Dear Lord...

Fortress staff and prayer team strive to pray for our children daily.
We ask you to remember all of those we have the blessing and privilege to serve alongside here at Fortress Youth Development Center.

Kristen PRAYS for time management and balance in her schedule.

Ramon PRAYS for discipline in personal life.

Ms. D PRAYS for Terry Boyce’s mother (grandmother to one of our youth) in the biopsy to be done this week.

Terri PRAYS for continued vision for God’s direction/plan.

Michael PRAYs concerning the Ministry Ventures certification process as he wraps up the year long training.

PRAY for our children and families this holiday season, that they may experience the love of God through Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord...

Ramon PRAYS that our children will see their value as a child of God. Pray for his family to trust in God through trying times.

Kristen PRAYS for God to send volunteers for the after school program.

Ms. D PRAYS for Pam and Erika (daughter and grand daughter)

Terri PRAYS for God’s will and direction at Fortress.

Michael PRAYS for family as they face struggles.

The Lord at Work in Fortress: We have had several new students sign-up for the elementary after school program, allowing us to have reached full capacity at 24 students when we start back in January. Pray God will send Jr. High and High School students; still have about 8 spots open.

week of 11-11-07

Fortress is blessed to pray for our staff! ....

Ramon: feeling run-down and under the weather. Pray for his health.

Ms. D: brother recovering from heart attack; stepmother in the hospital; continued prayers for Pam and Erica.

Terri: to have the time to finish up organizational stuff she's working on

Michael: feeling run-down and under the weather. Needs to be productive and efficient with his time, and be able to prioritize all the things that need to be done. Way over-extended right now.

Fortress is happy to welcome Nookie Forbes back to the staff! She's here as a temporary employee, working in the after-school program through the end of the semester. Please pray for her as she and the kids transition into her role, that they may bless each other and be lifted up.

Always, pray for financial and spiritual provision for our programs, staff, and the children/families we serve.

Remember our board members, who dedicate their hearts and time to making sound decisions for Fortress YDC. Pray for wisdom, clarity, and courage.

Fortress is blessed to pray for our donors and volunteers! .....

Jareen (donor): has been under stress about things at her church; pray that God will do what's best in that situation.

Stacy (volunteer): gives praise for Fortress, as the staff and kids really ministered to her without even realizing it one day last week when she desperately needed a lift.

Fortress is blessed to pray for the kids in our programs! ....
Frankie (15) is celebrating her Quinceanera this weekend, and prays that everything goes as planned, and that everyone has a safe and fun time at the party.

Please leave comments, so that those we pray for will know that you're out there praying.
:)

week of 10-22-07

Kristen:

• Praise for seeing God work in the lives of the youth; they are asking important questions, more students volunteering to pray as a group and for each other.
• Prayers for finishing dissertation; getting close to the end, but has a lot of writing and finalizing to complete
  
  

Ms. D: For her in her family; loss of family member over the weekend

Terri: - Praise for successful surgery and recovery for her father

Ramon: Prayers for he and his wife as they look for a church home

Michael:

• Pray for and over the staff in regard to staffing adjustments and changes having to be made.
• Pray for protection from Satan for the staff and their families; as God works in the lives of our kids and their families, the staff becomes more and more of a priority for the forces of evil to distract, discourage and destroy.
• Pray for Nathan and his family.

The YDC Board of Directors meets this Thursday night. Pray for them as they make decisions regarding the programs and other important issues that affect the kids we serve.

week of October 14

Kristen – for the kids and for her to finish her dissertation
Ramon – time management between work and family; financial aid for school next semester
Michael – time management; patience
Ms. D – Pam (daughter), Erika (grand daughter); Brother Bryce, Ms. Border (health issues);
Terri – Dad had surgery this morning, praise that everything went well; pray for recovery

week of September 23

Kristen - Pray for God to continue to send kids our way for the Literacy Center.
Pray for Lety and Ligeia.

Terri - Small Steps; for direction and a good meeting in Houston this week.

Ms. D - Red, friend in a car accident; Don's family, sister passed away

Michael - Burned out; pray for renewal and rest

Week of 9-10-07

Prayer Requests from today's staff meeting

Kristen: God to send the kids He wants here for the FLC and for more parent involvement this year. Pray for the family of Carl Smart, head of FW Code Compliance; his wife passed away last week.

Ramon: God to prepare the hearts of the kids enrolled in FLC. Pray for his wife, who lost a cousin last week.

Ms. D.: Pray for Tonya’s family; step-father hit by a car, not doing well.

