Looking Back - Laying Stones

Throughout the Old Testament, God reminds His people to look back and remember the things He has done. In fact, written across the door of our scrapbook ministry closet is this verse from Psalms:
"We will tell the next generation the praise-worthy deeds of the Lord, His powers and the wonders He has done."

In one of my favorite Bible stories, God tells Joshua to erect a monument of stones to mark the spot where He stopped the flow of the Jordan River for the Isreaelites to cross. After Joshua instructs one man from each of the twelve tribes to carry a stone from the middle of the river, he says, "When your children ask you, 'What are these stones to you?' you'll say, 'The flow of the Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest of the Covenant of God as it crossed the Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.'" (Joshua 4:7) Verse 9 of the same chapter says that the stones are still there today. Later, after Joshua erects the monument, he again emphasizes the purpose: "In the days to come, when your children ask their fathers, 'What are these stones doing here?' tell your children this: 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry ground.' Yes, God, your God, dried up the Jordan's waters for you until you had crossed, just as God, your God, did at the Red Sea, which had dried up before us until we had crossed. This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong God's rescuing hand is and so that you would hold God in solemn reverence always."

God wants us to look back and remember how strong His rescuing hand is. He wants our children to ask, why? He wants us to pass on the praise-worthy deeds of the Lord.

At our year-end staff meeting, we did just that. The eight of us reflected on the last year and offered praise for the ways we've witnessed God at work at Fortress. Here on this blog, we're laying the stones... in words ...a monument of sorts. Please sit in on our meeting and join us as we glorify God for the great things He has done!

Michael - This year, I was blessed by the commitment in some of the kids to strive to know Christ. James really stepped up - it was exciting to see his journey, the transformation in his life, his renewed focus in school, his determination to be a positive leader. Rosa and Jose have a tough home life - constantly moving - yet they're always happy to be here, eager to please, easy to love. God shields them from their own circumstances so much that they've become a beacon of light to us!

Terri - Building Blocks has had amazing support. From the initial brainstorming to the reality of it happening, it's been an amazing thing to see. At the last minute, things just fell into place - furniture that was exactly what we needed, teachers who were retiring who just happened to hear about us and wanted to help, etc.

Ms. D - The twins have changed so much since they first came; their language has improved. Another child came out of her shell a lot. We were in doubt that we'd have enough kids [in the Building Blocks program]. Now look at us; we have enough and more!

Kristen - I think it's great that our [kids'] parents feel comfortable enough to contact us and share some pretty personal info [regarding finances and other confidential details, making it easier for us to minister to the kids]. This past year, Destiny was encouraged to say she's beautiful and believe it. JC's principal says he hasn't been in trouble in three weeks! His aunt called to say thank you because he's changed so much since coming to Fortress. His mentor has played a big part in that.

Ramon - I'm blessed by the staff accountability here - the trust and comfort we have with each other. It's awesome to be part of a team that cares enough about the mission and each other to hold each other to higher standards.

Robert - I thank God that it's been such an enjoyable experience. Watching the kids' improvements in just one semester has been amazing. And the staff is like family - loose and fun, open and easy to talk to, but responsible at the same time, giving back. [A mentor once told me,] "The older you get, the less your life is about you." That's sorta become my motto, and it's so true here.

Kristen - You really do have to be called to work here. There's a level of commitment that... you just have to be called to do it. The staff commitment is awesome.

Kathleen - I struggled at first, wondering if I was making an impact. But so many things have happened that make me see that I DO make a difference.

Stacy - God is faithful to remind us why we're here. I've shared this story before, about my stolen cell phone. I had a feeling when I couldn't find it that one of the kids had taken it. When I asked if anyone had seen it and all the boys dog-piled on the floor - at first I thought they were just looking for it. But in reality, they were wrestling it away from the boy who had it. Up to that point, it was just a stolen phone. But in that moment, it became MY phone, and they had my back. They got it back to me. I knew then that my being here is just as much a blessing to ME as it is to THEM. It's about the relationships.

