Updates & Prayer Requests

1) Lisa who heads up our Colorado office and Youth programs is working hard with her team on the upcoming banquet in Colorado Springs. Most of the pieces have come together miraculously, now they are working on selling the tickets. The goal is to sell 400 tickets and have corporate sponsors, raising $100,000. She spoke to an oil tycoon and will hopefully be meeting with him this week to ask him to be the event sponsor. Who do you know who might be?

2) Elizabeth and Charlie attended the Hope for Hire seminar and want to become facilitators (YAHOO!) Please pray for more doors to open and funds to pay for this awesome program

3) Have prayed continually for God’s direction in regard to the Transitional Home in Everett. Dana, Elizabeth and I looked at one. God has sent us 3 residents who want to move in on the 1st of November and 1 Dec 23rd. Pray that everything flows smoothly.

4)Met with the owner of the house today, and in the conversation learned that another ministry that had shut down (M2 Ministries) is looking to partner with another ministry. I know them well and one of the guys retired and hates retirement. He has found funding to help ex-inmates be placed in jobs-he’s very experienced in this, but needs a partnership. I have a meeting with them tonight night. This may help us get into our office space we’ve been praying for.

5)Two of the counselors at the jail and an officer want to meet with me to partner with us in providing services for newly released ex-inmates as well. One is a grant writer – both have awesome credentials/experience. They want to do the anger management, Dave Ramsey’s financial training and more. All things we want to do, but I don’t feel led to teach myself.
have looked at office space at $1/sq ft. (normally $2.5/sq ft in this area) that is perfect for us – just am waiting for God’s provision

6) Charlie & Laura run a 2nd hand store on Whidbey Island. They would like to bring this under Fresh Start. They would still run it. This would allow people to donate items to resell or consign and also provide items for use in our house. Please pray for direction and no matter, that this would be a highly profitable operation.

7) Charlie has offered to take over the Prayer blog and send notices to our prayer team. Thanks for Charlie and all the incredible volunteers God has sent us.

8) Charlie has also agreed to oversee the Discipleship programs and will help me develop the materials

9) David Raymond, a new but highly experience Prison ministry volunteer agreed to oversee the Men’s Prison Ministry programs and has Seahawk coaches who want to be a part of that team.

10) Not so good news – the grocery coupon thing has gone in the toilet. I’ve had trouble personally with it, Ben Quigley finally admitted the company is not keeping it’s word. I’ve sent back the most recent checks received for this. Please pray that those who participated will get what was promised and that we will still find favor in their eyes.

11)Charlie & Laura have taken a box of the Entertainment Books to sell at the store. Mike DeWald agreed to take some to his networking meetings. Pam Hurst has also. Will talk to my son in law about taking some to his shop as soon as the stress is off of them. Please pray that all of the books sell.

12) Also ask for your prayers for Nancy’s daughter Katie and her husband Sam as they have a baby due in a few weeks, and there is confusion in the sale of their home in Texas. They need the money for the down pymt on their home here. The enemy is just trying to intimidate and harass. We know he’s a liar and thief and loses – so I’m standing on the Word. Would appreciate your agreement.

Thanks everyone!!!

Weekly Update on the Youth Program!

Hello all!!!
I apologize for not keeping you up to date (again). Things are happening so quickly that it's hard to keep myself up to date!

I do want to let you know that the updates will now be going out on Fridays!!! Be sure to check in to see what's going on with all of the Fresh Start Programs!!!

Now, here's what is happening:

We have an art program - Art with Purpose! We will start our first 4 week session with Urban Peak one week from Wednesday!
Praises:
- Mel at Urban Peak is SO excited about us coming! And we get to meet the Executive Director on Tuesday!
-Brandi Lowe is gonna make this program ROCK!!! She is an amazing artist, amazing teacher and a woman of God.
Requests:
- supplies! I will be approaching craft stores (and websites) this week for donations! Please pray that God would provide in amazing ways (beyond what we can ask or imagine)
- Wisdom - as we meet with Mel and John (the Executive Director). That they would see God's grace and love flow through us!
- Direction - Brandi and I are putting together a team for this program. Please pray that God would direct our paths and bring the right people for this project!