Terri: Small Steps planning

Michael: God to continue to guide Fortress in the building and strengthening of our organizational structure.

Week of August 27, 2007

I apologize for not posting last week. I'm getting over a nasty case of pneumonia, and wasn't online much all week!

Here are the requests from Michael:

• Praise for new staff and the fresh enthusiasm and passion they have brought to Fortress.
• Pray that God will put on the heart of his people to volunteer and financially partner with Fortress in our efforts of bringing the hope of Jesus to the urban poor.
• Wisdom for the board of directors as we continue to build the infrastructure of the organization in order to become more effective and glorify God in all we do.

And from Fortress staff:

• Nikki- Brother find a job. Praise report-able to take classes
• Nathan-Brother find job; Praise report- started job
• Kristen-Lord sends kids He wants to the program. Able to get data analyzed. Brother beginning his sophomore year of college. Former youth who started college
• Ramon-safe travels back from Jamaica

Week of August 20, 2007

Here are the latest things about Fortress to lift up in prayer:

Our new Youth Coordinator, Ramon Smith makes these requests:

• a smooth move and preparations for his wedding
• a clear mind for exams on Friday
• protection for he and his fiance on their honeymoon
• productivity and creative wisdom in lesson planning
• that the community youth will be introduced to the love of God and His Son Jesus
• that those youth will see that God is good and will therefore trust Him with their lives
• that Satan's grip and influence will be thwarted
• provision for insurance and their first month as man and wife

Fortress Board meeting Thursday evening at 7:00:

• for wisdom for the directors
• for God to send passionate, qualified volunteers to serve on Board committees (Program, Financial Stewardship, Fundraising, and Small Steps committees)

Also, please pray for financial provision to support the newly hired staff.

And, especially, pray for the kids as they prepare to go back to school next week.

Week of August 13, 2007

From Michael:

This week I would like for us to pray for the new staff. Kristen and Ramon started yesterday and we have a lot to do in order to prepare for the fall. Pray that God will help us manage our priorities and show us what those priorities need to be.

Praise God for a wonderful summer! Pray for our interns as they head back to school and for God to grow the seeds that were planted by the interns and the over 500 volunteers that came through Fortress this summer.

Prayer Requests, week of August 6

Praise God for a great summer at Fortress!
The program has been wrapped up, the interns are heading home and back to college, and Michael is gearing up for the fall semester. Please pray this week for the following:

1. new full-time staff arriving August 13. They will be training and planning and getting to know one another. This time will be crucial. Please pray diligently and boldly for God to be present and visible to them during this time.
2. one of our summer interns, Nathan, is staying on for the fall semester as a full-time volunteer. He really feels that this is where God wants him to be, and he's eager to see how God plans to use him!
3. our summer interns (Robbie, Justin, David, Isaac, Amanda, Olivia, Lauren, Vanessa, Kathleen, Nikki) who are returing to college this fall.
4. Russell, a summer intern for two years running, who is beginning his new career this week!
5. Luke, our summer director, who is preparing to tour this fall. (http://www.myspace.com/poorrichfolk)
6. Amanda, one of our summer interns, and her family. On the way back from the summer's-end girls' retreat, Amanda received word that her 14-year old sister was killed in a car accident. The funeral was today, burial is tomorrow. Amanda and her sister were very close, and Amanda is understandably devastated.
7. Pray also for the Fortress adults who will continue to love and minister to Amanda during this time, that God gives us the words to say and that we recognize what's needed of us. We love her so much. SO much.
8. Pray for Michael, our Executive Director. So much transition, so many details, way too much on his plate. Pray for clarity, for honesty, for organization, and for dependance on God to get through it all.

Prayer Requests, week of 7-16-07

• For our high school kids who will be at camp this week; for safe travel, good attitudes/ good times and that God will work mightily in their lives this week.
  
• For financial provision; we are running a deficit still and are about to bring on 2 new salaries in August. Pray that God brings the right people to us that He can use to meet our needs.
  
• Continue to pray for the interns; they have 3 weeks left. Pray that God will continue to keep them focused and transform their hearts through their service.

Prayer Requests, week of July 1, 2007

This week, Fortress YDC is on vacation. The interns have all gone home to visit, the staff is taking a much-needed break, and the kids are enjoying the 4th of July at home.

• Please pray for the 50 or so kids who are part of our summer JaM program... that they stay safe, especially with all of the high water in the rivers and lakes, and that they come back next week ready to spend more time developing and cultivating the relationships that've started at Fortress.