Michael - It's awesome to be a part of something that's eternal and real.

Thank you, faithful Father, for gathering us here at Fortress to work with these kids, to be blessed by them, to share Your love. Thank you for working so boldly and actively in their lives, and in ours. Continue to use us for your Kingdom in this neighborhood and beyond. May all that we do bring glory to You. In the name of Your Son and our Saviour we pray. Amen.

Staff Prayer Requests, week of 12-1-08

Mr. P and his wife are both battling stomach flu. Please pray for a quick and full recovery so Mr. P can come back to work and so they can both resume their busy schedules.

Pray for all staff during this busy holiday season - for blessing and protection over their families.
Staff members by name: Michael (Executive Director), Kristen (Director of Programs), Ramon (Youth Coordinator), Robert, aka Mr. P (FLC staff), Kathleen (FLC staff), Terri (Director of Finance and Administration), Ms. D (Kitchen Oversight), and Stacy (Director of Communications/PR).

Pray blessings for the volunteers who come every week/month, even during the busy holiday season. We give thanks for our dedicated volunteers!

Pray for next summer's interns, whoever they are, that God starts preparing them for a great work, that he makes clear to them that this is where He wants them. Pray also for us - especially Ramon - as we begin earnest preparation for the summer program. May God prepare us to minister to them and prepare them to minister to our kids.

Pray for Michael and Kristen as they fill a part-time position in the after-school program - for God to send the right person for the job and for the transition to be smooth and easy.

Pray for our future Education Specialist - an important staff position that will be a big piece of the academic puzzle here at Fortress. Pray for God to provide the salary for this position, and also the perfect person for the job.

And finally, pray for our students. Each day, between 60-75 kids enter the doors of our building. May we be a light in their lives, a soft place to fall, a steady comfort, an encouraging friend. May we truly ignite hope in them, by loving them as God loves us.

staff prayer requests week of 11-17

Pray for wisdom and guidance as we continue to dream about the possibility of a new building. The land that would be perfect for us is available and at a huge savings. Pray that God provides people and resources to make buying it possible if that's His will.

Michael has been feeling run-down and fatigued and just not himself for a month or so. He had blood work done this week to try and figure out what's going on. Pray for the doctor to be able to see a clear reason for Michael's malaise and to know exactly how to address it, and especially for complete healing over whatever's ailing him.

Pancho Torres, the father and grandfather of several of our YDC kids, is having serious heart problems again. Pray about his diet, his cholesterol, his doctors, and his family, and for a complete turnaround in his overall health, so that he can continue to provide for and love his beautiful family.

Stephanie, the group leader for our regular weekly volunteers from The Mission Texas, requests prayer for two of her friends who are in critical condition in the Philippines. Pray for God's healing hand to be evident in an area where medical care isn't the best, and for the doctors attending to these young people to know exactly what to do. And finally, pray for comfort and unrelenting faith for the families and friends back in the States who are worried and anxious.

Stacy prays for her daughter as she seeks college admissions and scholarships this month and for the next several months, that God direct her and increase her desire and diligence to geteverything done on schedule. And ultimately, for God to open the doors He wants opened and to close the doors that He doesn't.

Fortress is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday next week. Pray for our students, their families, our volunteers, and our staff as we travel, enjoy family, and renew ourselves for the remainder of the year.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and thanks for praying for Fortress!

week of November 11, 2008

Prayer requests from the staff meeting:

Michael prays for the Board of Directors, that God grant them wisdom and guidance, that they be good stewards of this ministry and its direction.

Kristen prays for Royleesha and the many other family and friends who are still mourning the death of her cousin Myron.

Stacy thanks God for her new postition at Fortress, that it allows her to support the ministry she loves and help support her family at the same time.

All staff gives thanks that last week's Family Night for the Fortress Literacy Center was the most well-attended event to date, and that the parents were excited to be here and offered suggestions on how we could more directly meet their needs.

We pray that God continues to send volunteers and donors our way, especially in these tough economic times.

