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Dwight Robertson

President/CEO & Founder

God is BLESSING and ANSWERING prayers! Spiritual hunger is real. What Jesus declared still rings true, “The harvest IS ripe”! And Kingdom Laborers are being called out everywhere to rise, engage, enter, and become theactive Body of Christ in those fields 24/7. We just experienced in eastern states what we find everywhere – people longing to discover the fullness of what Paul described as his desire to “press on…to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of”him. Hundreds of men and people this past weekend, of all ages and walks of life, responded to God’s desire for them to be forged by the fire of His love and be God’s everyday Plan A “hearts on fire…lives on purpose”, bringing God’s love, grace, and truth everywhere! What a humbling honor it is to be on mission (“CO-missioned” together) with Jesus and YOU! As Romans 10 describes it, we are being “sent out” by YOU.

Keep on PRAYING with us – “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done”!  As we sold out of Forge books and resources this past weekend – we could see the evidence of people’s hunger and God’s mighty presence! His passionate desire for MORE laborers is real. Let’s PRAY (Matt 9:35-38) onward!

We are continually sensing a NEW ARRIVING, willed by God, season of INCREASED FRUITFULNESS!!! We praise God! Let’s go after ALL He wills for others everywhere through our praise, partnership, and prayers.

WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU!!!

– Dwight & Dawn

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Lorene Klopfenstein

Hospitality | Ministry Relations

Dear Friends and Support Team,

The seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas bring with them times of reflection and gratitude.  High among the things we are grateful for is you.  You have stood with us, prayed for us, financially sustained us and believed Kingdom sized dreams with us.

This past year has been one in which we have seen God work on many fronts.  We saw lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit during summer training and beyond. We have seen people deal with hard things in their lives and find the peace they have long been seeking.  We have the opportunity to lead the expansion of our discipleship training to new groups and even new places around the globe.

November 4 was a very special date for us as we celebrated our 40^thwedding anniversary.  How time flies.  We also experienced the joy of welcoming our new granddaughter Ava into the family in October.    This fall also brought the 14^thCouples Retreat we conduct at Lost Valley Ranch, speaking opportunities in Indianapolis, and our work at Timber Ridge Church.

In addition to his work with Forge Ron continues the development of his Life and Leadership Coaching practice.  Helping people leave a legacy by discovering new roads, navigating life’s transitions and simply getting unstuck is the focus. You can check out that website at www.road2legacy.com.

Our desire continues to be to live intentionally with a heart on fire and life on purpose focus.  We pray that is your desire as well.  Together with you, and through the power of God, lives are being impacted. Thank you for your partnership.

Love, Ron and Lorene

Ron Klopfenstein

Vice President of Ministry Expansion

Dear Friends and Support Team,

The seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas bring with them times of reflection and gratitude.  High among the things we are grateful for is you.  You have stood with us, prayed for us, financially sustained us and believed Kingdom sized dreams with us.

This past year has been one in which we have seen God work on many fronts.  We saw lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit during summer training and beyond. We have seen people deal with hard things in their lives and find the peace they have long been seeking.  We have the opportunity to lead the expansion of our discipleship training to new groups and even new places around the globe.

November 4 was a very special date for us as we celebrated our 40^thwedding anniversary.  How time flies.  We also experienced the joy of welcoming our new granddaughter Ava into the family in October.    This fall also brought the 14^thCouples Retreat we conduct at Lost Valley Ranch, speaking opportunities in Indianapolis, and our work at Timber Ridge Church.

In addition to his work with Forge Ron continues the development of his Life and Leadership Coaching practice.  Helping people leave a legacy by discovering new roads, navigating life’s transitions and simply getting unstuck is the focus. You can check out that website at www.road2legacy.com.

Our desire continues to be to live intentionally with a heart on fire and life on purpose focus.  We pray that is your desire as well.  Together with you, and through the power of God, lives are being impacted. Thank you for your partnership.

Love, Ron and Lorene

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Garrett Kahrs

Forge Firebrand

The fall has been a crazy busy time for our lives. Not only have we released a book, started basketball season but we also found out that we are having a baby in April! God has been moving in the lives of those around us. We are thankful to be a part of what God is doing and it is only through your support that we can!

#Relationshipgoals: Discovering God’s Desire and Design for a Relationship with Him launched on October 4^thand then we were on tour in 5 different states over the next two weeks. It was pretty cool to see how God used the book to not only open doors for ministry but also change people’s relationship with Christ. If you are looking for book to help someone grow in their relationship with Christ, you can grab a copy on Amazon! If you want a signed copy contact me and I can mail you one! The book tour will continue as we are headed to Michigan and Indiana in 2019!