The following are prayer requests from Michael and each intern, in their own words:

• Michael - Thanks again to each of you for a great summer so far at Fortress. I’ve seen Jesus in so many ways through every one of you and I’ve been blessed to see God work through you. Here are the off week prayer requests, please take some time each day to pray for each other and yourself.
• Russell – Praise for sister; set aside time with God over week off
• Luke – God’s direction and guidance for fall plans
• Nathan – God will show him something in his week off experience; safety
• Royleesha – Pray for sister and new baby; better attitude for second half of summer
• Vanessa – Patience
• Olivia – Home church divisions; continue to fight internal battles and continued peace with those things
• Lauren – Friends family going through tough times; consistent with daily time with God
• Justin – Plan/direction after school; give confidence in leadership role/abilities
• David – Support; both relational and financial
• Frankie – Make good choices in upcoming school year; pray for family
• Brian – Spring Break plans at Fortress; relationship with Fortress
• Kathleen – Strength to finish summer; direction after school
• Isaac – Rest; focus; strength; encouragement
• Robbie – Unity of the body of Christ; direction/calling on life/future plans

and finally... Fortress is in need of dedicated prayer warriors.... people who can commit to pray daily for our kids and staff, who will communicate those prayers to and with the rest of the prayer team... who are able to dedicate a few minutes at least once a week to actively participating with the prayer team through email, this blog, and occasional conference calls. Please pray that God will prepare those individuals, speak to their hearts, and lead them to us as we continue to build this prayer ministry.

We thank ALL of you - prayer team members and strangers who happen upon us, volunteers and interns, community members and financial supporters - for your continued prayers.

Prayer Requests, week of 6-25-07

• Terry Brand, the dad of one of our Fortress kids, Terie. He's been very ill, and is home from the hospital now, but unable to work. Pray for his health, his family, their finances, and for God to be real to them in their time of need. Also, for their Fortress family to realize and address their spiritual as well as physical needs at this difficult time.
• Johnny Keys, who had to have 14 stitches in his forehead today.
• Pray for the teenage Petite girls and the Lacy family; that God can bind them together with His love.

Groups for 2.25.07

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.

Youth Prayer Requests

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.

Prayer Requests, week of 6-18-07

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.

Groups for the week of 6.18.07

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:)

Groups for the week of 6.11.07

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.

Prayer Requests, week of 6-11-07

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.

Prayers

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!

Prayer Requests, week of 6-4-07

1. From Michael: I would really like for everyone to pray for the summer; the kids, interns, staff, volunteers and all the groups. First week is going to be crazy - pray that we can be patient and make the needed adjustments as we go.
2. Pray for Michael... for wisdom and clarity concerning executive decisions that need to be made.
3. From Luke: Give God praise and thanksgiving that today (the first day with volunteer groups and community kids) is going so smoothly. Everything's running great.
4. Pray for Jordan, who has an interview with the Boys' Ranch tomorrow, which will determine whether he goes there for a year, or stays here in Fort Worth. Pray for God's guidance in that interview, and that His will for Jordan be evident and acknowledged.
5. Pray for the Fortress Board of Directors... that they find renewed commitment and enthusiasm for the tasks they've been called to, and that they seek God's counsel diligently as they make decisions for Fortress.

Prayer Requests, week of 5-28-07

1. Summer Interns... pray for continued safety, spiritual focus and strong relationships as they continue to train and prepare for the summer. This is a work week... kids' programs start next week.
2. Interns by name: Amanda, David, Frankie, Isaac, Justin, Kathleen, Lauren, Luke, Nathan, Olivia, Robbie, Royleesha, Russell, Vanessa, Willie
3. Host families: thankfulness and praise to God for these loving families who are providing housing and care for our interns this summer. By name: Bettis family, Bower family, Kocur family, Neely family, Stites family, Sullivan family, Swafford family, Thames family, Young family
4. Jordan (YDC student) and his mom as she determines what's best for him this summer. (Boys' Ranch, or continue living with Luke)
5. Work groups and volunteers who are here this week... pray for their safety, that they can reach people and touch their hearts, and that God blesses them for their selflessness and sacrifice.

Welcome

I want to thank you for accepting this very important role as a prayer team member for Fortress Youth Development Center. I'm excited to see what the power of prayer can do for our ministry, our kids, and our community. I think it's beautiful that we have a group of commited Christians who are dedicated to praying for the needs, hurts and triumphs of Fort Worth's near southeast side. Thank you for answering this call!

Prayer requests will be added every Monday.
When a prayer has been answered, we'll update that, too.

God is good, all the time.
And all the time, God is good.

Thanks for being a part of this ministry!