EMBRACE is made up of an all-volunteer staff who donate their time, finances and resources to make this organization come to life for the good of those they serve and to the glory of Jesus Christ. The staff are committed to the mission statement of EMBRACE and are essential to the maintenance and growth of this ministry.
Learn more about their personal journey's here!
Renae Burke
EMBRACE President & Co-Founder | Wild Hope CEO
I was born with a passion for animals, especially horses. Although my parents may argue against that when they rattle off all the stray dogs I brought home. For years I longed for a horse of my own and imagined myself as Tonto riding the plains and being the sidekick of that famed man on a beautiful white horse! Still, for most of my life God provided me with the opportunity to horse-around with my friends who had horses and I loved the summers we spent at my uncles home riding his. Since those days the dreams of my childhood have become a reality and I now own several horses. Today I long to share my horses with others who are horse-less and horse crazy! It's often with these people, while on horseback, that I've found a most captive audience willing to hear about Jesus and all He has done for me. It's here we share in the awe of all He has created as we ride the trails. Still, I yearned for a deeper way to share my horses and the love of Jesus. Since then, God has put together EMBRACE and I have seen yet another dream coming true. I look forward to being a part of the amazing things He has planned!
As I look back at my life, it has been and continues to be, a VERY rare one! I was raised in a Christian home with a pastor for a father. As a pastor's kid (PK) there were many challenges, but love, guidance, wisdom and fun were always in abundance. My family has always been a strong one, but my brother, sister and I had our knock-down, drag-outs like any family. I have seen the promises of God unfold before my eyes my entire life! Proverbs 20:7 states, "the righteous who walk in His integrity....blessed are His children after Him." I am blessed because of the generations in my family before me. And yet, I have struggled all my life believing I had a "boring" testimony. I didn't believe I had anything to share that could really help anyone.
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You know that old saying, "If you haven't gone through it, you can't minister to it." I believe that to a degree, until a friend told me that my life gave her hope for hers. Hope in the future for her kids to not repeat the destruction of her family's generational sin. Today, I see my testimony as one of hope. I know that God is a God that keeps His promises, and that all God's promises are yes and Amen in Christ Jesus!
My heart for EMBRACE is simply to share the hope and steadfastness of our Lord and, of course, my horses with all who come. God does amazing things through His creation and horses are no exception. Using my horses in ministry is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Lord-willing every one that comes to EMBRACE will have their hopes and needs fulfilled through the horses they meet and the love and hope in Jesus Christ!
Colleen Ripatti
EMBRACE Vice President & Co-Founder | EMBRACE Session Leader
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I have been married to my wonderful husband, Chris, since 1997. I have two beautiful children, an 18-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter who was recently married and now I've been blessed with a new son-in-law! I am one of eleven children, some full siblings and some half siblings, and I am an identical triplet. I have been riding horses my entire life, competitively showing them since I was 8-years-old. I started training horses when I was 16 and have been teaching children and adult riding lessons for 20 years. I have also been a volunteer 4H leader for 9 years. I have two beautiful children, an 18-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter who was recently married and now I've been blessed with a new son-in-law!
I am one of eleven children, some full siblings and some half siblings, and I am an identical triplet. I have been riding horses my entire life, competitively showing them since I was 8-years-old. I started training horses when I was 16 and have been teaching children and adult riding lessons for 20 years. I have also been a volunteer 4H leader for 9 years.
My dad passed away when I was only 4-years-old leaving my mom as a single mother to her six children still at home. She remarried into a highly abusive relationship that lasted only a few years before it ended in divorce, my mom struggling as a single parent once again.
Through all of this she was able to keep a few horses around for us kids. My horse quickly became my security blanket through this bumpy ride called life. She was my best friend. I could cry in her mane, tell her all my secrets and then laugh as we galloped across the field. I thought for years that my horse my was my salvation, my hope, my security and only source of happiness.
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One day, horses weren't enough. There were holes in my heart that even my horses couldn't fill. That's when I found Jesus. I learned I had an amazing heavenly Father who loved me, and if I put Him first in my life everything else would work out for my good because I loved him (Romans 8:28). He moved in and filled the holes in my heart.