Talia has started into the basketball season and when you receive this letter, we will be in the beginning of the first week of regular season. We are excited to see what God does through this team throughout the season!

Please continue to pray for our ministry as we continue to pursue what God calls us to. We are thankful for all of you and we love you so much!

In Christ,

Garrett and Talia Kahrs

Picture from the book tour speaking at Southern Wesleyan University.

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Kersha Kahrs

Speaker Coordinator | Administrative Assistant

Hello friends and family!!

What an incredible fall it has been! For those of you who do not know, I began a Master’s in Human Services Counseling: Trauma and Crisis Intervention program through Liberty University in August. It has been incredible seeing how the classes have been relating to different conversations or experiences I have been having with students that come to Forge or individuals that I meet on the street. Please keep me in your prayers as I venture through the program and lean into some difficult classes!

This fall has been full of activity. In September we had a of students taking a gap year program, OneLife, come out to Denver for a week where a few Forge staff members and I engaged with them in a week-long training on growing as individuals, stepping out of comfort zones, trusting the Lord, and learning what it looks like to evolve together as a team. Soon after that, we had the Firebrand team join us for ten days. There are currently eight Firebrands who deeply desire to know God in profound ways and who want to grow in their skills as individuals sharing the Gospel. It has been an absolute joy to see the Firebrand team cultivate a community that is committed to flourishing  as speakers. As the beginning of October, I made a trip back to South Carolina where I was able to be on campus at a college loving on students and connecting with the gap year program students again! Thank you for your prayers this fall! Please continue to cover our ministry in prayer as we work to finish the rest of this year strong.

Love you all!

-Kersha

Loren Hayes

Speaker Ministries

Hayes Happenings

Only a couple of months left in 2018.  Hard to believe.  I’m working hard, however, to finish the year strong at Forge.  I’ve been working for many months on an adult training course called Forge Core.  We are currently in the middle of our third offering of this four-series option.  We plan to offer the last of the series early next year.  The next exciting part is that we’re hoping to launch this in a new distance learning format by the end of the year!  I know distance learning is not a new technology or a new idea, but for our mission at Forge, this is groundbreaking.  We have many ministry partners, alumni, and so many others across the globe that we’ve wanted to resource with the empowering message of Kingdom Laborership.  With distance learning, so many tangible variables of time, geography, and financial resources will no longer be an obstacle to those people.  Remember Matthew 9:37, “The harvest is plentiful, but the Laborers are few.”  This is exciting and you’re helping make it happen!

I would also like to ask for your prayers.  Jonah will be graduating a semester early from high school.  That means that by the middle of December he’ll be on to his next chapter in life.  He has some good thoughts on his direction.  That said, we’re praying for the Lord to direct his steps.  Will you celebrate and join us in prayer for his direction from the Lord?

Much love and many blessings.

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Paul Epperson

Forge Firebrand

For I the Lord do not change.  Micah 3:6

Change.  It is a word that makes us squirm.  The idea of it typically makes us want to run because we find comfort in our routines.  But we live in a world that is ever changing. Isn’t it a huge relief to know that we serve a God who NEVER changes? It should be a comfort to know that it is the Unchanging One who leads us through certain adjustments in our own hearts and lives. God does this to bring attention to Himself, increase our impact, and ultimately make us more like Jesus. In the last few months, we have seen God bring about good change to many people’s hearts in a number of places.

In Lafayette, Alabama God brought change simply by opening a town’s eyes to see a group of people who had gone unnoticed.   People who had been passed by daily.  People who needed Jesus.  Many have stepped forward, embracing change in their routines, coming out of their comfort zones, and learning to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others in their town.  Thank YOU for your willingness to be used by God as agents of change in His transforming work in the lives of many. Please continue to pray as our speaking opportunities are increasing, that I will speak the word of God boldly and clearly. We love you and are honored to be on this journey Home together.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Todd Bright

Chief Operating & Financial Officer

At the close of five different (2018 Summer) FORGE EQUIPPING programs––our staff pushed pause to catch our breath after a massive summer schedule and to spend time praising God. It has been an incredible summer of…changed hearts and lives, forgiven pasts, transformed countenances, altered futures, life-calling for many, families and parents transformed, new emerging laborers for Christ’s harvest fields equipped for their unique callings and future assignments, miracles, and such profound answers to prayer! With a full Fall ministry season ahead, what a fantastic experience to collectively “remember the wonders God has done” and know His plans and purposes ahead are just as glorious. Together––with you––we Forge Forward for the glory of our God and King. Thank you for YOUR ministry with us and profound it is. God is setting “hearts on fire” and “lives on purpose.”

