Shekinah Ranch Staff

Tom Ravasio: Founder and Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tom Ravasio is a Mon Valley native who comes from a large family of nine brothers and sisters. Tom grew up with a passion for horses, which led him to work after school and on weekends at a ranch in his community. There he became an experienced rider and owned two of his own horses.

He left home at the age of 18 and moved to Florida to pursue a new life. Tom took employment at a restaurant where he met a man who eventually earned his trust and led him to faith in Jesus Christ. That took place on July 4, 1982. A radical change was evident in Tom's life and he immediately began to serve the Lord through his local church and then with the missionary organization "Operation Mobilization" on their ship "LOGOS".

That experience took him to over 20 countries through Central and South America, the Caribbean Islands, the Eastern Coast of the United States and Canada. It was during this two-year term that Tom met his wife Karen and they were married in December of 1986.

Tom then served as an interim Pastor of Evangelism while waiting for the fall semester to start at the Florida based Trinity Bible College. Tom earned a Bachelors Degree in Pastoral Ministries, graduating in 1991. Tom served as associate pastor of the former West Pasco Church of God the last two years of Bible College.

Late in 1991 Tom began to sense the Lord leading him to return to the place where he grew up. He and his wife and first child returned to Monongahela, PA in July of 1992.

While at home, the family took some well-needed time off and spent a month resting on a Christian campground. It was there that Tom went on a two week fast to hear from God and discover His divine plan for him. During that fast, God revealed to Tom a three-part mission. The first part was to plant a church. The second was to open a Christian Western Ranch for children and youth and the third, to open up a home for pregnant teens and un-wed mothers.

Tom and his wife planted the Mon Valley Community Church of God in 1993. He also serves as president and founder of the Shekinah Ranch.

Tom and Karen have three daughters and two grandchildren. The Ravasio family lives on a 20-acre farm where Tom enjoys caring for his horses and spending time with his family.