A Tribute To Rachael Tripp
Have you ever noticed a pattern in God’s Kingdom—that something often ends just before something new begins? It’s a divine principle of exchange: we offer Him our ashes, and He gives us beauty; we bring our mourning, and He gives dancing. When it seems like midnight, suddenly—He gives us a new day.
At our darkest hour, our daughter Rachael was only 15 and entered a season of deep suffering. What seemed like endings became the soil for new beginnings. From that darkness, her courageous journey—from trauma to triumph—became the very catalyst that birthed 8th Mountain Ranch: The Ranch of New Beginnings.
Over the past decade, Rachael poured her heart into this ministry. She sowed through service—nurturing our growing herd of rescued horses, staying up late to bottle‑feed baby goats, mucking stalls, stacking hay—and doing it all with wild enthusiasm. Even through Bible School, balancing studies, work, and her passion for the ranch, she pressed on. Most recently, as our Program Director, she led with grace and tenacity through the relocation process. Since our soft reopening in 2022, the program has grown sevenfold—a testimony to both her leadership and God’s faithfulness. Through Outside the Round Pen Seasons I & II, Rachael shared bold wisdom, encouraging us to see spiritual truths in everyday circumstances. 👉 Watch Outside the Round Pen here
Her deep love for people and unwavering devotion to the Lord have left a lasting mark across the ranch and throughout the Woodland Park community. Whether volunteering during community outreach events or humble acts of love toward her neighbor, Rachael’s servant heart transformed lives. One powerful example is the testimony of the Olson/Wood family—a living reminder of how God used Rachael’s faithfulness to usher in new beginnings. The love of God was evident in Emma, Nicole, and countless others who encountered Him through her ministry.
Beyond her role as a minister of hope and healing, Rachael’s deepest desire has always been to share the love of Jesus and see His kingdom come, His will done on Earth as it is in Heaven. While we close this season of her serving as Program Director, we honor her faithfulness as an ambassador of Heaven.
We celebrate all the growth, maturity, and life that has been cultivated through her years of ministry at 8th Mountain Ranch. Yet this is only the beginning of what God has in store for this mighty woman of faith. In Philippians 1:6, Paul writes, “…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.”
As Holy Spirit faithfully leads and guides her, we know there is no end to the divine appointments for Rachael—to exercise her gifts, pursue her calling, and make Jesus famous in every place. We bless her courage to exchange the familiar for the unknown, and we release her into this new season with heartfelt prayers, deep gratitude, and eager anticipation of this new beginning!
With Joy and Expectation of Good Things,
Dale and Amy Eben
Founders, 8th Mountain Ranch