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Charlie Marquis

Discipleship Training / Forge Speaker

MORE… the word of the season – Jesus doing more than we could ever imagine! Since March we have seen at least 11 young people saved, 60 surrender their whole lives to Jesus, 130 lay down their chains and hidden darkness, and 85 commit to sharing the gospel with their friends as God’s laborers, while preaching at various churches, chapels, camps, and events. We also led a high school discipleship training and hosted a contact from Asia, making local connections with him as well as strategizing for the future.

One of our favorite stories is how one student came to summer camp as an emotionally struggling atheist and left as a fired up and set free Jesus-lover, proclaiming “I fully believe in Jesus now! I am a changed person because of Jesus.”

We are now preparing for a September trip to various parts of Asia: Dara will join me (Charlie) for a portion to focus on partnering with locals working against sex trafficking; I will then scout an unreached area seeking to bring the gospel… for both portions we will be envisioning what the Lord has ahead!

And still we pray for more! We have witnessed Jesus do ABUNDANTLY MORE than we have asked or ever imagined. Yet we pray for more – Jesus do more, bring more of your Kingdom to earth… more slaves set free, more lost saved, more unengaged people groups engaged, more nations reached, more laborers sent so this can become a reality. Will you join our prayer?![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Adrian Despres

Forge Speaker

Hey All!  I have had a whirlwind of a summer.  I went to Florida to do a big retreat.  Revival broke out and it was fun watching the Lord work!  Then we moved and remodeled a house in record time because I was about to leave the country to go to Israel!  I spent 13 days in the Holy Land and my life was changed.  Everything was geographically closer than anything I had ever imagined.  One place in particular shook me.  We read at one point that Jesus was next to the temple in a place that I saw is twenty feet from ten purification baths. Jesus put mud in the eyes of a blind man and then told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.  Why Siloam? Why not one of the baths?  We went to Siloam next and it was a difficult trip down a steep slope.  I was worn out when I got down there after sliding half the way.  I could see, but the blind man, not so much.  Why did Jesus send him down some treacherous pass?  Seems that Jesus wanted him to work (step out in faith) if he wanted to see and the man did it!

After Israel, I was home for 2 days and then travelled to Argentina to hunt and share Jesus.  Unfortunately, I picked up a bug there and spent 6 days in the hospital after I got back followed by 16 days of nasty headaches that put me on my back.  Nasty stuff.  I am just beginning to feel somewhat normal and I am getting ready to begin a busy fall schedule.  Please pray for our upcoming events, for the Lord’s hand on my family and that we sell our previous house, which would be a huge relief for us.

Love you guys and thank you for everything you do for our ministry.  You are awesome![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Jason Roe

Forge Speaker

This summer was a busy one and the Lord has done great things! We are so grateful and humbled to be entrusted with so many different ministry opportunities.  We’ve also been blessed with a family of God that is eager to serve him and come alongside us in building the Kingdom of God.  This summer we had 3 student ministry interns that blessed us by joining us for 6 weeks of ministry and others that joined us for parts of the summer.  From serving alongside youth groups for two weeks to minister to the poor through Smoky Mountain Outreach to a week of ministering to inner city youth at Bristol Outreach to the Jesus Rally tent revival for several days to a week of family ministry at Deep Camp in Colorado to being in leadership for 10 days at Indian Springs Holiness camp to our weekend retreat together, we’ve come to love each one of these young people like they were our own immediate family.

These students are all outstanding young people that give us hope for the future and make us think of the scripture in Philippians 1:3-11 that says, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart…”

To these young men and women of God- We have built wheelchair ramps for those in need, cleaned yards for our special needs friends and the elderly living in poverty, spoken the Word of God to children living in situations that we could never imagine.  We have confided in each other, leaned on each other, dug into the Word of God for hours upon hours together.  We have cried, we have laughed, and some of us almost died in the Dodge together (literally).  You pushed yourselves through sickness, exhaustion and beyond the comforts you longed for all in the name of Jesus.  We are proud of what God is doing in the lives of young people.  Jesus, in you, is incredible.

To the rest of you—Thank you Thank you Thank you! For your prayers, your support and your love.  We can’t thank you enough.

Julia Michael

Content Team

Julia Newsletter Update—I’m leaving

I am finding myself in a sweet season of transition. Not only did I just get engaged to an amazing man of God, but I am also stepping forward in saying goodbye to Forge and my time at the ministry.

For some time, God has been stirring new things in me—giving me a sense of conviction and peace about the idea of leaving Forge. After much prayer, and a commitment to be here throughout our chaotic and amazing summer, I’m sharing that this month of August will be my last at the ministry.

