Who You Are by John Croyle

Who You Are: A Story of Second Chances is the story of  John Croyle, founder of Big Oak Ranch for Boys and Girls in Alabama. Croyle was an All-American defensive end at the University of Alabama with a promising future with the NFL. Yet, in 1974, he turned down a career that would have led to personal fame and fortune to fill the calling God had placed on his heart...to make a difference in the lives of young boys who were being abused and neglected and have the best Children's Home available. (The Big Oak Ranch for Girls was founded in 1988 and Westbrook Christian School in 1990.)

The book's title comes from the request he makes of each of the children when being introduced to someone: "Tell them who you are!"  Introducing oneself, with a firm handshake and looking the person in the eye, helps each child realize their own intrinsic value. Their worth is not based on their past or the circumstances that brought them to the ranch. Nor is it the perception of what the child (or anyone) believes God can or can’t do through each individual. Each child is a unique individual who is valued and loved.

Photo Credit: Kent Gidley

Who You Are is filled with memories of the 40 years of the Croyle family's ministry. John started this right after college, with no idea what he was beginning. He had 5 teenaged boys living with him, and a few months later married his high school sweetheart, Tee (Theresa) Smith. The book is filled with anecdotes, ranging from heartbreaking to humorous, but each points to the difference an individual can make in someone's life by following the plan they believe God has for them. There have been triumphs and failures, but Croyle's honesty with the reader is as transparent as his honesty with the children who are brought to live at Big Oak Ranch.
Each child who moves to one of the ranches is told 4 things during their initial meeting:
1. I love you.
2. I’ll never lie to you.
3. I’ll stick with you until you’re grown.
4. There are boundaries; don’t cross them.

Photo Credit: Kent Gidley

Croyle's adult children, Reagan Croyle Phillips and Brodie Croyle, are now taking on a large part of the responsibility and daily hands-on tasks of the Big Oak Ranch system, but they have the same love for these kids as their parents. This is definitely a family labor of love, including the extended family of those who have made Big Oak Ranch their home.

Photo Credit: Lifeway

I loved this book. Even though it is partially a 40 year stroll down "Memory Lane" with an emphasis on how and why Croyle chose to do this, there are lessons to be learned just as there are in any of his books (and I recommend them all!) that will speak to the reader. Whether you are in the position to mentor a child (and who isn't to some degree?) or if you just need a reminder of Who YOU Are and that you are valuable in the eyes of God, there is something to gain from reading it. I have heard John speak at a church event and on the radio several times. This book captures his style and personality so well. So, if you know him at all, you will recognize him. If you don't...you will after reading this.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Shelton Interactive. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



Big Oak Ranch 40th Anniversary Video from Cam Video Productions on Vimeo.

John’s philosophy can be summed up in this statement: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of house we lived in, the kind of car we drove or how much money we had in the bank, but the world may be different because you and I were important in the life of a child.”John’s philosophy can be summed up in this statement: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of house we lived in, the kind of car we drove or how much money we had in the bank, but the world may be different because you and I were important in the life of a child.”For ways you can help, click on this link.

Big Oak Ranch website
Big Oak Ranch on Facebook