Michael prays for the staff, that they stay rested up and prayed up as we enter a busy season of work and ministry.

Terri prays for her 85-year old aunt who is miserable with shingles, and asks for complete healing and good health.

Stacy gives praise that her foot is healing well and she's able to walk and drive again.

Ramon gives praise that his wife Cessilye's leg is also healing and that she has full motion in her knee again.

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is GOOD!

Prayer requests week of 10-12

from Robert, our Homework Room Supervisor:
Pray that his relationship with the Jr and Sr High students continues to develop and that they calm down and be a bit less unruly. Pray for him to show the students how to modify their behavior in a positive, encouraging way.

from Michael:
Pray for patience and wisdom as he learns as he goes, navigating the building process,. Pray for God to send people to help with what needs to happen, and for him to keep a good attitude and perspective on everything.

from Ramon, our Youth Coordinator:
thank God for each child in our care and remember that they were given to us for a reason - to love and nurture and introduce to God and His unconditional love. Pray also for Ramon's wife Cessilye, who is dealing with a serious leg injury. Cessilye is a gifted dancer and teaches dance - pray for complete healing.

Staff Prayer Requests, week of October 6th

• MRIs: Both Stacy and Ramon's wife Cessilye have injuries that will be re-evaluated this week. Pray for complete healing for Stacy's broken foot/torn ligament, and for the injured ligament in Cessilye's leg.
• Our Auction/Dinner is only 2.5 weeks away. While we busy ourselves with last minute details, pray that we stay focused on the mission of honoring God through this effort. Also pray that we not focus on simply bringing in funds for the Fortress programs, but on helping tranform potential givers' hearts.
• Our YDC staff and regular Fortress volunteers are under constant attack because of the work we do here and the difference Fortress is making. Satan hates to lose a battle, and he's doing as much as he can to slow our efforts and depress our spirits. Please pray for a hedge of protection around each of us and our families as we continue to love the kids in this neighborhood.
• One of our YDC families has moved to Forest Hill suddenly. We'll miss them and wish them the very best. Please pray for April, Erik, Brandon, Patrick, Nicholas, Corey, Amber and Christopher.

Start looking for regular Fortress updates again! :)

Week 1 Summer JAM 2008 Work Group: Quail Springs Church of Christ – Oklahoma City

We had a great work group from Quail Springs join us again this summer! They were able to share the love of God with a grandmother raising seven of her grandchildren by painting her house. Although the woman did not speak much English, the group spent time with her and her grandchildren as they painted the house. The group went the extra mile and even bought the family a new microwave and some soccer balls for the kids. The grandmother and the whole family were so grateful for the service and love that the group shared with them. The group also had the opportunity to serve lunch at a local shelter and at a women’s and children’s shelter. We know God will grow the seeds of love and service that were planted by these young people. Thank you Quail Springs for serving God in our community and letting your light shine among our neighbors! We hope that you will share your experience on this prayer blog about God used this trip to change your life.

-Michael Thames

Week 1: Fortress Summer JAM 2008

-The Choice-

“I’ve got choices; you’ve got choices, all of God’s people got choices”
-Fortress Summer J.A.M. 2008

Everyone has choices, I’m certain young people can think of other alternatives to serving the inner city with excitement and energy. North Street Church of Christ youth, however, are one of the groups who are dear to the hearts of Fortress staff and interns. They took on the enormous task of being the pilot VBS group for summer 2008. In our first week, I was able to witness first hand the hands and feet of Christ demonstrated in the hands and feet of Jr. High and High school students as they ran, sang, ate, and essentially chose to love someone other than themselves this summer. Whenever someone tries to show discouraging statistics to me of the plights of today’s young people, I am so thankful that I will have a vivid picture of young people choosing to serve others with excellence, love and zeal. North Street, from Fortress to you, thank you for every one of your “choices”.

In Christ,

Ramon A. Smith

"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise..."

