Timberline Ranch was born out of a vision for the young people of Vancouver to be able to enjoy creation at a ranch-style camp and have an opportunity to be exposed to the Gospel. This vision was held primarily by two men, Cec Leng ("Chuck") and Don Lawrie ("Lefty"). These men were led over a period of eight months to the site of an Arabian horse ranch in Maple Ridge. Today, those 73 acres are known as Timberline Ranch. Because it was only one hour from central Vancouver and provided an isolated environment, it was an ideal site for reaching lower mainland young people. The site was purchased in July 1961 and has been greatly used of God since that time.

The emphasis of the Ranch was in training young people in the basics of the Christian life. Chuck and Lefty, along with their families, lived on the site for the first years providing this training in association with the Navigators. In 1964, Timberline Ranch was registered as a Society. Chuck resigned in 1967 after six years of serving as the Director and Chairman of the Board for Timberline, after which Peter Wittenberg took over those responsibilities.