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From that day on I knew that Jesus needed to be my everything, not horses. He is my salvation, my security, my hope and source of happiness. I knew then what it meant to be truly loved. He loved me so much that He blessed me with the precious gift of horses and the talent and ability to work with them.
I believe horses are amazing creations of an awesome God and that He can work through them to enrich human lives in amazing ways. I also believe I am called to share this gift and these truths to anyone that the Lord brings to EMBRACE ministries. I am so excited to share about two of my greatest loves: Jesus and horses!!
Buffy Rennie
Treasurer | EMBRACE Session Leader
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I was born in California but lived both there and in Illinois. I have eight siblings and was married at 16-years-old to my husband, John. We've been married more than 40 years and we have 3 children: one daughter and two sons. In 1987 my husband decided we needed to start checking out local churches. We'd been married almost ten years and God had never been a topic of conversation until then. I was 24-years-old when I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of my life. Since then I have worked and led women's Bible studies and women's retreats.
I've always had horses and see such an amazing value of putting horses and hurting people together. I heard about EMBRACE from one of my pastors who knew I had horses and also knew that I was going through some difficult family issues. I didn't seek it out for a while.
But, after meeting an EMBRACE staff volunteer I knew it was time to give of myself, my passion for horses, and allow Jesus to work. I'm so grateful to be able to share my horses and my love for Jesus with others!
Elizabeth Comfort
Board Member
Bio Coming Soon!
Julie Behnke
EMBRACE Session Leader
No doubt about it, God made me with a love for animals, especially horses, and the outdoors. My journey started with anything and everything horse-oriented since I was little. In 1973, my parents gave me the gift of a real horse. I will always remember him. His name was Diablo, "devil" in Spanish. Let's just say I learned a lot from him.
Horses have been in and out of my life while working and raising a family. I lived in San Diego, California for fifty-eight years. I married my high school and forever sweetheart in 1978. We have four boys that keep us very busy and they're all grown and married. Now I have four beautiful daughters and three grandchildren. In 2015 my husband and I decided to retire and move to North Idaho. I needed to find a place to board my horse, Roxy, until we could build corrals at our new home. The first ranch I saw with an indoor arena is what led me to the barn manager, Renae, and the owner of the ranch, Reeva. I had no idea what an amazing blessing these women and the ranch would be.
I have been a Christian since 1970, but being involved with EMBRACE has caused me to realize I wanted and needed more in my relationship with God. I now know God made me unique and had a purpose for me. God clearly led me to EMBRACE to fulfill his purpose through the love of God combined with the love of horses to spread the gospel. No doubt about it, God made me with a love for horses to be used in his ministry.
Amy Mort
Volunteer Training Coordinator | EMBRACE Session Leader
I did not grow up in a family that truly loved Jesus or one that instilled His sacrificial love for me. We went to church primarily on Easter and several other times throughout the year. However, it wasn't until my dad made me go to bible camp that my life began to change. From that point on, I would beg my parents to let me attend church and youth functions. Although I had Christ in my heart, I was still rebellious and chose to seek out acceptance from people rather than my heavenly Father.
But there was another place, beyond church, that I felt His peace and that was while riding horses. I think I have always loved horses, and I read every book that I could find about them. Even at seven years old, I wanted to be a horse trainer and dreamed of having my own horse.
We finally got an old, half-starved nag named Bridget when I was about eleven and I did 4-H with her the next year. As a teenager, I felt His presence and was comforted the most while bareback riding through the woods. It was where I went when I couldn’t make sense of things at home. At 18, I had to sell my second horse Shawnee, and I didn't own another horse for almost 25 years. During that time, I worked in customer service, and then became a stay-at-home mom in 2012. I learned to love hearing a person’s background story, and feel that it can tell a lot about why a person is the way they are or why they have made certain choices. Beyond horses though, I think creating things is second nature for me. I like to say I have a re-purposed mind. I can visualize what something or someone could become if given a little love, throw in some encouragement, and maybe a new coat of paint.
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Today, I am married and have four daughters ages 21,19, 8, and 7. In 2016 we purchased two horses, Jubilee and Justice. Then in 2017 my neighbor gave us a half-blind, ex-therapy pony named Bubbles. They have all taught me so much about myself and the areas of my heart that I still needed to submit to Christ. It will be an ongoing process for the rest of my life, but thank goodness for His love, grace and patience for me.