Fortress strives to "ignite powerful change in the lives of urban youth," but people do not often get to see that change right away, if at all. In the daily struggle to get kids to line up, sit still during assembly time or stop playing chase inside the building, we often wonder if anything we say or teach is even soaking in. Are we making a difference? Do they even hear a word we are saying about making good choices? Sometimes I find myself asking, at the end of a busy day, what did we even do today?
We received a phone call at the end of the first day from a mother who has three kids enrolled in Summer JAM. She called to thank us. She told me that her kids came home from Fortress so excited about Jesus. The three children could not contain their joy and excitement about the LORD and all they had learned. They told the mom about learning to make good choices over bad choices. Imagine the mom's surprise when, later that night, her kids corrected her (in a loving way I am sure) about the tone of her voice. "Mom, you should not get angry like that, that's a bad choice!" This opened up a good discussion about good and bad choices and about how to correct bad choices.
The title at the top is from Psalm 8 verse 2. It goes on to say, "because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." God puts praise on the lips of children to fight a spiritual battle we cannot see! I believe He wanted me to know that we are making a difference! I needed that phone call telling me that kids were excited about Jesus in order to silence Satan's nasty voice, which was making me doubt what was accomplished.
More importantly, this community can be changed when the children, the future generation, rises up and silences "the enemy" with the praise of God. "Powerful change" can truly take place not just in the lives of urban youth, but through the lives of urban youth.
Pray for the kids. Pray that they will continue to be excited about Jesus. Pray that God will use their praise to silence Satan. Pray that powerful change will come through the lives of urban youth. And thank God for using children in His plan for redemption and spiritual warfare!

-Clayre Allen, Summer College Intern 2008

New Careers at Fortress

Fortress has recently been searching for a new staff member under the title of Education Specialist. Our goal is to have that position filled by mid-July. We ask that you join us in praying that God sends us the right person for the position and gives us wisdom, discernment and clarity as we interview different candidates.

Fortress Launches a New Program

Building Blocks Early Learning Center

Since 2005, Fortress has been about providing opportunities for inner city youth to experience powerful life change in order to become productive Christian adults. Each of YDC’s programs—Fortress Literacy Center, Sunday JAM, and Summer JAM---has been designed to reach the youth of southeast Fort Worth by forming authentic relationships and equipping them with life skills using the best spiritual, emotional, social, physical, and educational resources available.

After much prayer and planning, Fortress will expand its reach to include preschool-aged children. In September, Building Blocks Early Learning Center will open to offer care for children, ages 2-5, from 9:30 to 2:00 each Monday and Wednesday during the school year. The program will offer a quality early childhood program. Its students will be offered a fun, learning environment where they will not only learn academics but will learn about God’s word and His plan for their lives.

The Building Blocks program, like all the Fortress programs, is based on building intimate relationships with children and their families for the purpose of discipleship and offering hope and opportunity. The goal of the program is to develop a relationship with the child and the parents.

The Building Blocks program is designed to provide:
· Comprehensive academic curriculum
· Spiritual training
· Enrichment programs
· Social and emotional training
· Loving, nurturing care

We solicit your prayers for God’s guidance and provision as we start this adventure. If you enjoy working with young children and would like to volunteer with this program, give us a call.

Terri Henson
(817) 335-1007
terri@fwydc.org

Memorial Road Church of Christ Work Group

A group of almost 70 youth and adults from Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, OK, served at Fortress on June 3-4. This group of Jr. High students has been coming to Fortress for many years and has blessed Fortress in countless ways. Last week they all got to experience the Fortress Prayer Drive-where we drive through the community and stop in different areas to pray for the community, the kids and all that God is doing at Fortress. The group also did a community clean-up in which they cleaned up several blocks in the surrounding neighborhoods, provided an activity for our kids at the park and helped prepare our building for the summer program. The students got an opportunity to visit with the staff and other community members about urban life and the impact they can have in the world as followers of Christ. We know that God opened the eyes and hearts of these young people to what He was doing in our city and to what they can do in their own communities. God is faithful and we are excited to see how He will continue to answer the prayers of this group and grow the seeds that were planted through their service. Fortress was truly blessed by this special group and we are grateful for all their hard work and investment into what God is doing at Fortress and in our neighborhood.

