2025 Leadership:

Director: David Angulo

David Angulo is a recent graduate from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He currently serves at Westminster Presbyterian Church Austin as a pastoral resident. His focus as a pastoral resident is youth ministry! Originally from Villahermosa, Tabasco, a tropical city in Southeast Mexico, David enjoys fishing, soccer, or any sports that offer a fun time! David loves watching Marvel movies, and the MCU Iron Man is his favorite superhero. David is married to Jasmine, a preschool teacher and they love to cuddle with their puppy, Toby. Mo means a lot to him, as he has been attending camp and other events there since high school!

 

 

Co-Director: Joshua Clapp

Josh serves as the Director of Youth Ministry at University Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX. He grew up in the Dallas area and attended Undergrad at Texas Christian University. Although born and raised, life has taken him all over. He has lived in Tacoma, WA and New Orleans, LA.  Back in Texas now, he attends seminary at the University of Dubuque Theological as a distance student and is pursuing ordination in the PCUSA and is under care in Mission Presbytery. He has served as a small-group leader for Mo-Ranch at Summit 46, Junior High Jubilee, and Midwinters. In the past he has served as a Chaplain Intern at MD Anderson Cancer Center, a Pastoral Internal at First Presbyterian Church of El Campo, and currently provides pulpit supply for the local area congregations. He loves all things summer camp, a good dad-joke, standup comedy, traveling, sleeping and games nights with friends. He has two children ages 9 and 3, Jack the black cat, Luci the banana ball python, and Stubs the bearded dragon.

 

Keynote Speaker: Ashley Drake Mertz

Ashley is a Texas transplant, first falling in love with the state as a student at Trinity University in San Antonio. She returned to Texas to serve Grace First Presbyterian Church in Weatherford, TX and now serves at First Pres, Fort Worth. At First Pres she works with the Congregational Care ministries helping to facilitate pastoral care across the congregation. She is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and loves helping people live into their best lives. Ashley is married to Lance and they have two dogs, T-Bone and Lady, who went from foster dogs to adopted dogs within mere days of their arrivals. Ashley enjoys trail running and traveling.

 

 

 

Worship Leader – Kevin Ireland

In the first half-century of his life Kevin has been a troubadour, political aid, bartender, recording artist, innkeeper, rural development advocate, and a communications manager for a bio-tech start-up. Kevin discerned a call to ministry while serving as Authorized Pulpit Supply for Americus United Presbyterian Church in Americus, Kansas. In 2019 Kevin moved to Austin with wife, Rachel, and children, Rowan and Kiran, to attend Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Kevin graduated in the class of 2022, receiving the W. P. Newell Fellowship in recognition of superior accomplishment and readiness for ministry, and the Chidester Preaching Award. Kevin was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbytery of Northern Kansas in April of 2023 and is currently serving as the Pastoral Resident at Westlake Hills Presbyterian. Kevin still enjoys making music with others and sharing good food and good words over tables.

Music Leader – Kim Mendoza

Kim believes that everyone has a part to sing and play in the Body of Christ. It is music to her ears when she’s in a room full of people using their God-given gifts!  She is passionate about teaching the Word of God in creative ways, cheering on the LA Lakers and LV Aces, and runs when she is excited. Kim currently serves as the Associate Pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Flower Mound, TX.

 

 

Small Group Coordinator – Savannah Goodman

Co-Pastor for Family Ministries at Spring Branch Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX

Through a dual degree program, Savannah graduated with her Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and her Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Texas at Austin in May of 2022.

Savannah is a native Austinite, and, although she has a great appreciation of Texas, she attended Davidson College in North Carolina and graduated with a Psychology major and a Hispanic Studies minor.

Starting in college, Savannah started exploring her love of being in community with and supporting people, especially children and youth, and since has continued to seek out the intersections and overlaps between clinical social work and pastoral care.

Savannah is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA) Church.

In her free time, Savannah loves to spend time with her husband, Jordan, read science fiction and fantasy novels, play board games, knit, and hike. She is involved both with a monthly intergenerational crafting group and a monthly social justice family book club.

Recreation Leader – Taylor Sexton

Along with serving on the staff of Ferncliff for summer camps and other events over the past five years, Taylor has served as Program Director at Camp Preston Hunt, chaplain for John Knox Ranch and spiritual advisor at Camp Gilmont. A graduate of Baylor University, Taylor will graduate with his Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in May 2025. Along with camp ministry, Taylor has served as the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Zion United Church in Clifton, Texas, Director of Youth and Music Ministries at Grace Presbyterian Church in Round Rock, Texas and Pastoral Assistant for Youth and Families at First Presbyterian Church of Waco. He currently leads Table for You, a young adult ministry in conjunction with Central Presbyterian Church in Waco, Texas. Taylor first came to Mo-Ranch three years ago to serve as the Music Director for Mission Presbytery’s Midwinters Youth Conference and has returned since for other events, including to lead music for Mission Presbytery’s Presbyterian Women Conference and Junior High Jubilee in 2024. Taylor is so excited to be your recreation leader for this year’s Junior High Jubilee because Mo has become a special place to him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024 Theme: Miracle

Ephesians 3:20

 

 

Cost and 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.