About Camp Jabali
A Vision is Born
As a young man, Larry Clary sensed a heart's desire to create a place for at-risk boys - a ranch setting - where lives could be influenced by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Seasons passed, but Larry's vision for a ranch didn't. In 2011, God brought life to Larry's dream in a big way! In fact, it was too big for Larry alone, so God brought along a partner named Kenneth Sutton. Larry and Kenneth faithfully moved forward purchasing a property in 2013. Larry named the ranch "Jabali" which means "Big Rock" in Swahili, the national language of Kenya, and a place that holds deep significance to him.
As a young man, Larry Clary sensed a heart's desire to create a place for at-risk boys - a ranch setting - where lives could be influenced by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Seasons passed, but Larry's vision for a ranch didn't. In 2011, God brought life to Larry's dream in a big way! In fact, it was too big for Larry alone, so God brought along a partner named Kenneth Sutton. Larry and Kenneth faithfully moved forward purchasing a property in 2013. Larry named the ranch "Jabali" which means "Big Rock" in Swahili, the national language of Kenya, and a place that holds deep significance to him.
Jabali Ranch is a contiguous 600 acre property located in Newton County, Arkansas. It is 14 miles from Jasper which is the country seat. The ranch is situated along Thomas Creek in the Boston Mountains Plateau region of the north central Arkansas Ozarks. The karst landscape ranges in elevation from 1,050 ft. at the creek, to 2,100 ft. along the bluff tops. It contains sinkholes, caves, springs, disappearing streams, waterfalls, and dry valleys. Pastures and clearings are interspersed throughout mature forests of oak, hickory, pine, and cedar. Historically, the ranch included two homesteads engaged in subsistence farming, and later used recreationally as an equestrian outpost for the 40 years or so prior to Jabali. There is ample evidence of indigenous Paleo and Osage Native American presence in the area. Jabli borders the 1.2 million acre Ozark National Forest, which includes the nearby upper Buffalo, Hurricane Creek, and Richland Creek Wildernesses. The ranch is also located just minutes away from the 135 mile Buffalo river.
A Vision Continues
In the spring of 2013, God was stirring Paul Smith's heart to establish an outdoor adventure camp to help heal the wounds of fatherlessness in boys. A mentor with North Little Rock-based "STEP Ministries" for 2 years, Paul not only witnessed the devastation of fatherlessness, but also the positive difference a mentoring father figure can make, and through this, healing takes place when we have a relationship with the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Through STEP Ministries, Paul had developed relationships with other mentors who were members of Fellowship North church in North Little Rock. Paul felt called to Fellowship North, and began attending the church in the fall of 2013, which is the same church Larry Clary attended. Paul and Larry became acquainted, and God began weaving their separate visions together for His glory. Jabali Ranch began serving STEP Ministries boys (whom are mostly fatherless) and their mentors with day trips and work outings. In 2015, spring and fall weekend camps were held at the newly constructed wall-tent camp and reconfigured homestead log cabin. Weekend camps were again held in the spring of 2016 incorporating raft trips on the nearby Buffalo National River in partnership with the National Park Service. In October of 2016, STEP Ministries girls and their women mentors participated in the inaugural camp at the recently finished timber-frame lodge , while the boys and their men mentors enjoyed the new composting toilet/shower facility at the old homestead.
In the spring of 2013, God was stirring Paul Smith's heart to establish an outdoor adventure camp to help heal the wounds of fatherlessness in boys. A mentor with North Little Rock-based "STEP Ministries" for 2 years, Paul not only witnessed the devastation of fatherlessness, but also the positive difference a mentoring father figure can make, and through this, healing takes place when we have a relationship with the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Through STEP Ministries, Paul had developed relationships with other mentors who were members of Fellowship North church in North Little Rock. Paul felt called to Fellowship North, and began attending the church in the fall of 2013, which is the same church Larry Clary attended. Paul and Larry became acquainted, and God began weaving their separate visions together for His glory. Jabali Ranch began serving STEP Ministries boys (whom are mostly fatherless) and their mentors with day trips and work outings. In 2015, spring and fall weekend camps were held at the newly constructed wall-tent camp and reconfigured homestead log cabin. Weekend camps were again held in the spring of 2016 incorporating raft trips on the nearby Buffalo National River in partnership with the National Park Service. In October of 2016, STEP Ministries girls and their women mentors participated in the inaugural camp at the recently finished timber-frame lodge , while the boys and their men mentors enjoyed the new composting toilet/shower facility at the old homestead.
Camp Jabali applied for and was granted IRS 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit status in 2015. That same year, a Board of Directors was established. There are currently no paid staff members, and all camps to date have been supported by volunteers and financial gifts.