As a believer in Christ, we are all called to serve in one capacity or another. God has given me a tremendous blessing and has provided me an opportunity to serve others using my horses. The last three years of owning my horses went from this is my enjoyment and pleasure, to wanting others to experience the joy and peace I was feeling. I found myself inviting others to come along with me. My life is not my own, and I had been praying and seeking out different areas of equine therapies. But I wanted it to be faith-based. I believe that there is healing, not just for emotional, but also for physical pain in working with horses. I know God has placed me here for a very specific purpose. He has made all the connections at this point, and has enabled me to serve, learn and administer His loving truth through EMBRACE.
Jayne Erickson
EMBRACE Session Leader
I was born and raised in western Washington, got my first pony when I was six-years-old and never looked back. I was born and raised in a Catholic home and spent most of my education in Catholic school but graduated from a public high school. I was very lucky to have a foundation of Jesus Christ because going to public school was hard.
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When I married my husband I came with seven horses, two dogs and a cat and that still didn't scare him off! Today we have four grown daughters and have been married for thirty-seven years. In 2000 we decided to leave the rat race of the west coast and moved out to Idaho. I wish we would have moved sooner! This is such a beautiful place to live. I've owned horses now for more than fifty years and have experience in a number of disciplines including barrel racing, gaming, showing and trail riding.
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I retired in 2019 and felt a calling to use the gifts the Lord has given me. EMBRACE has the heart of Jesus at its center and I felt that with my horse experience and the love of Jesus this was the right place for me to be. I'm thankful that my Lord walks with me every day, he carries me when necessary, and I want to share that love and relationship with those we serve. My journey with Jesus continues to grow stronger every day, and I'm truly blessed to know that I am a child of God.
Pam Trefts
EMBRACE Session Leader
I accepted Jesus as my Lord in 1983. I love him, deeply, and He loves me! I grew up in southern California and moved to North Idaho in 1997. I'm married with five grown children and have two beautiful grand kiddos.
I also love horses and have spent thirty years working with them in some form or fashion. I also love working with crafts and am so grateful I get to take both things I love and apply them in this ministry! I believe I've been called to EMBRACE for the simple task of sharing my Lord Jesus Christ with all who will listen.
Madeline Loren
EMBRACE Secretary and Session Leader
My full name is Madeline Marie Loren, but if it is easier for you to remember, just call me Maddy! I was born in SW Washington, but due to my father being in the Navy, we moved about the Pacific Rim for many years. Later, returning to my roots in the Longview/Kelso area, I met my husband and we were married in 1980. We have 7 children and 13 grandchildren.
We made North Idaho our home in 2012. Here we enjoy not only the natural beauty of this state, but also the warmth and
hospitality of its residents, as well as the unique culture of the area. We feel very blessed to call it home!
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I never had a horse growing up, but was fortunate enough to have a few friends that allowed me to ride their horses on occasion. I was able to purchase a horse of m own when I turned 40. As a mother of 7 with 6 still at home, it was a blessing to get some alone time each evening and found it soothing to do something as routine as mucking the stall, feeding, brushing and loving on my horse, who was a patient listener. Back then, I jokingly and naively said a horse was cheaper than counseling! Don't ask me now if I still believe that to be true. I have now owned horses for the past twenty years, selectively breeding, raising and training Tennessee Walkers, a confident and dependable trail/mountain horse. After moving to Idaho, I had to scale down to one horse who I ride on the trail and also have involved him in Embrace. He is companionable and forgiving in nature.
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As for crafts, I am creative and very much enjoy taking an idea and turning it into something tangible, beautiful and meaningful. At this time, my current schedule no longer affords me much creative time, but it is still something I greatly enjoy.
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I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savoir at age 20. Let it suffice to say that many, MANY years have passed since then. However, it has only been in he last year that I have come to truly understand and able to accept what it means to be a "child of the King' and 'beloved daughter' who is deliberately and uniquely created in every aspect for relationships with God and to do His works.
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I previously lived and strived to be "in" Christ, but lacked the understanding of what it meant for Him in Me! To summarize my ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ would be this:
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Being in Christ, I am redeemed AND with Christ with in me, I am sanctified
Being in Christ, I am fit for heaven AND with Christ in me, I am fit for earth
Being in Christ, changes my destination AND with Christ in me, it changes my destiny.
