As a Christian organization and as an integral part of the work of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch Association participates in the ministry of Jesus by helping children and families succeed in the name of Christ. We offer quality residential services and programs that nurture and nourish the spiritual, physical, psychological, educational, social and emotional well-being of children and their families, all within the context of Christian community.
It is the philosophy of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch that healing, recovery and restoration begin as our clients’ spiritual, physical and psychological needs are identified and met.
Our spiritual life program encompasses biblical teachings. Being a Lutheran agency we subscribe to the three ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran confessions. Our Christian, spiritual life programming includes spiritual life groups and activities, church attendance or other spiritual life assignments on Sundays, individual discussions with spiritual life staff or our chaplain or deaconess, and prayers at meals. Other Christian programming may include baptism, confirmation studies, devotions, bible studies, and other discussion groups. Spiritual life programming also includes the development of moral values and ethical standards usually within the context of our Christian groups and activities or moral development groups. Our non-Christian religious spiritual life programming allows a client to continue to practice a non-Christian faith off-campus.
Any client who subscribes to such a faith and wishes to continue practicing that faith will be helped by staff, who will make every effort to arrange transport, which is the responsibility of the parents and/or respective entity, to local worship sites. Worship and/or rituals specific to non-Christian religions are not allowed on our campuses. These clients are present for most Christian groups and activities, and they are expected to be appropriate and respectful during this spiritual life programming.
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch ensures that our residents are afforded access to spiritual life programming and pastoral services. Minot Campus Spiritual Life programs and options offered to our residents: Chapel services: Chapel is led by our chaplain every week and lasts for a half hour. During that time, Christian prayers and hymns are offered, followed by a short homily from the chaplain.
Spiritual Life Groups:
Each cottage at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch has a designated Spiritual Life Specialist. The Spiritual Life Specialist is a direct care person who takes a special interest in the spiritual needs of the residents. Each cottages has Spiritual Life groups which are especially geared to the problems the residents in that particular cottage struggle with. A typical group might start with a video or a reading from the Bible or a related source, followed by discussion of what was seen and heard.
Occasionally a written assignment is given. These groups are held once a week and are usually an hour long.
Western Plains Residential Center, Bismarck, has two spiritual life specialists serving full time as well as a Lutheran Chaplain to give the clients chapel every week. Western Plains has vacation bible school in the summer and other spiritual life activities planned by the Spiritual life team.
Ranch Life:
Ranch Life is an entertaining and educational program which is scheduled twice a month. In addition to playing games and doing activities with a Christian flavor, we discuss concerns and interests of the residents. Activities may include sleigh rides, cookouts, Christian rock concerts and programs with a Christian theme.
Off-campus church services:
When a resident has been accepted for our program and has reached the appropriate level of trust, he or she may choose to attend off-campus church services. The residents are accompanied by a staff member unless arrangements have been made for a family member to escort them.
Fargo Programs:
Spiritual Life programming at the Fargo Residential Center and the Fargo Youth Home is led by a Deaconess and consists of weekly spiritual life or moral development groups; prayer and Bible study groups, possible baptism and/or confirmation studies; frequent individual sessions with the residents by either a spiritual life specialist or deaconess; and attendance at Sunday services at local churches or an opportunity to complete spiritual life or moral development assignments on campus. During the week or on weekends there can be other spiritual life activities such as attendance at youth groups, plays and concerts in the area. There are a number of spiritual life resources that the residents can and do borrow: Christian CDs, DVDs, books and magazines.
There is no official programming at the Safe Home. However, Spiritual Life resources such as Bibles, books of Bible stories, Christian books, CDs, DVDs, and arts and crafts projects are provided for residents for their use with a spiritual life specialist on staff.
Other non-Christian faith specific spiritual life programming may also be arranged off campus at the request of parent or referral source following consultation with the clinical team. | 
