Recently Chuck Travels was contacted by a mother who reports that her daughter was abused and neglected at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch located in Humansville, Missouri. She and others have alleged that the CEO Boyd Householder made fraudulent statements as well. Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding Schools is a tax exempt/non-profit. Many have alleged that Boyd Householder uses Circle of Hope Girls Ranch’s tax exempt status to not only commit fraud against parents, but also abuses and neglects teenage girls. Mr. Householder is the self-described “CEO and Founder of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. Husband, Father, Grandfather.”

Householder also calls himself, ‘Gunslinger for God.’ Why one who is entrusted with teenage girls would go around calling himself a “Gunslinger for God’ is beyond comprehension.

Chuck Travels wrote to Boyd Householder requesting information on Circle of Hope Girls Ranch on June 13, 2011. As of this posting Chuck Travels has not received a response. Unfortunately, it appears that information that comes directly from Circle Of Hope Girls Ranch as to what the program is, is hard to obtain. Two websites that were at one time used by the Householders for Circle of Hope Girls Ranch have been removed from the net. One has to wonder what exactly a place that would remove their own website has to hide?

Former “students” of Circle of Hope claim the Mr. Householder screams and spits in girls faces, girls were either force fed or denied food depending on the whim of the staff. If a girl vomited her face was shoved in her vomitus, and much more. Girls claim that a few of them were made to preform push-ups in horse feces. Parents were charged thousands of dollars for tuition, and $300.00 for uniforms.

Parents were promised their daughters would get a quality education when in reality the girls actually received very little to no education.

It is alleged that an adult staff member of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch had sex with one of the minor girls while she was a student at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. It is further alleged that Boyd and his wife Stephanie Householder knew of this. It is alleged the Householders told the girl not to say anything that they would take care of it and notify the parents. It is alleged the parents were not notified. The staff member left and that was all that was done. No police report can be found.

Mr. Householders belligerence is not only directed to the “troubled girls.” He wrote the following discourteous letter to parents. The letter is dated October 19, 2007.

One can only imagine Mr. Householder’s surly attitude toward the students if he is willing to treat parents in such a boorish manner.

Update: Circle of Hope Girls Ranch is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3). Circle of Hope Girls Ranch National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) Classification lists as a Residential Mental Health Treatment Facility.

What qualifications does Boyd or Stephanie Householder have to claim this?

There are no licensed social workers or licensed psychologists or psychiatrists on staff.

Are there any licensed nurses on staff?

In 2003 Boyd and Stephanie Householder recieved $7,100.00 as a disaster loan.

In addition to the monies Circle of Hope Girls Ranch receives for tuition, room and board and uniforms, Circle of Hope Girls Ranch is supported by numerous churches as part of the churches missionary giving program. New Beginnings Girls Academy, New Bethany, and Hephzibah House program are just three examples. Boyd Householder and Circle of Hope Girls Ranch are like similar facilities supported by churches.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of churches that support Circle of Hope Girls Academy:

Victory Baptist Church, Beaufort, SC

Grace Baptist Church, Crestline, Ohio

Calvary Baptist Church, Knob Noster, MO

Berean Baptist Church, Springfield, MO

Pastor Jeff Ables denied that the church supported Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. However, the following excerpt is from the Springfield, MO NewsLeader: “Baxter / for the News-LeaderBenefit ride The Big 50 Bike Ride to benefit the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School will be May 21. The event is hosted by Berean Baptist Church, with about 35 churches participating.

Anyone who would like to donate to the girls home can send a check or money order to Berean Baptist, 507 E. Norton Road, Springfield, MO 65803. Note on the check it is for Circle of Hope.

For information, call Assistant Pastor Al Price at Berean Baptist, 833-1529.”

Boyd Householder posted this comment under Faith Promise Missions in the pastors blog for Berean Baptist Church:

“I agree! It seems like each Mission’s Conference that we have attended since becoming a member, has gotten better. Hearts are touched and changed, not only in the giving aspect but also in the spiritual aspect. The Missionaries presentations were awesome and Bro. McEntire “flung ‘er down.” Boyd Householder

Pastor Ables why did you publicly lie about not supporting Circle of Hope Girls Ranch/Boyd Householder?

In addition to the tuition, room, board and uniform fees and churches missionary giving, The Householders solicit funds through Charity Blossom and other Charity fundraising sites.