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That truth makes ALL the difference in how I live my life, plus inspires a passion within me to introduce others to reality of the love our Father God has for us, the purpose He has for us, and the mercy and salvation we have through accepting Jesus Christ.
Shelly Hubbard
Fundraising for Embrace & Wild Hope | EMBRACE Session Leader
My name is Shelly Hubbard & I’ve live in Idaho the majority of my life. I’m 30 years old, I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, John, for almost 7 years & we have an almost 4 year old daughter, Ariya.
I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home, but my faith didn’t really become my own until later in my adult years.
As a little girl, God planted a seed inside of me for the love of horses. I always wanted to be a horse girl, but the opportunity came & went as I grew up & I was never able to pursue that dream.
Until 2020, when Satan completely crippled me with fear & anxiety. Throughout my darkest moments God kept gently pushing me towards horses. I didn’t understand. Why was he allowing this anxiety? Why was he also bringing up a childhood dream right now when all I wanted was to be me again. It was so unrealistic for me to pursue this when I was in my late 20’s with a new baby! I could NEVER do anything with horses, or so I thought..
In January of 2021 God completely set up a meeting for me with Renae for riding lessons. I had no idea what I was about to walk into at the time. We met her & she echoed to me what God had been saying to me. When I found out about Embrace & what they did I KNEW this is where he had been leading me.
I suffered with my anxiety for months before I finally leaned into God fully & let Him teach me how to fight Satan with the tools that are available to me. I’m now anxiety free & I also own a horse! That’s another story for another time!
Not only do I know God completely freed me from my anxiety, in the process, he also became my best friend! Jesus wants to free every single one of his children from anxiety & he also cares about the little things & the longings of your heart! He is, in fact, the one who put them their!
I love being able to share my testimony to everyone who comes through Embrace & I feel so blessed that God gently pointed me to a ministry who teaches about Jesus with horses! If he could have picked a more fulfilling dream of mine to fulfill- he couldn’t have! I know God has HUGE plans for Embrace & I’m so grateful to be woven into those details of His intricate design.
Jenna Nostrum
EMBRACE Session Leader
Hi, My name is Jenna and I was born in 2000. I grew up in beautiful Kalispell Montana where my love for animals, especially horses, grew. My family was so blessed to have been "adopted" into a family that owned a ranch who then allowed us to start working to pay off the board of our horse. We eventually started calling them Nana and Popop. Nana is the person who gave me a solid riding foundation and helped me to grow in my passion for horses. Over the years I have done many different disciplines with horses including 4H, gaming, horse showing, trail riding and Eventing. I grew up in a loving Christian home with 3 older sisters. Life with older sisters was not always easy but I am so thankful to have them as some of my best friends today. My relationship with the Lord really became my own in high school. Jesus has really begun to take me deeper in the last four years, and I am so excited to be a part of EMBRACE to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through horses with these women and girls!
Katie Shaver
Media Manager | Session Leader
I have had a passion for horses for as long as I can remember, but my first and foremost love is for Jesus, my everything!
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When I was about 11, I got an opportunity to go to a friend's barn and play with her horses. For the next ten years I learned to ride, understand how the equine mind works, and cultivate a work ethic for the lifestyle. I didn't see it at fist, but He worked through horses to save my life, physically and spiritually. Coessentially, now faith and horses have so many overlaps in my mind, I can't ignore them.
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I was brought up in a Christian home, but it was a "cultural"
Christianity where we went to church to check it off the to-do list. I frankly didn't care...I thought I was saved because I "did the right things."
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As a teenager I struggled with severe anxiety and depression. I also developed chronic Lyme disease ( which as of 2024 I am healed of!!) with a host of other conditions. I was dangerously anorexic, trying to gain a sense of control through my destructive habits, combined with the desire to not exist. I also dealt with a lot of relational hurt and abuse in those years, especially from people who claimed to love me. It was the darkest point in my life. It made working with horses difficult because they could tell what came out of my mouth didn't match what was in my heart.
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But, God intervened. It wasn't simply that I needed rescuing from my circumstances, I needed rescued from my soul. When the Gospel finally clicked, Jesus softened and comforted my heart. I realized that life was worth living and even though some circumstances didn't change, I was equipped with a supernatural peace that surpassed understanding. My fight wasn't a solo one. The King of King's had me.