Pray For Our 2008 Fortress Summer Interns

Summer is an exciting, fun and busy time at Fortress! We hope that our prayer warriors that check this blog will commit to pray for our kids, volunteer groups and summer interns over the next two months. Please pray for Clayre Allen, Broderick Ellison II, Royleesha Mills, Viola Petite and Charcey Petite. Clayre joins us from the University of North Texas and Broderick from Prairie View A&M University. Three of our high school students here at Fortress, Royleesha, Viola and Charcey will also be joining us as interns this summer. We are blessed to have a great group of young people who will diligently work long days, pouring themselves into our kids and working with the different summer groups. Although we have fewer interns than last year, we know God will use each of these young people in a mighty way for His kingdom here at Fortress. We already have more children enrolled in our first week than all of last summer and plan to reach full capacity of 60 children and youth next week. Please pray that God will bless our interns as they provide a loving environment for the kids and help facilitate our summer program.

Dear Lord...

Mrs. D PRAYS for Stacy Kocur to have safe trip as she goes to visit her mother; and for her neighbor John Carr's health

Kristen PRAYS for her uncle who in the hospital

Michael PRAYS for all the interns who will be working with us this summer

Dear Lord...

Michael PRAYS for God to send us the right person for our new Educational Specialist position and for the next year in general-that it's an important growth year and gets us closer to our core purposes.

Ramon PRAYS for the Summer JAM program and that we have a productive, educational and spiritual summer with the kids.

Robert PRAYS for his DTS application and that God opens up doors of opportunity to fund the things in his life he is working towards.

Brittany PRAYS for her brother and his wife as they prepare for their first child.

Fortify

by Ramon Smith

Matthew 9:36-38
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

Matthew 10:1-The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

What an honor it is to be called on as Christ's solution to His compassion. For the first 10 chapters of Matthew, we hear all about the lineage of Christ, the baptism of Christ, His teaching. His disciples have been right there learning from Him, watching His miracles and hearing His teachings.

In Chapter 9 of Matthew, when His compassion is expressed, the first thing He teaches is for His disciples to pray that the LORD of the harvest would send laborers into the harvest. The next thing that we hear from Matthew after this request is Jesus commissioning His disciples to go to the house of Israel, with the message of the kingdom, to cast out evil spirits and to heal diseases...the very work that Jesus was doing.

Working in ministry in general and with "inner-city youth" specifically, we can easily see Jesus' compassion if we open our eyes. Just as Jesus saw, they are helpless and confused like sheep without a shepherd. They are following anyone who seems to have an answer.

Pray that Christ and His teachings be presented in a way that is easily understood, and will that out youth will choose to follow HIM. We are Christ's solution to Christ's compassion.

May we be faithful,
Quest

Dear Lord...

The Fortress Staff PRAYS for our summer program and that God blesses us to find more interns to help out and have successful interaction with the children.

Brittany PRAYS for guidance and strength as she finishes up her last week of grad classes.

Mrs. D PRAYS for the health of her two brothers (Lawrence and Bryce) and for John Carr's health.

Robert PRAYS for his family and career/ministry direction.

Nikki PRAYS that Victoria, a teen in the after school program, gets the help she needs and that all the Fortress kids wrap up the school year strong.

Dear Lord...

Michael PRAYS for guidance in the next steps of the new building project and for doors to be opened with TAD and the city.

Kristen PRAYS for the kids' safety and for her home buying process to go smoothly.

Ramon PRAYS for the kids in the after-school program and his immediate family.

Nikki PRAYS for her both her brothers who are struggling with their relationships.

Robert PRAYS for his family and his health.

