Director: Stephanie Arredondo

So excited to be serving with you at ICYC 2025!! My Name is Stephanie Arredondo and I am a child of God, wife of 17 years to my husband Aristeo, and mother to two amazing boys, Mathew (15) and Nicolas (9). I am originally from Dallas Texas, and now reside in Burleson, Texas with my family. Last summer, I left a Chief of Staff role at JPMorgan Chase after 18 years.  I felt called to do something with a non-profit, with youth, and to help communities grow and flourish. I am now the Executive Director for HOPE Tutoring, an organization that provides free tutoring services to 2-8th graders in Math and Reading. I am also now the Director of Youth Ministries at our church, First Presbyterian Church of Arlington. Both of our boys were baptized there, and we’ve been members for about 13 years. I also serve as an Elder, focusing on Mission and Evangelism. I am also on the Prayer Ministry Council.  I love all things planning, organizing, and getting things done!  In my spare time, I love spending time with family/friends, learning about God, playing strategy games/puzzles, participating in escape rooms, hiking/walks outdoors, watching my boys family fish, riding 4-wheelers with my boys, and all things beach. I grew up in the Presbyterian church, and my great grandmother was actually one of the first females in the United States to serve as a Deacon.  I have been coming to Mo-Ranch since I was a teenager, and have many fond memories of growing my relationship with God there.  I often say “you can just feel God’s presence while at Mo!” This will be my 3rd year attending ICYC, and I can’t wait to be a part of it this year. Looking forward to all the glory we can bring to God through our efforts serving during the conference!

Co-Director: Kevin S. Brigance (Pastor KB)

Kevin has been dedicated to serving students of color through mentorship since 2008. Passionate about equipping young men for success, he established a mentoring program for teen dads, guiding them through the challenges of fatherhood while supporting their education.

As the Student Pastor at Freedom Church for the past four years, Kevin has been instrumental in building both the team and the ministry, fostering a culture of faith, service, and growth.

Kevin is happily married to Dalena M. Brigance. Together, they have two wonderful daughters: Kendall, who thrives in music and the arts, and Kaiya, who loves to dance and play with her baby dolls and “witchy fingers”.

Small Group Coordinator: Mary Meghan Thomas

My name is Mary Meghan Thomas – I’m from Htown. I have been serving as Youth Director at Northwoods Presbyterian for 5 years. I am very passionate about Youth Ministry, journalism, education, and immigration/caring for asylees – and I love sharing my passion of volunteering along the Texas/Mexico border with my youth group each summer. I graduated from Texas State in 2018 where I had the pleasure of studying abroad in Queretaro, Mexico. I love music, basketball and reading!

Keynote Speaker: Dan Anderson-Little

I am Dan Anderson-Little. I have been the Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Garland, TX for the past 5 years. First Presbyterian Church of Garland is a highly multicultural church: we are 55% Anglo, 20% West African, 20% Pakistani, and 5% Hispanic. Our Sunday School and Youth group have about 45 children and they come from all three of our biggest cultural communities. We have two worship services every Sunday: one in English which features traditional Western, contemporary, and African music, and an Urdu language service that is attended by our Pakistani members. We are working on building a Hispanic outreach in our community which is 60% Spanish speaking. One of the best parts of being Pastor of First Presbyterian Church is that I am always learning about new cultures and in the process learning new ways to praise God!

I have been an ordained pastor for the past 34 years. I have served churches in Detroit, MI, Kansas City, MO, St. Louis, MO, and the DFW area. I have served inner city, urban, suburban, and rural churches. My congregation in Kansas City was multiracial, and I served a church congregation in St. Louis with a significant Liberian membership. I have studied and worked in England; Costa Rica; Zimbabwe; and Lebanon. I have had the privilege of preaching in the UK, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Cuba, Colombia, and Pakistan.

I am married to Linda, a Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She serves St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Richardson, TX. We are the parents of three grown children. In my spare time I like to cook (I have a great love of preparing Thai and South Asian dishes), to watch Netflix series, and to listen to music.

