Faith Statement
H.O.P.E.-full Pastures is a faith-based ministry organization. The Founders, Board of Directors, and volunteer staff of H.O.P.E.-full Pastures believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God. He is our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, the Restorer of all things, and the coming King. We believe the Bible is the living, active Word of God, perfect in every word and without error. It is our greatest desire to serve our Heavenly Father by the demonstration of our faith through action. Faith on the farm is expressed through “living example” to those we work with. It is our highest honor and privilege to serve children and families of all backgrounds with the same loving grace that has so freely been given to us. As a result of this foundation, all of our programs are structured accordingly.
About The Farm
Formerly Baker Photography Studio, H.O.P.E.-full Pastures is located in Hamilton and is just under 6 acres. The Carrero's had prayed for such a property for about 10 years before purchasing the farm in 2014, with H.O.P.E.-full Pastures' vision in mind. As an Ohio (501c3) non-profit corporation, this organization was established and founded during the pandemic in 2020.
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HOW DID THE VISION COME ABOUT?
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For Christa Carrero, the vision of this non-profit organization became clear about 18 years ago after listening to Kim Meeder with Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch share her heart-wrenching story on Dr. James Dobson's broadcast. What eventually became the ministry of connecting broken horses with broken kids started when Kim was 9 years old, once having a stable two-parent home to becoming an orphan, in an instant. During that difficult season, she came to know Jesus. Her grandma bought her a lil' wild horse which she felt the safest on the back of that horse, and as time went on, her heart was redeemed. Kim's testimony of Jesus and a horse being the link to healing struck a chord in Christa's heart as she could relate to how her own horse was therapeutic for her during some difficult years of bullying as a middle school student. Between the place of refuge that her parents provided for their family of life on their dairy farm, the horse that her dad bought for her as a tween, along with the Lord placing a burden on Christa's heart for orphans and missions at age 12, the vision of H.O.P.E.-full Pastures was truly birthed back then. Thus began the hope to one day offer such a program for kids who have experienced hardship to be matched with animals that could help them through difficult times in their lives.
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As a licensed foster family, the Carrero's understand pain, suffering, and hardship, along with the joy that this journey brings. They have been blessed with the honor of caring for 35 children, 34 of whom were able to reunify with their birth families, emancipate, or move on, along with caring for over 25 additional children in respite care over the course of the past decade.
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It is our desire to create a safe, natural environment where vulnerable children who have endured trauma and loss can overcome fears and their past through animal-assisted services in a peaceful, calm rural setting. Our hearts are to equip each individual and their families as they commence a journey...
where Healing begins...
lives come into Order…
Peace is found…
EnCOURAGEment rises.
THE FOUNDERS
Since their marriage in 2003, Isidro and Christa have poured themselves into their faith, family, foster care, and their community. Later, they purchased their current property in 2014 investing in the farm and what today is H.O.P.E.-full Pastures Therapeutic Farm. Together, they have decades of combined experience in reaching hurting children and helping families receive the healing redemption of Jesus’ love.
Serving to support his wife's vision of the therapeutic farm program, Isidro ensures all H.O.P.E.-full Pasture's ministry, operations, and development of farm properties are in good standing. He is, also, a pastor of One Church's "Somos Una Iglesia" Bilingual Ministry in Fairfield, a teacher of the Word, Master Electrician, Master Plumber, Plant Engineer at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Main Campus, family mechanic, remodeling contractor, licensed foster parent, and a respected leader in his community. Christa serves as the farm's Founder & CEO. In this position, she executes her duties in caring for animals and children through training, mentorship, discipleship, and with her husband, building leaders. Christa serves her family as a stay-at-home wife, mom, and homemaker; homeschool community as a teacher; her church as a translator and intercessor; along with Butler County Children Services as a foster parent, providing respite care, and member of the Foster Parent Advisory Board. Both, Isidro and Christa, have a passion to invest in the lives of vulnerable children and be a link in restoring families, one life at a time. It is their desire to deliver a message of encouragement, hope, and faith in Jesus Christ with all they meet and come in contact with.
Core Principles
We Affirm the Christian Alliance for Orphans Core Principles
God’s Heart and Ours: God is vested, deeply and personally, in the plight of the orphan- and in all who are destitute and defenseless (Deut. 10:18; Psalm 10:14; Psalm 68:5-6; Isaiah 58:5-12). He calls His people to join Him in this, sharing His passion for orphans and bring to each child the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed (Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27; Matthew 25:40).
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Responsive Love: To act upon God’s call to care for orphans is not merely a matter of duty or reaction to need. It is first a response to the Gospel: the loving Father who sought us, adopted us, and invites us to live as His sons and daughters (1 John 4:19; Ephesians 1:15; Galatians 4:6).
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Commitment to the Whole Child: To meet only spiritual or only physical needs of an orphan is incomplete (` John 3:17; James 2:16; Mark 8:36). Christian love seeks to address both. Even a cup of water given to quench the momentary thirst of a child is of eternal value (Matthew 10:42). Yet of surpassing greatness is to know Jesus as Lord (Philippians 3:8). So just as in the ministry of Jesus, we should always hold together the meeting of physical need with the Gospel and our hope that every child will know God’s love deeply and personally.
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Priority of Family: God created the family as the ideal environment for every child, and the best outcome for an orphan is to know the love of a permanent family. Given the vast and complex needs facing orphans worldwide, this is not always possible. However, priority should always be placed on family-based solutions, and any long-term care should be as permanent, nurturing, and close to family as is feasible for a particular situation.
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Role of Residential Care: Crisis situations demand residential care for children, including orphanages. To the fullest extent possible, however, residential care should be viewed as short-term and transitional. In general, the goal for each orphaned child should be to seek a solution as far as feasible along a “continuum” toward permanent family: large group homes, small group homes, foster care, kinship care, and ultimately, full adoption whenever willing families can be found.
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Family Preservation: Whenever possible, children classified as “orphans” that have one surviving parent nor other relatives should be helped to remain with family members. Efforts that enable families to stay together and prevent children from ending up in orphanages or on the streets are a vital part of the response to the global orphan crisis.
Central Role of Local Church: The local church in every nation possesses both the Christian mandate and many other resources needed to care for the world’s orphans in a nurturing, family-based environment. Every initiative to care for orphans should prioritize and honor the role of the local church, carefully pairing what foreign resources may be necessary with indigenous believers willing to open their hearts and homes to orphans in their community.
"H.O.P.E.-full Pastures is such a wonderful and unique place. My daughter loved going to every session. She learned how God knows her fears and can help her when she is anxious. The childcare was also great. The volunteers are all so caring and really listened to how our week went. My daughter would love to continue in the program since she enjoyed it so much. I highly recommend this program for any foster or adopted child. "
ADOPTIVE PARENT