A Timely Reminder

I've had the blessing and honor of ministering to urban youth (and having urban youth minister to me) for almost 10 years. Over the years, as I transitioned from volunteer to youth minister to executive director, my role and hands-on involvement has changed some. I still get to interact and love on kids each week, but I also have to fulfill my ED responsibilities such as strategic planning, HR, fundraising, etc. Often I get so caught up in all the tasks that God has to remind me who I am and why I'm here. Last week was the latest reminder.

A couple of kids in our after school literacy program got in trouble and I had to take them home early. I was frustrated with them for not behaving and costing me an extra trip out of the office. Trying to stay positive, I prayed a short prayer for God to give me encouraging words for the young boy and girl on the ride home. As God often does, he answered my prayer with what I needed versus what I asked for. Before arriving at the apartment complex of the young girl, I mustered up a few kind words and said something along the lines of, "you know I love you, but you can't act like that", which in hindsight is not all that encouraging.

As we drove through the neglected complex, I became heavily burdened by the cloud of spiritual darkness that lingered all around us. Walking through the cluttered breezeway to the door of the apartment, I felt a deeper sense of despair. Once inside, the little girl sat on one of the two couches - the only furniture in the apartment - and I explained to the seemingly disinterested parent why she was home early. I left with a heavier feeling of hopelessness, and on the verge of tears that I would not shed in the presence of the young boy I still had to take home.

Driving out of the complex, my mind raced about what it must be like to live in poverty. Not the poverty of having little money, but that of lacking hope, dreams, emotional support, nurturing, love, etc. The absence of knowing God's promises that are there for the taking, that you could and should have more. No words were spoken on the short ride to the boy's house. We pulled in front and I tried to regain my composure to speak to the guardian. The boy unlocked the door with the key that hung around his neck. Grandma was not home yet so we sat on the porch and made small talk until she arrived.

When she pulled up, 4 other children jumped out of the car and took off on their bikes. While I helped unload a few grocery bags, I explained why the boy was home early. She listened as we walked into the house, but seemed exhausted and did not have much to say. With an aching lump in my throat, I drove off and watched in the rear-view mirror as the young boy jumped on his bike.

Instead of giving me some magical words for these children, God opened my eyes and made me feel. It's easy to harden your heart and become blind to the injustice; doing so protects you from hurting over the suffering of innocent children. But that is not what God did. God, through Jesus, came to walk and suffer alongside his children, to give of himself for the sake of his children.

Praise God for the reminders of who we are - his children, and what we are to do - share his promises with others.

-Michael Thames, Executive Director

Fortress February Feature Family

Fortress February Feature Family

Dear Lord...

Mrs. D PRAYS for her neighbor Joyce Crump; the family of Willie Lusk, who passed away recently.
Nicole PRAYS for patience with the kids and in her life as she goes through a transitional phase.
Robert PRAYS for his health as he gets over an illness.
Michael PRAYS for his health and that God touches the hearts of those who he has sent grant information too, in that they realize how their help could postively impact Fortress.
Kristen PRAYS for that she successfully continues her journey of buying her first home; for the kids (that they see Christ through us) and the staff.

Dear Lord...

Kristen PRAYS for her uncle who is looking for a job.
Ramon PRAYS for his family who is looking for a church home and financial provision.
Robert PRAYS for his family.
Fortress PRAY for Robert who is joining us to work part time in the after school program through May.
Terri PRAYS that the Building Blocks program design meets the needs of the community.
Michael PRAYS for hearts and doors to be open in fundraising efforts.
Fortress PRAYS for Nikki and family's safe return.
Fortress PRAYS for Michael's brother-in-law as he goes into drug rehab.

Dear Lord...

Fortress PRAYS for the quick recovery of Maddie Glover and Mallory Dollar.
Michael PRAYS for the safe travels of everyone over Spring Break, as well as his wife while he is away; that relationships can form and thrive with the children in the new mentoring program.
Mrs. D PRAYS for Andrea as she undergoes her chemo treatment; for the quick and painless recovery of her neighbor John Carr.
Terri PRAYS for her father's speedy recovery from his thumb and back injury.
Kristen PRAYS for her friend Shaerice as she prepares for her trip to Africa and that the busy high school, college students can have a moment of relaxtion over the spring break.

