May 2023
MAY 4, 2023
God is our Joy
Definition: Our Joy Source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated; having a peace and contentment no matter the circumstances
Scripture(s): 1 Chronicles 16:27-33, Psalm 4:7-8, Psalm 43:3-4, Nehemiah 8:10-12, Psalm 30:11-12, Zephaniah 3:17
Praise and Thanksgiving
PRAISE PARTY! - First GenFree Intensive in Bismarck, North Dakota happened April 28-29, 2023 and was a great success! Here are a few of the HIGHLIGHTS the Lord gave throughout the Intensive and areas where we can continue to pray:
The participants: Darcy, Scott, Greg, Sherri, Pamela, Mary B., Jennifer, Jason, Keri, Billy, Jenna, Mary E., Gary, Ilan, Evans, Sara, Michael, Terry, Dennis, Katherine, Tammy, James, Mellisa
Please continue to pray for them by name as the Lord cultivates His work in each of us, bringing forth more freedom personally and in ministry. Participants expressed to us that they felt equipped, encouraged, loved, and adopted as part of a support system to enable them to individually grow and minister in their community!
This group of people truly bonded as family! We were able to join together as a group of children of God to seek God’s direction and intimacy while also bonding with each other in love and encouragement. Such a great group of saints!
The content and rhythm of the Intensive:
There were no issues that served as obstacles in regard to the schedule or flow. There were several times we pivoted in response to the movement of the Holy Spirit. One very important pivot was to remove a table discussion time to allow time for personal Scriptural listening prayer. This was HUGE in the lives of the participants and God showed up in a very big way here!
The panel Sessions were dynamic, and very informative. We especially enjoyed the contribution of our professional counselors and a guest teen, Kendal, who gave equipping insight on her generation!
I am just in AWE at God! He did beautiful things in the hearts of everyone participating in this Intensive! The testimonies about what God is doing in each person’s heart was absolutely miraculous and amazing! There was a thread of submission to God, patience in His plans, and development of personal freedom and reliance upon the Holy Spirit – Praise God!
The AV and Technology team:
Danielle was able to record most of the intensive content without major technology issues! Praise God. We all actually forgot there were cameras once we got through to the beginning of the program and was blessed to have her lighting, sound, and continual support throughout the weekend!
James also was pivotal to the success of this highly modernized effort – there were no inhibiting issues worth mentioning! Praise the Lord!
Our Host: Center for Counseling staff and their families
Facilities and meals – they were just AMAZING! I cannot say enough about the hospitality of Greg and his team! They made copies, offered up their resources - from furniture, to coffee, to rubber bands! Their generosity and support was invaluable!
Brenda Molinaro single-handedly fed all of us for every meal except one dinner with healthy, wholesome, varied options that were absolutely ABOVE and BEYOND! She is truly gifted in this area! You would have never known she did not have a kitchen on site. She carried every meal back and forth from her home…. such an amazing act of love!
Areas still need of continued prayers and are of great importance:
Intercession
• 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.
• GenFree Presentations THIS WEEK at the FICM Family Gathering Event 2023 in Northampton, UK – We are starting a discussion with all 40 countries on how we can bring Freedom in Christ to Gen Z. Pray God reveals His plans for this presentation and group collaboration.
• Revision and Rebranding of Steps booklet for Young Persons and GenFree bookmarks
• Budget 2023 Development and funding
• 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!
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: GayNell 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 patience, 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 workshops, parent resources, and more! Lord, keep us tethered to Your vision and plans!
