June 2023
God is our Portion
Definition: A share, part, one's possession, an award (from God); as a believer, the right to be part of God's family and join the community of worshippers of the living God
Scripture(s): Deuteronomy 32:9-12; Psalm 73:24-28; Psalm 142:5; Matthew 6:25-34
Praise and Thanksgiving
FICMI UK Family Gathering 2023 in Northampton, UK was a great success!
We were able to gather with 37 other countries and celebrate all the Lord is doing through Freedom in Christ Ministries to all cultures and contexts. This time was rich with connection, unity, praise, intercession, and encouragement.
Specifically, James and I were able to connect with several churches in the UK, Africa, Ecuador, Chile, Cuba, Jamaica, India, and more! The presentation about GenFree was brief but effective to spur others in ministry toward reaching young generations around the world!
We were also blessed to film 5 testimonies of young people from Ecuador, Uganda, and India. Look for these testimonies on the GenFree website! These 5 young people made real connections with each other and GenFree…it was so beautiful!
The Lord has been faithful to supply all our needs in travel, physical health and endurance, and protection for us and our families.
We are beginning more training with a possible GenFree Administrative Assistant!
We have had continued responses and investment from Intensive participants…God is moving!
It is time for some rest and family investment over the summer! We are excited to have a season on refueling and quality family time.
Intercession
Continued meetings with our team of lawyers
We are developing further risk minimizing strategies for FICM and GenFree Specialists. This includes evaluating the “Statement of Understanding”, ongoing vetting and discipleship of Specialists, and plans of handling conflict in the future.
Ongoing planning for our next Intensive in October in Springhill, TN
We just had our last Bismarck Intensive post-event evaluation meeting to discuss what needed to change or stay the same for the next intensive. We have learned a lot and are excited about all God is showing us!
Pray we stay united in Spirit and continue to be guided by the Lord in every way. We desire His plans to be revealed in His way at His time!
Testimonies being filmed – we are recording student testimonies to post on the website. Pray the Holy Spirit gives these young people the words to say and the editing process painless.
Revision and Rebranding of Steps booklet for Young Persons and GenFree bookmarks
Field Staff funding – for the Pressley and Williams families
We are still in need of ministry partners for all the training and travel expenses for the remainder of 2023
Spiritual Warfare
It has been more than apparent that GenFree is a threat to Satan and his schemes! Please be in prayer for the battles (although the war has already been won!) currently going and those attacks in the future. Specifically, pray for physical health for the leaders, their families (especially their children and grandchildren), their marriages, and their safety in traveling. Join us in daily putting on our God-given armor, claiming Jesus’ authority, and declaring that authority over all areas of our lives.
New GenFree Website content
We are currently creating some content from the Bismarck, ND Intensive sessions. Please pray for this editing process!
Areas still need of continued prayers and are of great importance:
PROTECTION, PROVISION & SPIRITUAL GROWTH: We ask the Lord to protect and provide for the team’s families, infuse them with creativity and vision, direct them into the resources He has planned for this team to utilize, and continually grow in dependance and love with Christ personally. The enemy wants to discourage and disarm us all as we seek to walk in the Spirit and faithfully follow the calling He gave us. Please pray by name specifically for:
James and Mellisa Pressley, Joe and Tammy Williams, Mary Chester, FICM Staff involved in support of this effort: Dan Studt, Cindy Bergenback, and Chris Campbell, and other administrative support: Gay Nell Scarborough, Gary and Mary Erkes, Sue Huber
TEAM DEVELOPMENT: We want to further develop a team of contributors who serve as youth ministers and curriculum developers. This takes some networking and prayerful discernment. Pray God leads us to HIS chosen contributors for the curriculum content and GenFree team.
TIMING: Lord, Jesus, keep us in step with Your divine timing. We want to wait upon You as you deem right and charge full steam ahead only when you say "GO!", so keep us in daily submission to your direction and speed as You fold out Your plan for this ministry effort!
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: You know how the enemy will try to distract us, dilute our passion, and discourage our attempts. Pray the enemy be blocked from his efforts, as we claim the authority and position in Christ given to all those who serve Him! Pray with us for our hearts and minds to be in complete alignment with the Holy Spirit.’
New Generation Freedom Website content: Pray for the GenFree Team as we develop more content for workers, parents, and young generations.
There is minimal content currently on the GenFree website because there are so many aspects involved in the creation, editing, approval and distribution of material and resources. This is a BIG, BIG task! We need the Lord to provide it all!
We also need wisdom and patience in the process. The team members know they are in a beautiful place of complete dependence and reliance on Christ here.
We also pray those who visit the site will be patient, feel excitement and anticipation, and hope for the future as content is slow to develop and distributed.
New GenFree Intensives: Pray for the development of training seminars in various locations throughout the USA.
Curriculum development: for HIS words to just freely flow onto the keyboards as we type this message for students!
FUNDS: Donations will be an ongoing series of faith endeavors. God is THE provider, and we depend on Him to bring forth donors to fund the expenses this ministry requires. Areas in Need of funding currently are:
Rebranding materials (Video and sound equipment, graphic designers, website developers)
Team member expenses as they travel to train CFMAs.
Future Youth Intensives - development and expenses
New Curriculum development
Field Staff expenses (currently GenFree team field staff are Tammy Williams and Mellisa Pressley)
To give a donation, visit https://www.ficm.org/give/
DREAMING AHEAD: Lastly, pray for God to continue to work out the specific ways FICM can resource and further disciple adults to work with the next generation. We are looking into trainings, website contributions, networking platforms, future youth practicums, parent resources, and more! Lord, keep us tethered to Your vision and plans!