Worship Leader: Betty Osae

Music Leader: Michael McDougal

Michael studied music at Sam Houston State University and graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Michael served as the music director at First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Texas where he directed the choir from 2020 to 2024. Currently Michael works as a private lessons teacher for voice and piano in Houston, Texas and leads music for the Presbytery of New Covenant’s Presbyterian Youth Connection Council. Michael has lead music for Junior High Jubilee in 2023, and ICYC in 2024. He’s excited to be back to share God’s love through music this summer at Mo!

Music Co-Leader: Allyson Collado

Born in the Philippines, raised in Singapore, before eventually moving to Corpus Christi Texas, Allyson has served in the Music Ministry at Faith Community Church for 6 years. She plans to continue her education at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio pursuing a degree in International and Global Studies with a Minor in Music. In her spare time, she enjoys anything artsy, such as digital art, painting, photography, as well as music composition, learning about geography, and memorizing the capitals of the world.

She has performed in a choir with the Corpus Christi Symphony and has served God as a Worship Leader/Back-up vocalist/Guitarist/Pianist for Faith Community church since she was 10. She looks forward to being able to meet wonderful people and serve God in different ways at ICYC!

Recreation Leader: Gretchen Smith

Gretchen just wrapped up her 19^th year as a music educator in Texas Public Schools. For the last ten of those years, she has served as the Director of Orchestras at Glenn Middle School in San Angelo, Texas. Her students have performed everywhere—from school cafeterias to Carnegie Hall—and won awards at many levels, including All-State Musicians and International Concerto winners. Her educational philosophy focuses on inclusion and in teaching each child as they are able to learn. There is room for everyone in the orchestra.

Seven years ago God called her to serve as the Director of Christian Education at St. Paul Presbyterian Church in San Angelo, Texas, where she was recently ordained as an elder. She’s accompanied kids to Triennium, Presbytery Youth Workshops, summer camps in Buffalo Gap. She also served as group sponsor to Mo Ranch Summit 4-6 and ICYC each year. Gretchen loves walking alongside children, youth and families as they navigate life and sharing God’s light into all the dark places people find themselves.

Her three passions in life are education, ministry and mental health. She serves on the local and state boards for the National Association on Mental Illness as Education Director and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Twice a month, Gretchen facilitates support groups for individuals living with mental illness and their families. Recently, she was honored as the first recipient of the Laura Lee Lewis Community Champion for Mental Health Award.

Gretchen’s three adult children are forging their unique paths in life. Dixie lives in Georgia with her son Richard, Melody just wrapped up their junior year as a Biology and Environmental Studies (with a Creative Writing minor) at Austin College and Charlie studies Cybersecurity at Angelo State University. Gretchen enjoys the culture and community of San Angelo with her partner Angela, her two phenomenal kids and three ridiculous cats, Squiget the Fluffy Dagger, Mr. Thomas Wilbur Soot and Katrina, Chaos Generator. There is also a dog.

This summer, Gretchen is most excited to serve as the Rec Director for ICYC!

Recreation Co-Leader: Sam Davenport-Herbst

Bio Coming Soon!

2024 Theme: Prayer

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you 

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Cost & Housing

$285 per registrant/adult sponsor for group lodging.

$420 per registrant/adult sponsor for hotel lodging. 

Housing

Many of the buildings on our historic property were built as early as the 1950s.  We acknowledge that our buildings cannot accommodate all abilities and people yet and commit to making reasonable accommodations until all facilities are renovated.

Standard housing for youth conferences at Mo-Ranch is group housing. These spaces include, but are not limited to, Milk Barn, Milk Barn Bunkhouses, River Dorm, Guest Lodge, and Log Lodge.

Conference Housing Description – Shared space with other churches, youth groups, and conference attendees.

Sleeping quarters will vary from semi-private to dormitory style housing that can consist of 4- 20 beds in a shared communal living environment. These rooms can consist of single or double beds, and single bunk bed styles. For specific bed/room layouts, please visit Stay at Mo-Ranch • Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly (moranch.org).

Bathroom Facilities Description

Bathrooms in group housing are shared community spaces. Private showers and bathroom stalls are available. There are no designated private changing areas. Mo-Ranch encourages all guests/campers/staff to change clothes in private areas and discourages nudity or disrobing directly in front of others.

Mo-Ranch encourages all participants for youth conferences to reside in the community living environment. However, if this style of lodging does not meet your individual needs, please make us aware. We will make every effort to accommodate your housing needs. Changes in housing are subject to availability and additional fees.

