OUR STORY
Meet Our Founder
Meet Our Founder – Bob Maxwell
A Lifetime of Experience, Compassion, and a God-Given Vision
Bob Maxwell, Founder of The Mission Ranch brings together more than 40 years of entrepreneurial experience, a lifelong passion for ranching and animals, and a deep commitment to helping people rebuild their lives through faith, compassion, and meaningful opportunities.
Bob’s journey began at just eight years old, when he started working at a horse stable in Lakewood, California. At age 13, his family moved to Goodyear, Arizona, where he attended Agua Fria High School and became actively involved in the school’s agricultural programs, including 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA).
He gained hands-on experience caring for farm animals, raising chickens, and operating a small egg-selling business. These early experiences instilled in him the values of hard work, responsibility, entrepreneurship, and caring for animals.
A Heart for Helping Others
Seeing the Healing Power of a Ranch Environment
In 2010, Bob began volunteering with the Orange County Rescue Mission at the Double D Horse Ranch in Irvine, California. Each Saturday, he helped introduce approximately 15 to 20 children from homeless and foster care backgrounds to horses, ranch animals, and outdoor activities.
What Bob witnessed during those visits had a profound impact on his life. Children who arrived withdrawn, unhappy, or struggling with difficult circumstances often became excited, engaged, and joyful after spending time with the animals.
2010
Orange County Rescue Mission
He saw firsthand how a peaceful ranch environment, personal encouragement, and caring for animals could positively influence children facing significant emotional and personal challenges.
Therapeutic Riding
NDR Therapeutic Riding
Bob later volunteered with NDR Therapeutic Riding in Norco, California, where he witnessed the powerful emotional connections between horses and individuals facing physical, emotional, and developmental challenges.
Equine-Assisted Activities
Confidence, Trust, Patience & Peace
Through these experiences, Bob developed a strong belief in the value of equine-assisted activities as a complement to professional care.
He observed how interacting with horses could encourage confidence, trust, patience, emotional connection, and a sense of peace.
Over 40 Years of Business and Leadership Experience
Business, Leadership & Long-Term Independence
In addition to his agricultural and volunteer background, Bob spent more than four decades building and operating businesses as an entrepreneur.
His experience in business development, operations, financial management, and leadership provides an important foundation for developing The Mission Ranch as both a compassionate nonprofit program and a financially sustainable organization.
Bob believes that helping people achieve lasting independence requires more than temporary housing. It requires teaching practical skills, developing responsibility, creating employment opportunities, and helping individuals build a foundation for a successful future.
A Vision Inspired by Faith
A Modern-Day Mission Centered on Faith, Agriculture, Education & Community
While researching the historic California missions of the 1700s and 1800s for his book, Jesus Is Not a Genie, Bob became inspired by the idea of creating a modern-day mission centered on faith, agriculture, education, and community.
His vision was to establish a working ranch where military veterans experiencing homelessness, suffering from PTSD and other mental health challenges, and individuals recovering from addiction could find a safe place to heal and rebuild their lives.
The Mission Ranch would combine residential housing, professional counseling, equine and farm animal activities, agricultural education, vocational training, and opportunities for employment and financial independence.
Most importantly, Bob envisioned a place where individuals could experience the unconditional love of Jesus Christ and discover renewed hope, purpose, and direction for their lives.
A Community of Veterans, Natural Beauty, and Opportunities for Healing
Why The Mission Ranch Is Considering Prescott, Arizona
The Mission Ranch is exploring the Prescott, Arizona, area as a potential location for our faith-based residential healing and recovery program, with a special emphasis on helping military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health challenges.
Prescott offers a unique combination of cooler weather, beautiful rural surroundings, established Veterans Affairs (VA) medical services, and a strong military veteran and retirement community. We believe these qualities make Prescott an excellent location for The Mission Ranch.
Why This Setting Matters
An Environment Designed to Support Long-Term Growth
We believe that spending time in nature, caring for animals, and participating in meaningful ranch activities can help veterans rediscover purpose, build confidence, and develop healthier daily routines.
Nature & Climate
A Peaceful Climate and Rural Environment
Located approximately 5,300 feet above sea level, Prescott enjoys four distinct seasons, cooler summers than the Phoenix metropolitan area, and generally mild winters. Its beautiful mountains, pine forests, open ranchlands, and peaceful rural communities offer an ideal setting for outdoor activities, animal-assisted programs, agriculture, and personal healing.
We believe that spending time in nature, caring for animals, and participating in meaningful ranch activities can help veterans rediscover purpose, build confidence, and develop healthier daily routines.
Veterans Affairs
Access to Veterans Affairs Medical and Mental Health Services
One of Prescott’s greatest advantages is the presence of the Bob Stump VA Medical Center, part of the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System. The VA provides important medical services, PTSD treatment, mental health counseling, addiction recovery support, and other specialized services for eligible veterans.
The Mission Ranch hopes to complement these existing services by providing a supportive residential environment, equine and farm animal activities, vocational training, Christian fellowship, and opportunities for long-term personal growth.
Community
A Strong Military Veteran and Retirement Community
Prescott and the surrounding communities are home to a substantial population of military veterans and retirees. This provides an opportunity to develop relationships with veterans who understand the challenges of military service and the transition to civilian life.
We envision retired veterans, military families, local churches, and community volunteers becoming an important part of The Mission Ranch through mentorship, equine therapy, fellowship, job training, and encouragement.
Our Vision for Prescott
A Place to Rebuild — Physically, Emotionally, Spiritually & Financially
The Mission Ranch seeks to establish a peaceful, faith-based ranch community where veterans can receive support for up to one year while rebuilding their lives physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Our goal is to work alongside local veteran organizations, healthcare professionals, churches, and community leaders to help veterans find renewed hope, meaningful employment, independent housing, and lasting stability.
Our veterans served and protected our country. Now it is our turn to serve and support them.
Turning a Lifelong Passion Into a Mission
Every Experience Helped Prepare the Way
For Bob, The Mission Ranch represents the culmination of a lifetime of experiences—from caring for horses as a young boy, to developing successful businesses, to volunteering with vulnerable children and individuals participating in therapeutic riding programs.
Each experience has helped prepare him for the challenge of creating a unique faith-based ranch community dedicated to restoring lives.
Together with his wife, Sandy, Bob is committed to turning this God-given vision into reality.
“Our goal is not simply to give someone a place to live. It is to help them heal, discover their God-given purpose, develop the skills to become self-sufficient, and build a future filled with hope.”
— Bob Maxwell, Founder, The Mission Ranch
Be Part of the Mission
Help Turn This Vision Into a Place Where Lives Can Begin Again
Your support can help create a faith-based ranch community built around healing, meaningful work, animals, mentorship, practical skills, and lasting hope.