Emily Havanka
“Horses have marked my life and, most importantly, my faith journey. As a young girl, my Shetland pony, Acorn, was my safe haven and our friendship was formative.
My love for Acorn brought me peace, joy, and companionship. Our bond reflected God’s kindness and inspired my love for the Lord.
I could always find the presence of the Holy Spirit outside with Acorn. My eyes feasted daily on open fields, horses running, and tall grasses dancing in the wind. The smell of fresh air and the view of wide open spaces is still to this day an emotional trigger that floods me with peace and connects me to God.
My pony was a large part of my path to Christ. The aim of Glory Hill is to provide a safe place for children and teens to experience the joy of the Lord and to have a faith focused community to bolster them as they grow and develop”.
Emily graduated from Fairfield University with a Bachelors degree in Marketing. After working in Corporate America for several years, she answered the call of God to start Glory Hill Farm and move from Boston to North Carolina where she met her husband, Caleb. She is now a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and loves to share her passion for animals and farm life with the next generation.
emily@gloryhillfarm.org
Caleb Havanka
Caleb is a trained and certified Wilderness First Responder skilled at teaching and practicing rugged wilderness survival. Caleb attended a 3 year outdoor leadership/survival program where he received a Bachelor's degree in Leadership Ministry. During his time in the program, he learned survival skills, led physical training, hiked numerous mountains (including a 69 mile hike in 72 hours), and went on many disaster relief trips including Wilmington, NC (Hurricane Florence), the British Virgin Islands (Hurricane Irma), and Louisiana (Hurricane Ida).
In Caleb’s free time he loves to study history, law, and Scripture, go on hikes, horseback ride, and work on the farm alongside his wife and son. His passion is to share his love for God’s truth with the next generation and to equip young men to boldly proclaim and defend the true message of Christ in this pivotal point in history.
Carolina Manser, Board of Directors
Carolina was born and raised in Switzerland; her steadfast love and appreciation for nature, farm life and the outdoors has always been present. She believes the Lord’s Light shines the brightest in the glory of His creation.
Growing up with three siblings, Carolina has graciously learned (and continues to learn!) the importance of acceptance, community, forgiving love, and sharing and the fundamental role each plays in the fabrication of our lives, especially as children. “Children in particular are so enthusiastic for learning. It’s so remarkable what can happen when we provide them with the love and nurturing of Christ, especially from a young age.”
Carolina is passionate about mentorship. Having been both a mentee and mentor herself, she has experienced the ground-breaking impact these personal relationships can have on one’s heart!
Jackie Bakes, Board of Directors
Jackie grew up spending the bulk of her time outdoors- her childhood home was surrounded by thousands of acres of conservation land. She fondly remembers walking around the nearby reservoir, dipping her feet in cool creeks on hot summer days, and listening to the coyotes howl as the sun went down. Her appreciation for the beauty and majesty of creation led her to The One that made it.
After graduating college, Jackie moved to NYC. While the big city is a far cry from how she grew up, she relished even the smallest tree or tiniest garden amidst the concrete jungle. She realized then just how much impact nature can have to quiet a busy mind and to help us refocus our attention on the Lord.
Jackie whole-heartedly believes that teaching children to find God in His creation can leave a lasting effect that will benefit them for a lifetime.