Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good…

Last week, the Fort Staff gathered for a time of praise and testimony, reflecting on what the Lord has done in and among the Fort Family recently. Our Lord has been so, SO good to us. During this time together, we corporately meditated on Psalm 100.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)

As we reflect on the words of the psalmist, it is impossible not to be impacted by his exhortation to lead our encounters with the Lord with praise and thanksgiving. Regardless of our circumstances, God, by the very nature of WHO He is, is worthy of our gratitude and worship. Even so, we DO have so many tangible reasons to praise Him, so we thought during this Thanksgiving season it would be appropriate to share with you some things we are praising the Lord for here at Fort (you may find the last one very personal)!

---

We give thanks for our growing Missionary Staff!

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the amazing provision of Missionary Staff to fill vacant roles this past year. Today, we are excited to introduce you to another family who recently joined Missionary Staff! As you read about each new missionary, would you pray for them during this time of commitment, change, and raising a team through Ministry Partner Development?

Silas & Maddie Brood: Horsemanship Operations Specialist

Silas grew up in the Northwoods, his family serving on Missionary Staff here at Fort.  Maddie, who is from the Twin Cities area, grew up attending Family Camp #8 with her family. They met volunteering in the Stables and served together for many years. Since getting married in 2023, they’ve expanded their family to include 2 furry friends (their dog Kahno can often be found at the Stables)!

As the Horsemanship Operations Specialist, Silas not only assists with the daily care of the animals, but is largely responsible for maintaining the fields, corrals, fences, and trails. It is his job to operate and manage much of the equipment that allows the stables to run smoothly. Self-described as thoughtful and adventurous, Silas is gifted in thinking outside-the-box and ready to take on whatever the day throws at him.

Having heard the Lord’s calling after a journey of personal growth and reflection, Maddie and Silas are confidently saying “yes” to the Lord’s next steps for them here on Missionary Staff. They are excited to see how the Lord will provide for them and how the future of the Stables Program will impact generations to come!

---

We give thanks for God’s faithfulness to future Fort generations!

/

We are so grateful for the opportunity to share that the Fort Future Campaign is now 92% funded! We are so THANKFUL that the Lord has raised up so many faithful partners to join us in His vision to prepare Fort for decades of fruit-bearing impact.

---

We give thanks… for YOU!

Our Missionary Staff is SO THANKFUL to have you as part of the Fort Family. (Yes… YOU!)

Did you know we get super excited about seeing your name on the list of campers for every retreat, camp session, or special event we hold? Did you know, we pray for you? Do you know how THANKUL we are for YOU? When we say you are part of the “Fort Family,” we really mean it. We count ourselves SO BLESSED to have each and every one of you in our lives, and we are thanking God for you this Thanksgiving. In our own words:

“I am so grateful for all of the friendships that have made my life so rich!!!” -Tom Robertson, Ambassador

“I am so thankful for our faithful volunteers who help us accomplish the myriad of tasks that are essential in keeping Fort open and running.” -Paul Ziolkowski, Operations Director

“So thankful to talk to so many of you throughout the year. It’s a pleasure to serve you at Fort!” -Jackie Dunham, Registrar

“I am thankful for each time when I can reconnect with the Fort Family at camp. Even if it’s once a year, sharing what the Lord is doing in our lives is encouraging and life-giving!” -Andrew Carlson, Marketing Lead and Design Coordinator

“I am grateful for the college students who sacrifice financially and dedicate their summers to invest in the lives of Fort campers.” -June Connelly, Staff Development & Mentoring Coordinator

“I am thankful for how loved our whole family has felt by the many people we get the privilege to know and catch up with each year.” -Billy Borkenhagen, Campus Architect

Our staff are genuinely thankful for the opportunity to love and serve you!

We really are just scratching the surface of our gratitude in this brief email. But please just know this: as we gather with our immediate families to give thanks to the Lord for His many gifts this Thanksgiving, know that we are counting you, our Fort Family, as one of those great blessings. These are more than just words. We dearly love you all and are so thankful to the Lord for the gift of your presence in our lives. 

For the Grateful Fort Staff,
Heather

Heather Lenox
Content Development Specialist
heatherlenox@fortwilderness.com
715.277.2587
fortwilderness.com