Dear Lord...

Mrs. D PRAYS for Andrea as she goes through her first chemo treatment and Ligia, who had her first child on the 29th of February.

Michael PRAYS that God will open doors for us and send people here that will help through that process.

Nookie PRAYS for strength as she begins her 90 day religious fast on Monday and for the kids in the program.

Nikki PRAYS for the wonderful kids that God has sent to her program.

Kristen PRAYS for safe travels for the groups this week and safety for al l the students while at Fortress and at school.

Brittany PRAYS for the strength and wisdom to finish up her second semester of graduate school successfully and that God continue to bring awareness about the programs/initatives at Fortress.

Dear Lord...

Michael PRAYS that God continues to what He does in the hearts of people who come here; also for his sister's physical and spiritual health.

Ramon PRAYS that the kids pursue wisdom and understand that it is a privilege and not a chore to be here.

Mrs. D PRAYS for Frankie's sister Andrea; also for Ligia Clark, who is an expectant mother

Kristen PRAYS for more volunteers and the continued communication development

Brittany PRAYS that she stays on task and for her parents, as they begin the adventure of trying to build their first home.

Terri PRAYS for her father who is ill.

The Lord at Work in Fortress

Our free optical screening on Sunday, January 27th was a great success. 60 people received a free eye exam; 40 of those 60 needed glasses and the optometrists that generously donated their time and equipment has offered to cut the glasses and provide frames at no cost! This is a huge blessing to our community. Many of those that needed glasses are the youth and the families of those that participate in our after school program. Praise God for the giving spirit of His people.

Our first Fortress “Hype Night” on Friday, January 25th was also a great success. Christian rap artists shared their talent and love with over 30 youth in attendance. “Hype Night” will be held the last Friday of each month at Fortress and is an opportunity for our youth to invite friends in for a time of praise, fun and fellowship.

Staff Prayer Requests:

- Ramon – pray for family in the loss of wife’s great uncle and dad’s cousin. Pray for the kids!
- Kristen – pray for brother-in-laws family; death in family
- Ms. D – asks for prayers for Pam (daughter) and Erika (granddaughter)
- Michael – prayers for a productive board meeting next week

Dear Lord...

Terri PRAYS for continued direction, aligning her efforts and plans with God’s will here at Fortress.

Kristen PRAYS that God will send more volunteers to the after school program

Ramon PRAYS for his wife’s family-had 2 deaths in the family; for his wife’s health-she has a leg injury; and wants to continue praying for the kids and God’s will for their lives.

Michael PRAYS for favor with the many potential donors we are speaking to about God's work here

The Lord at Work in Fortress

Brittany Wall began her Communication graduate internship today; we're very excited to have her on the team.

We have surpassed our enrollment goal of 48 students in our after school literacy center! Pray for consistent attendance!

God has brought Fortress 5 new monthly donors so far this year; thank you for your prayers!

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!

A Special Message from Michael

As in our individual daily journey with God, Fortress YDC seeks to keep and strengthen our dependence on God. As an organization we constantly try to keep in front of us that the work God has called us to, is more than we can handle. If we could figure it all out and make it all happen, it would be a good idea, not a God-sized vision. A divine vision necessitates divine provision. We pray that we can keep the perspective of doing what we can do and knowing that God is always working behind the scenes and on the hearts of those we minister to.

Dear Lord...

Ramon PRAYS for Provision; kids to be loved on this week
Kristen PRAYS to keep the purpose and vision at the forefront of mind while working toward 2008 objectives
Ms. D PRAYS for “Red,” whose daughter passed away; pray for him and his granddaughter; pray that Fortress will have an opportunity to reach out to their family
Terri PRAYS for continued clarity on big picture and YDC vision
Michael PRAYS to get back into routine; continued prayers for Cara’s family for the loss of a family member