Also, I am working on my goal for Sam Camp... I need to figure out the exact wording but it is going to be BIG! Please pray that I would trust that what the Lord is putting on my heart, He will accomplish!

Once again, I am SO thankful for each of you. Your prayers are felt and GREATLY appreciated!
Have a wonderful week!

Urban Peak!

Hello all,
just a quick update to tell you about a meeting I had today!!!
I met with the shelter services provider at Urban Peak - Mel!
She is an amazing woman with an amazing heart for at-risk youth! I told her about my passion and what we are creating and she was excited!!! We are going to start an art program there in September. Yes, you read that correctly, September (like 2 weeks from now... WOW!)
Praise the Lord that it was SO easy... the staff are excited and responsive!

Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom as we plan the curriculum... that He would give us wisdom in how we expose these teens to HIM! That the hearts of the teens would be softening, even now, to love that is life-changing!

Please pray that the Lord would provide the art supplies!

Transitional Housing

Good morning! We have long wanted transtional housing in Snohomish County, but it has not worked out. Monday we were offered a 6 Bdrm house, which needs lots of work, a refrigerator, stove, dish washer, washer & dryer, plumbing, electrical and more. I was concerned about having enough people to fill it and meet the rent. Last night a got a call from a gal I know well who needs housing with 2 friends. I have a couple in another house who want to move in and they have a married couple who want to move in. That's 5 bdrms filled. The one girl has a brother who may be able to donate the refrigerator & stove and is in construction so he can help to the work. Please pray that the owner will give us the rest of August and September without rent while we do the work and that we are able to negotiate a reasonable agreement. Thanks!

What day are you praying!

Friends,
I hope you will forgive me... I have forgotten which day most of you are praying! I know there is more than one one many of the days... and that is FABULOUS!!! Please post a comment with which day you are praying so that I can put you on my list!!!

Thanks!
with much love,
Lisa

Let's get this started!

Hello to my amazing prayer support team!

I'm glad you made it to the Fresh Start Prayer & Praise Blog! We (Nancy Ferguson & I) decided to start a blog to keep you more up to date on prayer requests! We intend to tag (or label) each post so that you will be able to pull up requests or praises... or you can look at the blog chronologically!

I would like to suggest that you "follow" this blog so that you are able to get notices when we post updates!

To start this off, I have a HUGE PRAISE!!!!
God has provided the money for me to attend Sam Camp! Why is this so important? Sam Camp offers intense accountability while challenging each participant to set HUGE goals. The aspect that I LOVE about it is the mentality that the coaches and the team have - if one person fails to reach their goal, we all fail. I love that I will be on a team - cheering for, supporting, encouraging and challenging. And they will be doing the same for me!!!
I will update you on my goals when they are more solidified! Please be praying that I will have wisdom and discernment in seeing the goals God is placing before me!

Requests:

• We are still looking for a vehicle that seats more than 5. This would take A TON of pressure off of me - at this point we have friends who are glad to help us transport our kids so I can get the extra kiddos I care for to the house, but it would simplify my life to have something bigger. Please pray that we would have wisdom in moving forward with a new vehicle!
• smooth transition back to school - i can tell it's the end of summer! My boys are chomping at the bit to get back to a "routine" or at least a little more structure! Please pray that we would all transition well... especially ME!
• money for flights and hotel at Sam Camp! I raised the tuition and didn't think about the rest - please pray that God would give me wisdom as I move forward - and that he would provide for our families financial needs!
• Surrender - I feel like God is making it VERY clear just how often I fight Him on things. I want to continue to surrender so He can do more than I can ask or imagine.

Challenges

• Courage... and card sales! With at least 10% of my card sales going to support Fresh Start, I have started a new marketing plan to businesses in Colorado Springs. This week I am following up with stores I visited last week - I have one appointment next week to talk to a store owner and one that I need to call back. Pray that I would have the courage to follow through... and that God would bless my efforts by putting my cards in the hands of people who will embrace the vision of what Fresh Start is doing!
• Balancing Home and Work... please pray that God would give me wisdom and insight into what my husband and children need, that I would have the energy to do both well and that I will love and support my family better than I have in the past!

May God bless you this week and may He use you as powerfully in others lives as He is using you in mine!!!
with much love,
Lisa