History
Fortress Ministries was founded in 1996 as an inner-city church plant, reaching out to and serving the needs of the community’s residents and its homeless population. Michael Thames served as the church’s first youth minister. An after-school program was a big part of the church’s ministry to children and teens, and Sundays were dedicated to feeding the homeless and offering a worship experience for local residents.
After several years, the homeless community was being served very adequately by other nonprofits in the area. At the same time, it became apparent that the children being mentored and loved at Fortress needed more. Specifically, they needed social and academic resources to help them become productive adults. As an at-risk youth counselor at Camp of the Hills and during his tenure as Fortress’s youth minister, Michael began to understand that poverty and its subsequent issues are circumstances the youth of our communities neither choose nor deserve. His compassion for and strong commitment to igniting hope and effecting change in the lives of these kids led to the formation of a leadership committee which dedicated fervent prayer to seeking God’s will for the future of Fortress Ministries, specifically as it related to kids. As a result of that willful obedience, Fortress YDC was established as a nonprofit 501(c)3 in 2005.
The Need
Fortress aims to provide a holistic approach to the well-being and growth of southeast Fort Worth’s children and youth. A study by Conard and Novick (1996) stresses the idea that development is affected by the environment in which it occurs. Fortress YDC acts as a buffer to some of the negative occurrences our students witness and to the environment in which they live. The most pressing issues in this urban community include:
- Lack of academic opportunities and resources
- Emotional instability (due to abuse, lack of positive role models, and/or delayed emotional development)
- the resulting inability to deal with life and respond appropriately to adversity
- Deficient social skills (stemming from the lack of positive, authentic relationships and the lack of growth opportunities)
- the resulting inability to function as a positive, contributing member of society
The Solution
Fortress YDC addresses these issues through 4 programs:
- Summer JAM - a daily program offering a safe, loving, encouraging environment for youth ages 3-18
- Building Blocks Early Learning Center - a twice-weekly program for ages 18 months - 5 years designed to help to build a solid foundation for emotional, social, educational and spiritual growth.
- Sunday JAM - a weekly opportunity for neighborhood children of all ages to fellowship with adults in a mentoring relationship, share a meal, learn and apply Biblical principles, and enjoy fun activities.
- Fortress Literacy Center - a daily after-school program for grades 1 through 12, providing a structured and safe environment for educational, spiritual, emotional and physical development.
The Numbers
- Fortress YDC is currently serving 84 students, with a waiting list year-round.
- Fortress YDC employs 7 staff: 4 full-time and 3 part-time.
- Fortress YDC utilizes 130 individual volunteers each year, about 1/3 of whom volunteer on a consistent basis. We are also blessed with volunteer groups throughout the spring and summer, who choose Fortress as their “mission trip”.