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Fast forward to January 2022, I joined EMBRACE, hoping to reconnect with horses after my hiatus due to getting married, moving to Idaho and Covid. I was also incredibly lonely, and longing for friends and purpose. i felt like a useless Christian, but now I see how God has been preparing me for this work for awhile through my pain and passions.
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I can personally testify how God is working through EMBRACE, not just in the individuals we serve, but in my own life as well. He has filled and healed so many relational gaps through fellow volunteers. There are to many stories for this bio.
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I live in Post Falls with my husband Jacob, my mustang Dashi ( a former Wild Hope horse), and our cats. We attend One Place Church in Hayden. I wear many hats professionally, but my primary work is teaching riding and horsemanship lessons to all ages and skill levels. I love trail riding, dark coffee, good conversations and living in victory thanks to my Savior.
Jaedyn Beatty
Embrace Session Leader
Bio Coming Soon!
Kristi Woesner
EMBRACE Session Leader
In college I had the chance to work several summers in a horse barn at a Christian camp. That experience taught me so much about God, horses, life and ministry. I loved watching the campers learn and be challenged by being outside their comfort zones. To again, be able to combine my love of horses with helping others and pointing them toward our amazing Creator, was a dream. In 2023 God granted that dream and opened the door for me to volunteer at EMBRACE. I am so grateful!
​I grew up in a Christian home and attended Christian schools. I loved God when I was a child, but really struggled with negative
thoughts and depression. It wasn't until after marrying my husband, Max, that God started teaching me that I had beliefs that did not agree with Him and when I operated out of those beliefs the consequences were negativity I had experienced. I learned I had been listening to the voice of shame and in Christ, I don't have to! He is guiding me in learning how to accept His truth more in each area of my life; this better aligns my perception with His reality. He is teaching me how to better abide in Him and trust Him with my life and future. This "practical Christianity" is widening my view of how truly amazing our Heavenly Father is and how much He cares for us.
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My mare, Keona, whose name means "God's gracious gift," was given to me when she was three years old. She has been a huge blessing to me the past twenty plus years. When we go on a trail ride, i's like going with a friend. In 2024 EMBRACE brought in a yearling Mustang, Promise, to use in the program. I loved working with her that year and was able to bring her home with me for the journey of learning with another special horse.
In 2020 I paraphrased some of my favorite verses. One is Proverbs 3:5-8, "I cannot rely on my own insight or understanding-they have been faulty in the past-but I can rely on You completely. Every step I take, every aspect of my life, I turn to You because only by You can I stay on track and my endeavors (that are in line with Yours) be accomplished. By respecting Your kingdom principles and turning entirely away from anything that isn't in line with Your ways, I can be healed and strengthened to my core."
Erin Belzer
EMBRACE Session Leader
I'm a wife and proud mother of four amazing children. My love for God and horses began at a very early age when I was introduced to Breyer toy horses and prayer. When I was five years old, my grandfather bought me my first Breyer and my most memorable moment was when I heard my grandfather privately recite the Lord's Prayer, so began my introduction to horses and God's love.
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I was not raised in the church. My family life was very challenging, so my understanding of who God was growing up was very limited. It wasn't until much later in life when I experienced a life-threatening accident involving my youngest son in which I witnessed the miracle of God answering my
prayer to healing. At that point, I truly began to understand the depth of His sacrifice, love and mercy. This humbling experience led me to seek a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is such a blessing to look back upon my life now and see how God has always been by my side, protecting and saving me for something more.
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Through out the hills and valleys of my life story, my love for horses never diminished and I was blessed with riding friends' horses bareback in grassy fields and renting horses at local stables whenever I could. It wasn't until later in life, through God's grace of a loving husband that i would own a horse of my own. Loving people and sharing God's love with horses at EMBRACE has been a dream come true. My journey with the participants, staff and horses has been an incredible blessing and another great testimony of God's divine direction. I am truly grateful and humbled by my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I look forward to meeting you and seeing what God has planned for the future.
Erika Hammond
EMBRACE Session Leader
Bio Coming Soon!
Jim Gotcher
EMBRACE Session Leader
Bio Coming Soon!