VBS Group
Little Rock Church from Little Rock, AR - leader Chad Nail. I don’t know much about them, but from I’ve seen it looks like a great group!
Work Groups
2.25-27. Leander Church - leader Jared Hobby. They did amazing work on Monday, and the prayer drive-by went great. A few of the adults have been to Fortress before, but almost all the students are new to the experience and community. Pray that they are touched with their time spent here, and that we can get the bathrooms and kitchen in full order by Wednesday:)
2.27. Garden Ridge Church of Christ from Lewisville, TX - leader John Cooper. They will be coming in Wednesday to help with a car wash. Pray that the weather permits it, and if not that there is other good work we can get done.
2.28. Crossroads and Grandberry. These are our constant groups through the summer. Pray that we can find a good project for them to work on with us through the whole summer.
Last week was a great week all around. Most of the interns even got treated to Six Flags on Friday by the VBS group! Thank God for open people, and those that are willing to listen and then help, before just helping.
Roylesha’s older sister is very pregnant. She is due at any moment. The baby’s father is incarcerated.
Christopher has expressed concern about possibly never being able to get along with his brother, Nicholas. He has asked for prayers in this issue.
Juan’s grandmother is fighting poor health. He could give very few details.
Dion and Deondre’s grandmother is slowly dying. She (as I posted before) has kidney and lung failure, and was diagnosed with cancer recently. Against the wishes and pleas of her family, she will not stop smoking.
Jordan’s uncle (to whom he is very close) is suffering from a brain aneurysm. Keep praying for Jordan as he gets accustomed to the boy’s ranch in western Texas.
Please pray for our newest employees.
Michael recently hired two full-time employees who will begin working August 13th.
Kristen will be the Director of Programs, and Ramon will Youth Coordinator. Please pray for them as they transition out of the current jobs and prepare for their roles at Fortress.
Also, please ask God to bless us financially. Fortress runs largely on faith that donations will come in to pay the salaries of the staff we need. In order for us to continue reaching the kids of the near southeast side, we need an increase in our financial contributions, and we need commited donors whose contributions can be counted on for budgeting purposes. Ask that God lead us to those people who are looking for a place to share their financial blessings, and that He lead those people to Fortress.
Pray for Terry B., the father of Terie, one of our Fortress kids. Terry has been in the hospital with liver problems and gall stones.
Hopefully the end of last week went well. I know that the first two days were trying, juggling the two groups. And I know that more came after I had left. The tile is almost done in the hallway and kitchen area, and it’s looking great. The stage is essentially done for the music ministry.
VBS Group
Mount Hope Church; 16th-23rd. From Joplin, MO this group got in Saturday evening. They have about 20-25 students, with David Scott leading them. I didn’t work with them any yet, but I did talk to a few of the kids. Looks like it will be a fun and interesting group.
Work Group
Christ Journey; 18th-21st. Residing in Ft. Worth, the leader, Blake Kahla, has previous experience with Fortress. They expect to have around 5 or 6 students in all to come help. But today only three were there. The group definitely has a driving work ethic. They will be working with the Woman and Children’s shelter, hopefully doing a car wash a Chuck-e-Cheese on Wednesday or Thursday (providing we can get in touch with them), they planted flowers outside of Fortress, and will be helping out with other odd jobs around the building.
Third week, and still we stand strong! Much love to all:)
Last week was a great time with all the wonderful groups that came in to help. The barn is looking better for now, as well as the streets concerning trash. Pray that God continue to send such wonderful students and volunteers to Fortress as He did the first week. They were a true delight to work with.
VBS Group
Longview Church of Christ (10-16); Lead by Robie and Debbie Bennett. I hear this is their third time back. Their energy is definitely prevalent. They are also the first group staying in the building this summer. Pray that things go smoothly, with the construction that will be going on this week in the bathroom and hall.
Kirk Lundblade family (11-16); I believe they have been here many times before. How beautiful when people come to give of their time and love even when their congregation might not be at that time!
Work Groups - this week is packed full of them!
First pray for Lauren and Willie. One of their fellow interns is running out on them Wednesday till Sunday. They will have a lot of work to cover, but I know they can handle it.
Quail Springs (10-14); Leader Charles Northcraft. They will be re-tiling the downstairs bathroom, that hall, and the kitchen. As well as building a transient stage for the music ministry, and perhaps it will have other uses as well. Come out Monday nights at 8 if you haven’t heard!
Memorial Road (11-12); Leader Phil Brookman. They will be doing some work with local shelters, and hopefully providing joy to some down and out souls! Pray that their trip also provides their souls with great blessing.
Both these groups come from Edmond, OK (the ones above)
Highland Church of Christ (13-16); Not compleatly sure what all they will be doing yet. Probably some planting of flowers, and making the yard more beautiful at Fortress and VZQ. With 20+ middle school girls, I think the job will be done wonderfully.
Crossroads Church of Christ (14); They will be coming in often on Thursday’s to do work with Fortress. It might range from working with shelters, to organizing the barn, to trash detail around the community. God bless their commitment
Either Grandberry, or Southlake Church of Christ will be back on Thursday as well. I have not gotten confirmation dates on how often they will return, but I know both groups are wanting to come back each week they can. Thank God for their hearts as well.
Please welcome Rob the Intern, who has agreed to be an author on this blog! Robbie is here at Fortress for his second summer of internship, and has a really good relationship with the kids. He’ll be able to keep his pulse on what’s going on in their lives, and relate those needs to us. Thanks, Robbie, for agreeing to be a part of the Fortress Prayer Team in this way.
Also welcome Nathan, who will be providing us with details and prayer requests for the volunteer groups who will be working with Fortress this summer. This is Nathan’s first summer at Fortress, working as a community intern. Thanks, Nathan, for keeping us in the loop as far as the volunteers and groups are concerned.
Both of these new authors will post on Mondays, or as specific prayer requests arise during the week.
Prayer Requests from Michael, our Exec. Director:
Monthly fundraising campaign. We are praying for 50 new donors in 100 days using contacts from the board of directors and we have had very little participation, thus success. Along the same lines, pray that I can be patient and loving through these expectations not being met and rely more on God when I get frustrated about it.
Interns and kids. First week went great for a first week. (Praise and answered prayer!!!) We have several new kids we want to form relationships with. Pray for the focus and perspective of the interns, to remember this is God’s work and God’s kids and He will grow them how and when He wants, we’re just planting and watering.
New Staff. We hopefully will be hiring some new full-time key staff positions in the next week or two for the fall. Pray for our new people and for God’s will throughout the process of hiring.
Thanks for the prayers and getting those out to other prayer warriors. We look forward to seeing God work through all of your prayer covering and petition on our behalf.
1. For Dion and Deondre: Their granny, who already suffers from some problems associated with kidney and lung failure, was diagnosed with cancer last week. Deondre told me that he is quite worried about her. Pray for their peace and faith. Pray for their granny’s health and comfort.
2. For Anthony, who is searching for a job. He asked for prayers so that he might be accepted at either Jack-in-the-box or the Zoo.
3. For my own grandmother: The odd result that they found on her mammogram turned our to be scar tissue instead of a return of her cancer. Praise God!