Facility profile Missouri
Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch
Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch was a program in Humansville, Missouri. It operated from 2006 to 2020.
Survivor testimony
What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.
Reported on survivor forums
News coverage
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Abuse lawsuits target Christian home whose director backed Missouri foster care bill
Former residents of Show-Me Christian Youth Home have filed federal lawsuits alleging forced labor, physical punishment, and sexual abuse while they were placed at the unlicensed facility. The lawsuits contend that the home and its staff failed to protect the survivors and that disciplinary measures intensified after reports of abuse were made.
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Former Agape Boarding School near Stockton resurfaces in federal kidnapping-related case
A California mother was sentenced to three years in federal prison for arranging the transportation of her 16-year-old son to Agape Boarding School in Missouri, despite a protection order. The son was taken from California and held at the facility. Agape Boarding School has since closed down amid reports of abuse and concerns about employee background checks.
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Missouri bill would allow foster kids in unlicensed Christian facilities
A Missouri bill proposes to allow unlicensed Christian facilities to receive state placements of foster children, sparking concerns about lack of oversight and potential for abuse. The bill would create a new 'Child Protection Board' to oversee facilities registered with the Missouri Association of Christian Child Care Facilities. Critics argue that this could lead to inadequate protection for children in these facilities.
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Another Missouri Boarding School Closes Following Abuse Claims
ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy in Piedmont, Missouri, officially closed following the arrest of its owners and an ongoing state investigation into allegations of child abuse and neglect. The facility is one of several unregistered Christian boarding schools in Missouri to cease operations amid pending lawsuits and criminal charges against staff members for various forms of abuse.
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Ex Missouri boarding school worker charged with child porn | The Kansas City Star
A former staff member at Agape Boarding School in Missouri was arrested in Alabama and faced child pornography charges, prompting former students to share accounts regarding his employment history at the facility. The institution has faced ongoing scrutiny and separate legal actions regarding allegations of systemic abuse, physical assaults, and misconduct by staff members.
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Christian boarding school in southern Missouri becomes third to close in recent months
Master's Ranch Girls Academy at Belle Vie in southern Missouri has closed, becoming the third unlicensed Christian boarding school in the state to shut down in recent months. The facility's closure follows state legislative changes requiring registration and inspections for unlicensed schools, as well as broader regulatory scrutiny involving multiple Missouri residential facilities linked to prior staff misconduct allegations.
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Missouri Judge Delays Closure Order for Agape Boarding School
A Missouri judge faced criticism after pausing an emergency order to close Agape Boarding School, which had been sought by the Attorney General and Department of Social Services due to immediate health and safety concerns involving an employee with substantiated physical abuse findings. The case highlighted ongoing scrutiny regarding state oversight of unlicensed boarding schools, local law enforcement connections to the facility, and previous handling of criminal charges against staff at residential programs in the region.
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‘Missouri is becoming a safer place.’ Third boarding school closes, former students say
Legacy Academy Adventures, an unlicensed Christian boarding school in Cedar County, Missouri, operated by a former Agape Boarding School staff member, has closed. The closure follows increased legislative oversight of unlicensed religious boarding schools in the state and multiple criminal investigations and charges involving staff and affiliated personnel across local facilities.
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Nine Former Students File Lawsuits Against Missouri Boarding School Alleging Mistreatment
Nine former students filed lawsuits against Agape Boarding School in Missouri, alleging abuse, battery, food deprivation, and severe mistreatment by staff and peers between 2015 and 2019. These filings bring the total number of former student lawsuits against the facility to fourteen since February 2021. Additionally, five similar lawsuits involving the closed Circle of Hope Girls Ranch have reached settlements.
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Lawsuit Filed Against Owners of Missouri Boarding School Alleging Child Abuse and Forced Labor
The estranged daughter of the former owners of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch has filed a lawsuit against her parents and associated entities alleging forced labor, physical abuse, and sexual misconduct during her upbringing. The defendants have previously denied allegations of abuse. The facility closed in September 2020 amid investigations that resulted in criminal charges against the owners.
