Chaplain - Gwen Hanna
Why do we have a Chaplain?
At Car-ynne 4 Kids, our Chaplain services provide essential support to not only the families of our special needs clients, but for staff and volunteers as well. Gwen is always available to help people in their walk of life, regardless of what that looks like. She helps maintain a tremendous balance at the ranch.
About Gwen
We are grateful to have Gwen as our full-time chaplain. She has a heart for individuals with special needs, their families, and the staff who care for them. After 30 years in global non-profit work, Gwen became a single mom and saw how Equine Assisted Psychotherapy helped her own children overcome anxiety. This sparked her calling to combine her faith, kids, and horses.
After watching her daughters heal and thrive, in 2015 Gwen began working at a ranch and pursued a counseling degree. She met Theresa during this time and started volunteering as a horse leader, sidewalker, and later as a chaplain. Their partnership grew into a shared ministry serving families with special needs.
Gwen founded “Under His Wings” in 2015, completed Clinical Pastoral Education in 2017, and joined Car-ynne 4 Kids full time. She is trained in crisis, spiritual, and pastoral care. Her work is inspired by her faith, but she respects and relates to families of all beliefs.
Gwen's Goals
Gwen understands the challenges special needs families face and has a deep compassion for siblings, who often feel overlooked and take on caregiving roles themselves. Many families lack support, so Gwen helps connect them with resources and communities, always with confidentiality.
How you can support Gwen
Gwen is not an employee of Car-ynne 4 Kids and is supported entirely through donations. To contribute to her ministry, please make checks payable to Under His Wings, PO Box 702558, Tulsa, OK 74170-2558. Online donations can be made here.
For questions, contact her at underhiswingsps637@gmail.com.
Her schedule is kept updated so families know when she’ll be at the ranch—helping siblings know when their friend “Miss Gwen” will be there.