Considerations

Housing Reservations: When booking your group for a conference at Mo, please be mindful of our limitations and our available housing. Conference participants will be housed on a first come, first serve basis, though we will do our best to honor your housing preference. To be good stewards of the housing facilities that we have available, your group may be housed with other youth groups in dorm/group housing. It is always a good idea to share this information with your group, including youth participants, parents, chaperones, and church leadership prior to booking so that we may partner with you and your group to try meet the needs of your participants.

Sponsors

You will need a sponsor to youth ratio of 1:5. Adult sponsors must also pay and register for the conference. The number of adult sponsors must correspond to the gender numbers in the group they are bringing.  Five boys and three girls would mean at least one male and one female sponsor. If your group chooses to stay in hotel-style accommodations, youth will be housed 3-4 youth per room and churches may be combined to accommodate this arrangement.

Questions? We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.

Arrival & Departure

Arrive and check-in between 4 and 6 p.m. on the day the conference begins. One sponsor per group should check-in their group. Groups will be able to move into their housing facilities no earlier than 4 p.m. Conferences begin with dinner at 6 p.m. and end mid-morning on the day of departure.

Adult Sponsors

You will need a ratio of 1:5; 1 adult sponsor per 5 youth. Adult sponsors must also register and pay for the conference. The number of adult sponsors must correspond to the gender numbers in the group they are bringing. 5 boys and 3 girls would mean at least 1 male and 1 female sponsor.

Appropriate Dress

While we recognize clothing is one way young people express themselves, we expect them to do so in ways that honor themselves as well as the kind of community we are building during our youth conferences. We ask participants (both youth and adult sponsors) to dress comfortably for the weather, but also modestly. Please refrain from wearing clothing:

• that is too revealing like: short shorts, strapless tops or dresses, shirts that allow for a bare midriff, pants worn below the waist line. Dress should be appropriate for a youth conference. 
• that advertises alcohol or tobacco products
• that contains language demeaning or ridiculing someone’s gender, sexuality or ethnic origin

For recreation events, all participants are expected to wear shirts. Participants out of line with dress standards will be asked to change clothes.

Swim Check

Youth will be asked to take a swim check at the pool during the check-in period. For easy access, youth should remember to pack swimsuits on top. Swimmer and non-swimmer wristbands will be issued to all participants. All youth participants must take the swim check even if they are 18 years of age. Participants not wishing to take the swim check must go to the pool to be given a non-swimmer wristband. Wristbands provide guest identification to our staff and act as meal tickets in the dining hall, and must be worn by guests at all times. Please note Mo-Ranch’s appropriate dress standards when packing swim suits.

Stuff to Bring

Water bottles! Bible, casual clothes, closed-toe shoes for ropes course, swim suit (swim trunks for males, no bikinis for females. “Tankinis” are acceptable so long as no midriff is showing), swim towel, river shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, flashlight, toiletries, notebook, spending money and a camera.

Personal Electronics

Electronic devices include, but are not limited to: cell phones, tablets, mp3 players and handheld games. The use of personal electronic devices affect not only the person using the device but others around them. Using an electronic device for activities unrelated to the conference can be disruptive and disrespectful. Mo-Ranch encourages groups to leave personal electronics at home. We ask that any electronic devices brought to the conference be kept on silent or turned off during all scheduled events (keynote, small group, worship, vespers, etc.) Distracting personal electronics may be collected by conference staff and turned in to a sponsor. Mo-Ranch or its representatives will not assume responsibility for devices that are lost, stolen, damaged and/or confiscated.

Transportation

Mo-Ranch is 90 miles one-way, or a 2-hour drive from the nearest airport (SAT), allow 3 hours travel/check-in time for departures. We recommend generally scheduling arriving flights before 3 p.m. and departing flights after 3 p.m. to be sure you do not miss any of your event. If you are in need of shuttle service to Mo-Ranch, call Kars for Hire in Kerrville at (830) 890-8200 at least 15 days in advance to arrange transportation from San Antonio International Airport. Directions to Mo.

Ropes Course

This conference will include a selection of our ropes course elements. To read a description of each element, click here.

Trading Post

Make sure to stop by the Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly bookstore during your conference to pick out a souvenir!

Questions

We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.