Forge Newsletter, Spring 2016

30 Years of Forging Lives & Answered Prayer

Spirit-led prayer and bold steps of faith have marked God’s movement through Forge since 1986. That’s 30 years of God-sparking, life-impacting, Kingdom-advancing, down-on-ourknees praying, “Only as you lead us, Lord” challenging and equipping of thousands of multiplying Kingdom laborers throughout the world. That’s a mouth-full worth celebrating! And so is joining with God in the years to come as He forges everyday, God-reliant Kingdom Laborers.

Imagine what will happen over the next 30 years as more of God’s people pray and respond in faith. Imagine those who will find new life in Christ, live with greater purpose and meaning, and discover God’s love in deeper, more intimate ways. Thanks for sharing the first three decades of Kingdom laboring with us! We hope you’ll join us in praying and responding for the next 30 years as, together, we answer Jesus’ prayer for more everyday harvest workers in every day Kingdom fields.

Scroll down to view personal updates from some of our staff and speakers!

Who’s Shaping Your Life?

On Day 1 of The Experience, we waste no time asking students, “Will you let God, the Forge, shape your life?” The remainder of the summer we provide opportunities for students to experience God Himself in ways that lead them to a lifetime of God-shaped “yesses.”

With summer fast approaching, Forge Basecamp remains busy preparing for the arrival of students and participants for The Experience (May 20–July 16), 16 Days (June 20–July 7) and Deep Camp (June 26–July 1). Behind the scenes, Forge Speakers and Staff prayerfully craft teachings and messages; notes and resources get printed and assembled; airfare and lodging gets booked as domestic and international ministry partners put on-site logistics in order; interns arrive and prepare to serve; program participants wrap up responsibilities at home as they trust God in raising needed program support …

… and covering all the activity is prayer. From the diligence of the Forge Prayer Team to the faithfulness of the Forge Staff, students have been prayed for by face and name multiple times a week over the past several months. We’d love to count you in on the joyful work of praying for students and participants (to view the team rosters, visit ForgeForward.org/Prayer, or to give to underfunded students, visit ForgeForward.org/Students). Pray with us that God will reveal Himself in powerful ways this summer and lovingly forge more hearts on fire, lives on purpose disciples in action around the world. And as you do, ask God, “What is it, Lord, you want to forge in me?”

Intentional Ways to Join us this Summer!

Attend Deep Camp

Rooms are still available for Deep Camp 2016. Bring your family, friends or church group for a week of powerful worship, dynamic preaching, and plenty of space and activities designed to deepen your love for God and equip you for Kingdom living. Register at ForgeForward.org/Deep-Camp.

Celebrate with us at “The Experience” Graduation

You’re invited to Forge Basecamp July 16th from 1:30pm–3:30pm (MST) or to tune in via Live Stream at ForgeForward.org/Live. Celebrate God’s transforming work in students’ lives and hear firsthand stories of what God is up to in His Kingdom. If joining us in person, please RSVP at TheExperience@ForgeForward.org.

As You Pray with Us, You Work with Us

“Please join us throughout the summer in praying this passage from Ephesians 1 over those seeking to experience God in life-transforming ways. May we all encounter God’s love in ways that reveal His Kingdom in and among us.”
– Rachel Reed, Director of Forge Equipping I pray for you constantly, asking God… to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called. (Eph.1:17-18 NLT)

Please pray for summer participants to…

Be made new by God’s love, truth, freedom and grace
Discover deeper intimacy with Jesus that will lead to a lifetime of love, growth, and Kingdom service
Be equipped and mobilized as God’s “Plan A” Kingdom laborers

Read some personal updates from our staff and speakers!

David & Agnes Robertson
Todd Bright

Todd Bright

Todd Bright

The joy of Bright family life is this: from six years old to twenty years of age and on, we encounter every season of life every day! Amidst all the activities taking place, Heather and I desire to keep things simple: putting our hands to things that have eternal value and celebrating the growth happening around us.

Recently, Daniel and Noah had experiences that shaped their hearts and lives. During the month of October, Daniel served in Papau New Guinea with some friends and missionary partners, and Noah put his hands to work in Utah with a missions base. We’re excited to see God’s heart grow and expand within them. Lauren is enjoying playing her violin in the Colorado Young Sinfonia and continues to love performing and practicing. Hannah’s love for music is also increasing through learning the flute! On the farm, we currently have kittens, puppies and birds which Seth, Hannah and Sammy love helping out with. Finally, our recent family highlight was hiking our first Colorado “fourteener!”

Doing ministry together continues to be very special to us. With God’s help, the Food Bank has had an ongoing impact for ministry families throughout Denver. We’ve also enjoyed hosting “Fellowship Nights,” a weekly gathering in our home that started small, but keeps growing! Heather loves to bless others with her gifts of cooking and hosting as we practically get to live out God’s “Plan A” love over meals and conversation.

As we look ahead, please pray God’s wisdom guides our decisions with ministry, community, kids, family, and what we put our hands to.
Britton Bishop
Forge Speaker
Silas Bowden
John Boyd

John Boyd

John Boyd

Boyd Family Update

Twenty-five years ago this month, Shannon and I committed ourselves to a journey to experience life and serve God’s Kingdom—together. An adventure, if you will. A real voyage. We never could have imagined the paths, turns, dips, and heights our expedition has taken. And truthfully, there hasn’t been a day, a season, an experience, or even a trial that we would want to exchange for another—even something potentially “better.” Every step, climb, and leap has helped shape who we are.