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5 Missouri boarding school employees charged with abuse
Five employees of the Agape Boarding School in Missouri were charged with a total of 13 third-degree felony assault counts following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The local prosecutor filed fewer charges than recommended by the state attorney general's office, prompting criticism from former students and advocates regarding accountability.
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‘A big day’ for victims of reform school abuse as Parson signs Missouri oversight bill
Governor Mike Parson signed House Bill 557, granting the state authority to register and inspect unlicensed Christian boarding schools in Missouri. The legislation requires health and safety inspections, background checks, and reporting of student information, aiming to address reported physical restraint and sexual abuse at facilities such as Circle of Hope and Agape Boarding School.
3 more articles
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House passes bill to regulate faith-based residential care
The Missouri House passed House Bill 557, requiring faith‑based residential homes to notify the Department of Social Services and comply with safety and background‑check regulations. The bill was introduced after reports of abuse, including sexual misconduct and seclusion, at facilities such as Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. The legislation aims to improve oversight and protect children in these homes.
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After reported abuse at Christian boarding school, some say Missouri law must change
Former residents of Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch reported physical restraint, food and water deprivation, and sexual abuse. State officials are reviewing the facility’s exemption from licensing and oversight after multiple substantiated abuse reports.
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Former Agape students say staff members gang raped them
Former students of Agape Boarding School in Stockton, Missouri, allege that staff members sexually assaulted them, describing gang rape and other forms of sexual misconduct. The allegations include physical restraint, humiliating punishments, and a culture of abuse that persisted for years. Investigations by state authorities and the attorney general’s office are ongoing, with survivors expressing concern that justice may not be fully achieved.
Staff
Administration
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Boyd Householder
Cofounder, director
Elsewhere in the industry
- Agape Baptist Academy Former Staff
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Jeffrey Ables
Director
Elsewhere in the industry
- Berean Baptist Church pastor
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Stephanie Householder
Cofounder
Elsewhere in the industry
- Agape Boys Ranch dean of staff/ranch manager
Notable staff
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Ben Forrester
Secretary
Elsewhere in the industry
- Berean Baptist Church director
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Christopher Allison
Board of Directors
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William Marshall
Board of Directors
Elsewhere in the industry
- Riverside Baptist Church pastor
Connections on the network map
The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.
Documents
Research that mentions this program
From the Unsilenced archive
42 documents about Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Circle of Hope.
Documents
- 2004-01-fnl.pdf
- 2012-child-family-services-plan-report.pdf
- 2013-child-family-services-plan-report.pdf
- 2014Distributionvoucher.pdf
- 2015 parent-orientation2.pdf
- 2015 parentorientation.pdf
- 2018-Agape-Horse-Sale-CATALOG.pdf
- 2020-AACS-Directory-FINAL-compressed-1.pdf
- 2021-03-09-boyd-householder-information.pdf
- 235-March.pdf
- 3-May-June-compressed.pdf
- 5-September-October.pdf
- Additional Links for Circle of Hope.xlsx
- AF from Agape Boarding School.pdf
- application.pdf
- CCMH CHNA 2014.pdf
- certified-school-list-03-18-20.pdf
- childrenandfamiliesreport.pdf
- cte-advisory-council-notes-01.28.19.pdf
- currentnewsletter.pdf
- E-Application.pdf
- EvaluationReport.pdf
- HB0456C.pdf
- HB1024C.pdf
- HB1660C.pdf
- jrn047.pdf
- jrn052.pdf
- jrn059.pdf
- jrn060.pdf
- LobbyistPrincipal.pdf
- New Agape lawsuit claims ‘culture of pervasive physical, emotional and sexual abuse’.pdf
- PrincipalLobbyist.pdf
- status-of-children-2009-report.pdf
- Survivor A of Agape Boarding School.pdf
- Survivor B of Agape Boarding School.pdf
- Tax Return 2014.pdf
- Tax Return 2016 - 2.pdf
- Tax Return 2016.pdf
- Tax Returns 2018.pdf
- wpc-i-030415.pdf
- wpc-i-071316.pdf
- wpc-i-102418.pdf
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Materials and links
External links
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