September 2023

Written By Mellisa Pressley

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

God is our Fortress

Definition: One who is a fortified place, a stronghold, and a place of security

Scriptures:  Psalm 18:1-3, Psalm 91:1-7, Proverbs 14:26, Psalm 59:16-17, Psalm 144:1-2, Jeremiah 16:19

Praise and Thanksgiving

  • The Lord has provided laborers for our Spring Hill, TN Intensive: Gail Shipps, Dee Dishong, Jennifer and Scott Tosten, Greg Molinaro, Tammy and Joe Williams, James and Mellisa Pressley, Mary Chester and many of those from her church body, and several field and office staff members from FICM. He heard our requests and answered beautifully!

  • There has been continued interest and opportunities for donations and ministry support for GenFree! Thank you, Jesus, for your resources and body!

  • Mellisa has fully recovered from her heart procedure and is back in the beauty of ministry full time!

  • The GenFree Podcast episode was published this past month and there has been a good response. Promotion for the GF Intensive has been rolling out successfully and on time. Registrations are rolling in!

Intercession

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 leaders’:

  • continued freedom from any strongholds or flesh patterns,

  • deception from the enemy,

  • endurance, reliance, and boldness IN CHRIST

  • physical health,

  • families (especially their children and grandchildren),

  • marriages,

  • safety in traveling,

  • financial resources.

Join us in daily putting on our God-given armor, claiming Jesus’ authority, and declaring that authority over all areas of our lives.

GF Presentation at the Transform retreat in Ashville, NC September 18-20  

  • Mellisa will be presenting GenFree to 30-340 Transform participants

  • Participants hear how Freedom in Christ cares for and invests in the next generation of 13–25-year-olds and how they can get involved

Planning for our next Intensive in October 9-10 in Springhill, TN

  • We are adjusting the content and schedule for this very important training weekend. Areas in focus:

  • Session content

  • Hosting needs like meals, and transportation

  • Participants

    • Lord bring Your provision, protection, and guidance to all those who have been called to participate

    • Help participants learn from the prerequisite CFMU 301&302 coursework

Revision and Rebranding of Steps booklet for Young Persons and GenFree bookmarks

New GenFree Website content

  • We are currently creating some content from the Bismarck, ND Intensive sessions. Please pray for this editing process!

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.

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!

 

Mellisa Pressley
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