A Shindig, a Skunk, and a Parking Lot Salvation…
When we gathered for the Shindig Barn Raising to support the Stables project earlier this month, we knew it would be a special night. Generous friends gathered at the picturesque Chippewa Ranch Resort for food, entertainment, and incredible stories of the Lord at work through the Horsemanship Program, and God blessed the event — raising more than $100,000 for the Fort Future campaign! But, true to His character, God was working behind the scenes, doing far more than we could see.
Fort friend DeAnn Eddy drove from Michigan to join us for the event, providing musical entertainment for the evening. The night before the Shindig, DeAnn’s dog, Jack, had an unfortunate “welcome to the Northwoods” moment with a skunk. That messy encounter sent DeAnn into town for supplies, where she crossed paths with a man in a parking lot who asked to pet Jack. Feeling the Spirit’s nudge, DeAnn asked if she could pray for him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he said, “Ma’am, you have no idea how much I need someone to pray for me.” As they talked, he shared memories of encountering God as a young person, but admitted he’d never truly met Jesus — though he knew he needed to. Right there in that parking lot, DeAnn had the joy of leading him to Christ and helped connect him with a church and a mentor for his new faith journey. Hallelujah!
We often think we know what we’re showing up for — an event, a goal, a plan. But God is always writing a bigger story. Only God could turn a stinky situation into a divine appointment. While we were busy raising funds for a building, God was busy building His Kingdom — using a dog, a skunk, and a parking lot to change a life forever. Praise the Lord!
Rejoicing in the provision of funds for the Stables project, as well as the Lord’s work in the life of His children!
Say Yes to a Year of Growth, Adventure, and Community
We are now accepting applications for the TruNorth class of 2026! If you or a young person in your life is still unsure about what to do this fall, a TruNorth Gap Year might be the answer you’re looking for!
TruNorth is a 9-month leadership development and discipleship program for young adults (ages 18–22) who want to grow in their faith, discover their purpose, and be part of a Christ-centered community. While part of TruNorth, students live together at Fort, dive deep into God’s Word, develop leadership skills, and serve in meaningful ways throughout camp. Along the way, they’ll experience outdoor adventures, receive personal mentorship, explore future career paths, and wrestle with real-world questions — all within an environment that encourages faith, growth, and authentic connection.
If you’re ready to pause, seek God, and prepare for what’s next—this is your moment.
Join us for the final push of the Fort Future Campaign: a “Fort-A-Thon!”
The Fort Future campaign is almost there — just 6% to go! As we celebrate the provision of $9 million so far, we are trusting God to provide every dollar by the campaign’s end on May 31.
Remember the old-school Jerry Lewis or PBS telethons — full of fun, entertainment, and people coming together to support a great cause? We’re bringing that spirit back! Join us on Facebook or YouTube on Friday, May 30 for our first ever Fort-A-Thon: fun antics from our summer and full-time staff, inspiring stories from the Fort Future journey, and a few surprises along the way, all with the goal of raising the remaining funds to complete the Fort Future Campaign. As we raise funds throughout the day, we invite you to check back in from time to time and see how things are progressing and celebrate with us everything God’s done as we kick-off summer ministry!
Mark your calendar, join us online, and prayerfully consider helping us reach the finish line. Every dollar makes a difference — we can’t wait to see what God will do!
More than we could ask or imagine…
Fort Staff pause to pray over the Happy Day Creative Arts Building and everything that God will do “behind the scenes” here.
I’ve always been fascinated by the world of theater — not just the actors, but the stage crew working quietly behind the scenes. Without them, the lights wouldn’t cue, the sets wouldn’t move, and the show simply couldn’t go on. The actors follow the director’s lead, trusting the unseen crew to make everything come together at just the right time.
God is always at work behind the scenes in our lives. We often only see the small part in front of us — the next step, the daily task — but He is orchestrating so much more. He is moving hearts, opening doors, setting things in motion that we can’t yet see.
As 2 Corinthians 4:18 reminds us, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Here at Fort, we strive to keep eternal things in perspective. Whether we’re finishing a project, hosting an event, or guiding young people in daily work, we trust our Director to do more than we can ask or imagine. we are trusting the Director of our lives to guide us in work “behind the scenes” in ways beyond what we could ask or imagine. What a JOY to watch His story unfold on the stage of life!
In Gratitude and Hope,
Heather
PS. We are still looking for a few “behind the scenes” Summer Staffers to join us this summer! If you know a young person who may be interested in serving as our Dish Crew Head, Accommodations Head, Hospitality Assistant, or any of the positions listed here, would you send them our way?
Heather Lenox
Content Development Coordinator
heatherlenox@fortwilderness.com
715.277.2587
fortwilderness.com
