July 2026 Newsletter
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!
250 years is a pretty big milestone!
We've Been Busy Behind the Scenes!
Right now, we're tackling one of our biggest milestones in Cedar Refuge's journey.
We mentioned it briefly last month, and we're hoping to share the finished product with you next month. Behind the scenes, we've been hard at work developing two major pieces of the puzzle: our Strategic Map and our Case for Support.
Our Strategic Map is exactly what it sounds like: a detailed roadmap outlining what needs to happen, when it needs to happen, and how we'll get there over the next 12 months. From zoning conversations and property acquisition to fundraising, marketing, licensing, and program development, it maps out every major step needed to bring the refuge to life.
Our Case for Support (what we originally called our business plan) is the comprehensive document that explains the why behind Cedar Refuge and how we plan to make it a reality. It outlines the need, our solution, the programs we're building, the investment required, and how we plan to sustain the refuge for years to come.
Believe it or not, figuring out everything it takes to build a refuge is a massive undertaking! From zoning, roads, utilities, and septic systems to staffing, education, accreditation, therapy, licensing, vehicles, furnishings, and long-term sustainability, every detail requires research, conversations, planning, and countless hours of work.
These two projects are consuming the majority of our time right now, but we're genuinely excited because they represent the foundation for everything that comes next.
When we first began sharing the vision for Cedar Refuge, one piece of advice consistently came from experienced business leaders:
"Develop a thorough business plan. It demonstrates the commitment,
preparation, and follow-through needed to turn a vision into reality."
We knew this would be a full-time project requiring several months of dedicated work, which is why it was so important for us to step into our Executive Director roles in a paid full-time capacity before diving into it.
To everyone who has prayed, given financially, volunteered, or encouraged us - thank you. These dedicated months of planning have only been possible because of your support.
Our hope is that this work will open the doors to purchase the refuge property, build it out and open our first two healing homes for the teen boys.
Updated Statistics
As we've been developing our Case for Support, we've spent countless hours researching the latest data on child sexual exploitation. While these statistics are difficult to read, they reinforce just how great the need truly is.
Recent research estimates that up to 45% of commercially sexually exploited children are boys, 1 in 7 missing children are likely victims of child sex trafficking, NCMEC received more than 113,500 reports of possible child sex trafficking in 2025, and up to 80% of victims have been involved with the child welfare system. One study also found that children impacted by commercial sexual exploitation experienced an average of 27 placement disruptions while in care, highlighting the critical need for long-term stability and healing. Simply put, how is a child supposed to heal from trauma when they're constantly being moved?
Perhaps most staggering, a recent report estimated that approximately 100,000 children were victims of sex trafficking in the state of Florida alone. That's just one state out of fifty. It's a sobering reminder that this crisis is happening here in America and why building places of long-term healing like Cedar Refuge is so important.
Fast Updates
Two weeks ago, Steven had his long-awaited hernia surgery and is recovering well! Thank you for your prayers for a smooth procedure and swift recovery.
CANS4KIDS is currently on pause while we focus on completing our Case for Support and Strategic Map.
We had the privilege of being invited by King Law Firm to host a dinner table at The Peak Venue for their Fourth of July nonprofit celebration! We enjoyed a beautiful evening overlooking the Sacramento River with the perfect view of the fireworks.
Our desired property for the refuge has been on the market for 3 to 4 years and just dropped $1 million in price! It's now listed at $5 million. Yeehaw!
Prayer Requests
Pray for wisdom and favor as we complete our Case for Support and Strategic Map, and that God would open the right doors for Cedar Refuge.
Pray that, if the property we've been pursuing is where God wants Cedar Refuge to be, He would hold it for us until the timing is right and make a way for us to acquire it.
Pray for children currently experiencing exploitation, that they would be found, protected, and have access to the long-term healing and stability.
Pray that God would prepare the hearts of the right donors and open the right doors for us to present our Case for Support at the right time.
One Step at a Time
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21
It's hard to imagine that, with how big the vision for Cedar Refuge already feels, God can still blow our socks off. That's a pretty big God.
Right now, He's pursuing children who are still being exploited. He's orchestrating rescues we know nothing about and preparing hearts to give, pray, build, and say "yes."
Maybe the refuge we're building today will one day become the answer to a prayer a child is praying right now.
The heartbreaking reality is that if many children were recovered today, there simply aren't enough places for them to go that provide the long-term healing they deserve. That's why this mission matters.
We're not just building buildings. We're building a place where healing can happen.
We don't know exactly how God will provide every step ahead, but we know His heart for these children. Thank you for believing in this vision and walking alongside us. We can't wait to see what God does next.
With gratitude,
Steven and Brandyn Gipe
Founders & Executive Directors