Three children, six ministry appointments, three states, two dogs, and a cat later … we continue to love God with all we have and are (at least that is our earnest desire). Maggie and husband, Chris, were married in September and live in Nashville. They’re enjoying beginning a together-journey of their own. Audrey has her hands into marketing, coffee, photography and other creative endeavors here in Denver. Aidan just got his driver’s license, is tackling his junior year of high school, and 10^thyear of ice hockey.

Shannon and I continue to put our hands and energy into loving and serving others as Jesus would and does. We’re looking forward to having our family gather at our house for a Colorado Christmas. With just a little luck, it will be a white one. And yes, we’re ready to see what adventures with one another and Jesus the next twenty-five years holds.

Grace and Peace to you all!

John, Shannon, and family
Nathan Burdick
Forge Speaker
Nathan Burdick
Justin Davis
Lisa Despres
Adrian Despres
Adrian Despres
Forge Speaker

Adrian Despres

Forge Speaker

Adrian Despres

I have been very busy traveling and preaching the Word. What a thrill it has been to watch the Lord work in the lives of so many people! About 1200 students were at an event in Valdosta, GA for a football rivalry rally with representatives from both teams speaking about the impact of Jesus on their lives. When it came time for the invitation, we were not prepared for the response. Several hundred came forward saying they wanted to get right with Jesus!

I spoke to 1000 football players in Huntsville, AL (several committed to Alabama and Auburn) at a media/FCA event. They asked me to preach the Four Chairs. There were several hundred players who gave their lives to Christ or decided they did not want to be lukewarm for Jesus any longer. I also spoke at my Alma Mater, Furman University, to the FCA ministry that discipled me after I was saved. They had so many coming that they changed the venue to accommodate their numbers. The response to Christ was overwhelming.

Recently, I spoke at a church in NC. It was one of those rare times when I was speaking to mostly senior adults. I could not believe how the numbers grew every night. There was an electricity in the air as many brought friends and family members to hear the crazy preacher. I am not sure there is anything more satisfying for me than to see an over 80 year old give their life to Christ – as I did there around 25 times. Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for your prayers and support that make this ministry possible!
Paul Epperson
Forge Speaker
Paul Epperson
Santiago Fuentes
Santiago Fuentes
Forge Speaker
Jessica (Jessie) Garcia
Nicholas Hindes
Forge Speaker
Sara Jenkins
Forge Speaker
Josh Lin
Charlie Marquis
Forge Speaker
Charlie Marquis

Charlie Marquis

Charlie Marquis

WOW! It has been an incredible season. Dara and I have seen Jesus radically transform lives before our eyes – younger lives, wiser lives, Asian lives, American lives… all sorts of lives!

This past month we had the amazing opportunity to invest in high school students who signed up with Forge to quickly surge forward with God and experience Him at work in the world around them through 2.5 weeks of intense experiences, adventures, and teachings all designed to equip them to become Kingdom Laborers – loving Jesus with everything and daily impacting the lives around them. One of these students wrote a note saying “the Forge high school discipleship training has changed the way I view God and His grace.”

Various students overcame whatever was hindering their relationships with Christ, others realized God could actually use them to impact other lives as they share, and still others left with radical vision of what the future might bring as they take steps of obedience to what God is laying before them. We are pumped for these young lives!

Recently Charlie has spoken for Hope Community Church, a local Korean Church, young adults in The Experience discipleship training, and high school students in Forge’s 2.5 week discipleship training. Dara has led worship for most of these groups as well. It has been so cool to minister as a couple and see Jesus set lives free, and send them out with vision and purpose for His Kingdom.

With Jesus, Charlie and Dara Marquis
Melissa Motschenbacher
Chris Prather
Forge Speaker
Hope Radebaugh
Forge Speaker
Dwight Robertson

Dwight Robertson

Dwight Robertson

A New Chapter

We’ve entered a new season! It’s year 30 as a ministry! Both our kids are married and on their own. We moved from the house and neighborhood where children were raised and “Plan A” was written. We’ve entered the “empty-nest” season of life – with FULL HEARTS!

Our full hearts are celebrating a slew of new ministry opportunities, open doors, writing, and MANY former students serving EVERYWHERE are ready for up-close encouragement, love, counsel, and availability! They are multiplying (MORE!) Kingdom laborers in God-assigned challenging new spiritual harvest fields. Our fixer-upper home can support their visits. So along with our ministry leadership and travel schedule, we have enough margin to also bless them, their families, and their ministries. One visitor last week (touched 24 years ago in Canada– now reaching SE Asia) wrote, “Your home was a sanctuary. Just being with you brought healing and a smile to my soul.” Hundreds have been in our home since last May when our extensive renovation project was “finished” (well, completed as much as is possible for now).

Halleluiah! This 30^th FORGE-Kingdom Building Ministries year, the aim is 30% growth in ALL areas – speakers, ministry events, spiritual decisions, lives equipped, and investors and prayer workers. Right now a unique giving opportunity exists. ALL new and increased giving (even any increased monthly EFT giving pre-determined for 2017) will be MATCHED dollar for dollar, up to $300,000! We’re excited, personally involved, and encourage everyone to take advantage of this special time-sensitive Kingdom opportunity!
Jason Roe
Forge Speaker

Jason Roe

Forge Speaker

Jason Roe

The Roe family is staying very engaged in ministry. Jason has recently been blessed by several churches that have hosted successful revivals in which God has moved and lives have been changed. Our prayer is always that the church be renewed and the life of the church be a force of change in their communities. Holly is continuing in ministry as well through the Storytime at a local coffee shop in which nearly 30 children and their parents or caregivers attend weekly. She is also planning two upcoming parenting seminars for a local school and housing complex. Thank you for your love, support, friendship and prayers.
Jason Roe
Amy Steffen
Christy Tiberg
Michaela Wickham
Forge Speaker
David Yirdaw