Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jenifer Wakefield.
Hi Dr. Jenifer , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Restoration Ranch, Texas is a six-month voluntary faith-based discipleship program for women over 18 years of age. Women who are experiencing personal crisis or impacts from addiction can find a safe, and peaceful environment to find a new chance at life.
In 2012, Dr. Jenifer Wakefield was serving on staff at a local church. What she saw in this role was an alarming level of unresolved crisis impacting women within the local church and community but with no help available.
Resources available to women were limited. Food pantries and emergency shelters were not touching the deeper emotional and spiritual needs of women in crisis.
So, Jenifer listened and prayed to God for a solution. Along with like-minded individuals the response was to build upon the “God-given plan” to serve women in crisis in the greater Austin area with a Christ-centered discipleship perspective.
Since 2016, Restoration Ranch, Texas has worked to form an exceptional organization. For too long traditional rehab / recovery programs have existed but typically for those who can pay. Restoration Ranch, Texas does not to let the financial aspect be a barrier to a new way of life.
While we exist as a non-profit, everything does cost money. Our statistics show that 88% of students who have participated in the program at RRTX, do need scholarships for care. Our goal is to help as many women and families as we can with quality, and transformative programming. This is why we need local and like-minded partnerships!
The ministry is supervised by a Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and highly qualified Staff Team.
It is through this vision women are served with quality, residential care through a six-month discipleship program, built upon more specific stages of customized care to heal from the impacts of personal crisis and addiction.
For six months women work the three stages of careful planning to begin rebuilding a new life. The adult students in the program have a strong and supportive community. This along with safety, security, and hope for the future – all inside the walls of a beautiful new modern farmhouse.
Today, the ministry has been blessed to grow! Even now, the leadership is navigating expansion to a new location outside of Florence, Texas in December 2025.
The new women’s discipleship house is situated on beautiful acreage in the countryside which will double the number of women able to join the program. This will allow the team at Restoration Ranch, Texas to serve those who want to seriously partner with a program which guides carefully towards personal healing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, this has not been a smooth road! I would love to see if someone answered YES to this question.
I think the best way to describe and generally encapsulate this answer to the question is to say: “Jenifer, if you knew what you were getting into, you might have said “no!”
For me personally, this is a bigger plan and design than just “work.” This was a ministry calling to say “yes” every day to a rescue mission. Those days can be filled with laughter and fun – visibly rewarding work. There are days occasionally – I want to crawl in a hole and turn off the lights. Those days are so heavy when people we have poured into just quit and give up. They have so much potential.
Our team is amazing. We truly are an exceptional team — heart with legs — I like to call it. When we see the relationships end abruptly, those days are hard.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The “work” I have done spans from residential real estate to corporate relocation, to volunteerism in my community and church. After a very fulfilling and amazing time in the corporate world, I began to sense I needed to make a change in “what I did” for a living. My heart was longing to “live to serve others” instead of a “work to live” mantra.
I have always been passionate about volunteering in the local church and serving the women in that community however I could. This revolved around what was needed: hospitality, retreat planning and biblical teaching. These areas were also places I loved naturally, so it was a fit.
Through time, the culmination of this full circle came when I had the opportunity to serve on staff at my home church, Great Hills Baptist Church, in Austin, Texas. It was in this new role I began to work with women in a more personal way – mostly as they faced crisis.
My personal story also holds the backdrop of non-profit, because I am the product of a local non-profit. In 1973, my life trajectory changed as I went to Round Rock, Texas to live at Texas Baptist Children’s Home.
My real story began there when I arrived as a young girl, lost. No place to go, broken family, without hope, and desperate for stability.
I understand the importance of excellent non-profits. Our communities need reliable, trustworthy organizations our leaders can turn to when they encounter individuals in crisis. Thankfully, the judge who looked at me as a kid standing before him knew who to pick up the phone and call.
My philosophy is to know our community leaders well and have them know about Restoration Ranch, Texas so they can pick up the phone or send an email when they need help.
Part of the story is about the later part of my life, where I am now. Whatever has happened to a person does not have to define them permanently. I am not saying this to be cliche. It is true, because I am living proof of a life changed by the power of God, by faithful people who introduced me to God as a young girl at that children’s home.
In addition to this story, I met my amazing husband while I was at the children’s home. Two very significant things happened to me while I was in care at this children’s home: I was introduced to the God of Hope, Jesus Christ and said “yes” to Him as my Lord.
And later on, I met the man of my dreams, Gary Wakefield. I am honored to be his wife, the mother of our children, and Gigi to our grandchildren. Having a family of my own is one of the greatest blessings in life, and I do not take it for granted.
Between that time and now, God has been the builder of good things! This is what He does best. I am (again) living proof of a life transformed not by my own will but through the wisdom of what God ‘s plan had to offer.
During my time as a church staff and Women’s Director, my training historically run deep in corporate management.
I began to see I was lacking in training while serving people in crisis. As I considered and prayed, I went to a seminary close to my location. I had no idea that through this pursuit, God would lead me to earn two degrees. All of this was to prepare me and benefit women to come at Restoration Ranch, Texas.
My family along with a close circle of dear friends have supported and walked with me all the way. It is true that no one succeeds alone. This is certainly my experience!
Sometimes the assignments from God sound absurd. The Bible is full of absurd as well as completely logical requests. For me, as long as God is behind it and ordains it, I am all in!
Finally, one area I have realized that I enjoy very much and hope it is helpful to women is writing. Last year, I had the opportunity to publish a resource for women who are beginning the difficult season of healing emotionally and mentally. I have been given the opportunity to teach and bring discipleship to women all over the world (the last 30 years) and most recently to Lima, Peru with an amazing team from my alma mater Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
During this trip – the culture, the people, the food were amazing. One thing we all saw and heard was the deep desire to receive biblical training for church leadership. We addressed some tough cultural (ingrained) issues. It was hard to hear about oppression and hurt against women and children. Again, for me if God invites me to “go” and share about His hope, I am going to go no matter where it leads.
To answer “what sets me apart from others” is my faith. My personal faith in Jesus Christ sets me apart because it is what I am about now. Not awards. Not money. Not recognition. My desire is to impact (others) with the hope of Christ as much as I can. I have wasted a lot of time in my life. I am so thankful God has invited me to join Him in this very meaningful work of discipleship and care for women in crisis.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Studying classical dance through ballet and tap as a young girl. My dream was to be a professional ballet dancer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.restorationranchtx.org
- Instagram: @restorationranchtx
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/restorationranchtx
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restoration-ranch-tx/
Image Credits
Larisa Janie Photography
Fulenwider Photography
