The Evolution of Dylan — a Rawhide Alumnus

The moment Dylan found himself sleeping on the bleachers of his old middle school was the moment he realized something needed to change. He took out his phone, called his mother, and asked for her help one last time. Dylan’s mother told us “I didn’t want to bury him before I die.” So she reached out to Rawhide, and a pivotal moment in Dylan’s life began. He needed help out of his life of deception, stealing, and drug use. Rawhide has a long history of successfully helping such troubled youth.

The Rawhide Difference

When Dylan arrived at Rawhide, he expected a twelve-step treatment plan like he had completed many times before. Rawhide proved to be different. The first evening, his housefather, Gary, opened a Bible and read to the guys. Dylan didn’t quite know how to handle that. “To me, being a Christian was just about dressing up for Easter and Christmas Mass.”

His adjustment to Rawhide took time, and Dylan admits it wasn’t always easy. “The first week at Rawhide, I was having withdrawals from drugs. By the second week, I wanted a cigarette. By week three, I started to miss my friends. In the fourth week, I opened my heart to God.” Dylan’s new path truly began when he and Gary read sections from the book of Romans together.

Dylan credits Romans 10:9–10 as the most influential during his rehabilitation, and the time Gary took to explain it to him. When he heard this passage, he decided to let God in and see what His power could do for his life. After all, his ways lead him to sleeping on a school bleacher.

Continuing the Healing

When Dylan’s stay at Rawhide came to a close, he knew he wasn’t ready to return to his hometown with old familiar habits and friends. So he found an outpatient rehab house in a new city to continue his recovery and grow his self-confidence. He worked odd jobs and lent a hand at homeless shelters. Three years later, Dylan was confident in his ability to make better choices and felt comfortable going back to his hometown. So home he went.

Going Home

Dylan joined a church immediately when he returned home. Within weeks, the pastor asked Dylan to teach the high school Bible class. Dylan felt unprepared and unqualified. “These kids know more than I do!” he insisted. But the pastor could see Dylan’s natural ability to teach. Since the pastor had confidence in him, Dylan gave it a try and found a new passion.

Moving Forward

After a year of teaching Bible class, Dylan was accepted at Nicolet Bible Institute near White Lake, Wisconsin. He studied theology and Christian leadership and had the opportunity to minister to Langlade County Jail inmates.

Upon completing his second year at the Bible Institute, Dylan moved to Ontario, Canada for a pastoral internship. As he progressed in this internship, his confidence grew even more. From there, Dylan enrolled at Crown College in Minnesota to study Pastoral Ministry. He met his wife there, and after completing his coursework at Crown College, Dylan and his wife married.

After taking a year off of school, he felt a new calling. He is currently in his second semester of a law enforcement program at a technical college.

Giving Back to Other Troubled Youth

It’s been a few years since Dylan first arrived at Rawhide. From the time he first set foot on the Ranch to now, he has become an example of the positive impact Rawhide can have on the lives of troubled youth. Dylan admits he is still growing and learning, but he is on the right path. He credits his amazing recovery to support from Rawhide and people around him, his mother not giving up, and God’s healing power.

While Dylan makes his way through school, he works as a Youth Care Worker at Rawhide, helping guys just like he was. He understand where they are “coming from” and establishes rapport. We are grateful for the evolution of Dylan.