Staff & Board members
Dr. Dave Manley
Board Chair
DMin (Doctor of Ministry) Rural Development, MA -Counselling
Dave works, and lives his life in the tiny, isolated community of Consul, in the SW corner of the Province of Saskatchewan. He likes to tell people that Consul is centrally located; 5 hrs from Calgary, 5 hrs from Saskatoon and 5 hrs from Great Falls, Montana. He is a career pastor, serving in a multi-denominational English-speaking Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti from 1986-1993. He and his wife Vicki then moved to Consul, where they served the Church of God and community for the past twenty–eight years. They resigned this position this past September. Fifteen years ago, Dave and Vicki built a bakery in Consul as an experiment in community development. They have since expanded the bakery into a full restaurant and added a motel and 4 B&B suites to their business portfolio. He also serves on the local volunteer fire department and has worked part time in EMS for 28 yrs. Dave continues to work as a consultant. He loves rural life, wood fired pizza, grandchildren and humans (and theoretical theology)!
Kristen Hunter
Board Member
Kristen is passionate about justice and empowerment and values authenticity.
She is the founder of Living Hope Ranch and has served in various positions over the years as communication director, program developer and currently as a board member.
Born and raised in Consul, SK and now lives in Shaunavon, SK with her husband Brock, where they farm full time with his 4 brothers & parents on their 4th generation family farm.
Kristen is a poetry lover, plant grower, art collector, ice cream indulger, wine enthusiast and enjoys interior design. When she and her husband aren’t farming or tackling a home renovation project they spend their time traveling the globe or playing as many board games as possible.
Jenn Phipps
Board Member
Jenn has filled a few roles with Living Hope Ranch since its first launch: starting as a staff member in early 2016, moving to assist as a policy writer, and now serving as a Board Member since the summer of 2017.
She is a Social Worker in corrections, counselling adult women on a variety of issues that have contributed to their offending. She sees great value in providing early interventions and trauma-informed care to teenage girls through a program such as LHR. Jenn is a proud mom of two young ladies and is married to her husband of 23 years.
Melissa Bechtold
Board Member
Melissa is from Consul, SK and has a desire for young women to know their value and beauty both inside and out. She has been serving on the Living Hope Ranch Board of Directors since 2018, with her most current role as treasurer. By trade, she is a Journeymen Hairstylist and has always considered hairdressing to be “heart” work, more than “hair” work. From volunteering in homeless shelters, to serving low in come families and those in ministry, she has found profound meaning in the gift of this industry.
Serving on the Board of Directors with LHR continues to open her eyes to the difficulties that young women are facing in Canada, and provides an opportunity for her to do something about it!
Melissa is raising three beautiful children with her husband of 10 years. She finds joy in sharing their home with others, making and eating good food (Mexican being her favourite), listening to music, singing and writing.
Janalyn Hastings
Board Member
Janalyn moved to Saskatchewan from Ontario in February 2021. She was hired as a full-time grade 4 teacher in September 2021 and loves what she does. Janalyn enjoys working with children of all ages and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others.
Janalyn has been on the Living Hope Ranch Board of Directors since July 2023, and has loved every minute of it thus far. She is excited to continue to contribute to the discussions and planning of LHR.
In Janalyn’s free time she is often found either working on projects around the house, or enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.
Hannah Cook
Board Member
Hannah Cook has worked with various non-profit organizations serving children, youth and families both in service delivery and in administrative roles. She holds a certificate in Biblical Studies, a Child and Youth Care Counselling Diploma, a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and is certified in Equine Assisted Learning.
Hannah currently resides in Consul, SK where she enjoys everything outdoorsy; camping, gardening, hiking, etc. That’s part of what makes LHR’s location and program so great! She believes God’s beautiful creation is good for the soul.
Fun Fact: As an adolescent (before LHR was ever discussed,) she dreamt of having an on-site program for youth in a farm/ranch setting, and now here she is today on the LHR board!
Candace Wilms
Board Member
Candace was raised on her family’s farm near Coaldale, Alberta. She raised her family of 3 mostly around Brooks, Alberta, and eventually moved to Consul, Saskatchewan in January of 2019 where she quickly adopted the Consul Church of God as her home church family. She is employed with Manley’s Bread and Honey, and also works as the Hospitality Manager of the South Country Inn.
Candace has a passion to help the vulnerable. While in Brooks she volunteered as a Crisis Worker at the Crossroads Clinic offering support to women in crisis. She also led a bible study for women at the Provincial Corrections centre.
She was introduced to the services of Living Hope Ranch after moving to Consul, and she was also briefly employed as a part-time Youth Care Worker for LHR. Candace joined the LHR Board of Directors in July of 2023.
Candance is passionate about working with Teens. Her artistic talents allow her to connect with youth on many levels. She spends at least one week per year volunteering at camps, so her connection with, and passion for engaging teens is always being sharpened.
Candace is currently furthering her education and hopes to enroll in her MA in Counselling at Horizon College and Seminary this year.
Cher Dombowsky
Cher (Mohan) Dombowsky’s greatest pride is being a wife, and mother of five children. She grew up with two brothers as pastor’s kids, including some of her favourite years in Consul when her parents pastored there.
In her early adult years, Cher served on the administrative staff of Cornerstone Christian School (Moose Jaw) and later had the honour of serving Winnipeg’s most vulnerable for 5 years at Siloam Mission, before moving back to Moose Jaw in 2010 to raise her family. She has spent the last decade pouring into women whenever God has allowed – whether through bible studies, mentoring, or the annual women’s event she founded in 2015 and continues to co-lead: “Abide Woman’s Gathering”.
Cher is known for her humorous, transparent, and uplifting writing and speaking style and loves to use her giftings to encourage the women around her to discover their own God-given passions, purposes, and potential.
Being a homeschooling mom of 5 kids means her favourite pastime is retreating to a secluded space with a book and a chai. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Stephen, for 19 years and lives on an acreage and “pretend farm” outside Moose Jaw, SK., where she and her family are also active in the Moose Jaw Church of God.