The Ranch at Fireside

This is a place where compassion turns into action, and where everyday people step in to make an extraordinary difference for vulnerable children and families. The Ranch at Fireside is our church’s foster and adoptive care ministry. Whether a family lives on our church property or is part of our church family, we are here to love them, support them, and make sure they feel seen and valued in the important work they do.

Keep scrolling to discover stories, any updates or upcoming events—and don’t miss our special Ranch Song by Pastor Randy, written straight from the heart of our mission.

As you explore, you’ll find meaningful ways to get involved:

• CarePortal—meet real needs in real time

• Volunteer Opportunities—serve children and families in practical ways

• CASA—be a consistent voice for a child in foster care

• And many more ways to bring hope where it’s needed most

Every act of kindness matters. Every helping hand changes a story.

Together, we can make a lasting impact—one child, one family, one need at a time.

Welcome to the Ranch… where love shows up and lives are changed.

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The need to help children and families cannot be ignored. The total estimated number of orphans worldwide is 140 Million! Children in foster care in the U.S. is 343,077 (Sept. 2025). While statistics continually change, there are currently 5,949 children in the Oklahoma Foster Care System, 96 of them are in Creek County. (August 2026- https://www.111project.org/oklahomastats/)

Child abuse, neglect, and abandonment are problems not only in our nation but in our state and county. The Ranch at Fireside is part of the solution to this problem. Partnering with parents, existing agencies, communities, and ministries - children and teens will be freed from the generational cycle of abuse and neglect. Statistics will be transformed into beautifully healed healthy lives. Working together, we can end the foster care crisis.

FYI:

• Between 65% and 85 % of children in foster care have a sibling in care. Of those children, 53% to 80% are separated from one or more of their siblings because there are not enough families willing and able to foster multiple children at the same time.
• More than a third of children in foster care experience three or more placements each year.
• 30-50% of foster families decide to quite fostering each year due to emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion.
• Between 20-40% of child welfare professionals leave the field each year due to high stress, emotional exhaustion, and burnout.
• 1,337 Oklahoma children in care had to be placed outside their county due to a lack of foster homes within their county. (Sept. 2025)
• An estimated 60% of all child sex trafficking victims have histories in the child welfare system. (https://www.ncjfcj.org/webcasts/the-disturbing-connection-between-foster-care-and-domestic-child-sex-trafficking/)
• Data shows that between 25-33% of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness had a history of foster care.(https://www.chapinhall.org/wp-content/uploads/Chapin-Hall_VoYC_Child-Welfare-One-Pager_2019-FINAL.pdf)

How can we change these stats? Keep scrolling to learn more...

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What Is The Ranch at Fireside?

The Ranch at Fireside is the foster and adoptive care ministry of Fireside Church. It includes a home on our church property that provides affordable housing for a family committed to fostering children, especially sibling groups. Through this ministry, we come alongside the family living in the Ranch home, as well as foster and adoptive families within our church, offering love, encouragement, practical help, and ongoing support.

Our desire is to help these families provide safe, nurturing homes where vulnerable children can experience stability, belonging, hope, and unconditional love. We want foster and adoptive families to feel seen, valued, and supported—and to know they are never walking this journey alone.

We also partner with individuals and organizations already doing this work well. By building strong relationships, sharing resources, and working together, we can better serve vulnerable children and families without duplicating services that are already available.

While we continue to carry a larger vision for the future, our focus today is to faithfully serve the children and families God continues to place before us. Our mission is for every child and family touched by The Ranch at Fireside to experience the hope, healing, and unconditional love of Jesus.

Our Vision for the Future

As finances and opportunities become available, we envision expanding The Ranch at Fireside with additional homes, services, and programs designed to help children grow academically, socially, spiritually, and emotionally. Our vision includes an equestrian program, art therapy, and “grandparent cottages” for caring adults who can offer encouragement, connection, and support to Ranch families.

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Everyone Can Do Something

You do not have to live in the Ranch home—or foster four children—to make a meaningful difference. You may be able to welcome one or two children into your home, provide emergency or respite care, advocate for a child, meet a practical need, or support a foster family in your church or community. There are many ways to help transform statistics into stories of healing, hope, and healthy lives. Every act of love and service helps children and families know they are seen, valued, and not walking this journey alone.

Ways You Can Get Involved

• Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent—Open your home to a child or sibling group who needs a safe, loving family. Learn more through Oklahoma Fosters.
• Provide Emergency or Respite Care—Offer short-term care that gives foster families needed rest and support.
• Support a Foster or Adoptive Family—Prepare meals, help with laundry or housework, provide transportation, assist with childcare when approved, or offer practical encouragement during difficult seasons.
• Serve Through CarePortal—Help meet real, verified needs of local children and families in crisis. Learn more here.
• Become a CASA Volunteer—Be a consistent, caring voice for a child navigating the court and child welfare systems. Learn more through Creek/Okmulgee County CASA.
• Volunteer Your Time—Help with property upkeep, special projects, events, or other needs that support Ranch and church families.
• Give Financially or Donate Needed Items—Help provide practical resources for children and families. Businesses can also contribute goods, professional services, or other in-kind gifts.
• Spread the Word—Share the need with others and help connect families with people, churches, businesses, and organizations that can support them.
• Pray—Pray for vulnerable children, biological families, foster and adoptive families, caseworkers, advocates, and everyone serving within the child welfare system.

Whether you open your home, give your time, meet a need, advocate, pray, or provide support—everyone can do something. What’s your something?

Ready to Get Involved?

If you’re interested in volunteering or learning more about how you can support children and families through The Ranch at Fireside, please complete the volunteer form below. Filling out the form does not commit you to anything—it simply helps us learn more about your interests and connect you with opportunities that are a good fit.

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Dree Hogue joined us for a special trauma-training session. Watch and listen as she shares valuable insight into understanding and serving children from hard places.

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Become a Foster Family at The Ranch

We would be honored to have your family consider living and serving at The Ranch at Fireside.

Our Ranch home is currently occupied. However, families interested in future housing opportunities are welcome to complete the Residence Application Form below to join our waitlist.

Families interested in Ranch housing should meet the following qualifications:

• Be currently certified as a traditional foster family in Oklahoma.
• Be willing and able to provide a loving home for at least four children in DHS custody, with a special heart for keeping sibling groups together.
• Understand that The Ranch at Fireside is not a foster care agency. Ranch families work directly with Oklahoma Human Services or their approved foster care agency.
• Understand that Ranch homes are intended for traditional or kinship foster care and are not equipped for therapeutic or specialized foster care placements.

We would be happy to assist you with the application process. If you have questions, please contact our office at 918-321-3833 or email firesidekiefer@gmail.com.

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Building Better Lives