance live aboard trips on a 51’ Beneteau Sail boat this truly allowed us to get to work with the kids. John has over 31 years of sailing experience, formal boating training, a USCG license and over 40,000 miles under sail including 3 Atlantic Ocean Crossings. We plan on continuing these trips extending them to local youth groups and Churches. In the future we plan on using the 36’ boat in the great lakes and using the 51’ boat year round in the Atlantic staying in warmer winter climates.

All of these projects are costly and difficult to develop. We ask for your support in any way possible, but mainly in prayer. We know that God owns a thousand hills of cattle if He wants us to succeed we will. If our house is not built of Him it will not succeed no matter how hard we plan or work.

Sincerely,

Dale A. Mero Michael W. Hutchens Michael E. Wilson John C. Diel

Additional Information

SonRay's web site