Change and transitions are scary, but I want to walk fully in faith that God knows what He has next for me even if I don’t have the full picture. I will continue helping at a part-time job I have making letterpress stationery, but am also open to other opportunities that the Lord may call me into in these coming months. As I navigate the changes of this season, your love and prayers are more of a blessing than ever before. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my team! It has blessed me more than I can express.

If you are interested in continuing to support Forge as a ministry through the general Forge Fund, or if you wish to end your support at this time, email me at [email protected]and I will be sure to adjust/end your donation accordingly!

If you want to know more or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected]! Love you all, Julia

Taylor Derrick

Director of Finance

Summer 2018 is in the books! I always find it so cool to look back at the end of the summer training programs and see how what began as just a detailed schedule on a calendar, fills to be a time of transformation as unique as the students who come through the doors. This summer, in addition to getting to share with the Experience students about biblical stewardship, I had the joy of walking alongside a couple young ladies in particular. While their journeys were very different from each other, I wish you could have heard the cheers and shouts for joy when they shared at the Experience graduation how God had met them uniquely and begun a new work in their lives. It truly was a time of celebration – both for what God had done and what is yet to come!

The last few months have brought quite a bit of newness for me personally as well. As many of you know, I graduated from Liberty University with my Bachelor’s degree back in May. In order to continue on the journey to earning my CPA license, I’ve begun my Masters in accounting through Western Governor’s University. I’m currently three classes in and loving it! I also adopted a little kitten named Dora a few weeks ago (while she is quite the explorer, I actually chose that name because it means “gift” and she has been such a gift to me in many ways). J

As always, I am so thankful for your prayers and support! While I get to have a front-row view of the work here at Forge, it truly wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of others!

John Vermilya

Greeting from freezing cold northern Michigan! Our ministry with FORGE continues to be a blast as God uses this speaking ministry to set hearts on fire.  A recent ministry highlight didn’t involve John preaching at all however. Instead, he was invited to be a coach for FORGE Firebrands at their Denver Intensive in November. Firebrands are speakers-in-training, and the intensive involved 2 days of listening to sermons from 10 speakers and offering constructive feedback (American Idol style). The Firebrands were amazingly receptive and John was encouraged to be a part of helping train the future of FORGE.

On the home front, 2018 is a big year for Vermilya-Nation. Our daughter Isabel will be married to Jakob Crawford in August, and Lilian will leave for college soon after. In a span of 2 weeks our home will go from 5 kids to 3! We will probably need therapy, so please pray for us. We also need to figure out which of our younger kids to sell to pay for it all. (Joking, calm down).

We are grateful to everyone of you as you continue to bless us with your giving.

Much love and thanks for your support,

John & Darcey Vermilya

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Foster Christy

Forge Speaker

So much has been happening!  God orchestrated things for Ann-Marie and Tyler to get out of their apartment lease early and move into a new house.  Many details were taken care of by God’s gracious answers to prayer.  Another great blessing is that Ann-Marie is expecting a baby in December!!  We will be grandparents!  A few days ago, Lolly and I talked on the phone about Exodus 4.  Her pastor in Dallas is preaching through the book of Exodus and each message is available online.  We are viewing the messages and discussing them.  What a blessing for me to talk about “Jesus things” with my daughter!

I recently spent several days in LaFollette, TN., speaking at the Fields of Faith Event sponsored by FCA.  Wednesday morning, I spoke at three school assemblies and later that afternoon I challenged the LaFollette High School Football team and coaching staff.  That night at the event, 1,500-2,000 people were in attendance.   The Spirit prompted my heart with these words, “You give the gospel and I will bring them home.”  The Spirit moved in hearts and before the night was over 150-200 people had surrendered to Christ in salvation and other areas of their lives.

Know your prayers and financial investments make a difference!  You have a part in all that God is doing.  Thank you so much.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Fred Lynch

Forge Speaker

Hey Forge Family!

The Lynch Family has been in some great transitions this year and we want to thank you all for your prayerful support! D’Ann and I just reached a beautiful milestone in our lives: we celebrated our 25th year Anniversary! We are so thankful that God blessed us 25 years ago and would have never thought that we would have come so far as we were two little kids in love. We went to Washington D.C. to celebrate this great moment and it was really a pleasant get away!

Asia is doing great as she has entered her Jr. year in college and has really intensified her pursuit of her calling in ministry! Personally I have been blown away as I watch this once little girl who has grown into a beautiful young woman grow in her love for God and others. Asia has seemed to have ‘caught the ministry bug’ because she is totally fired up to go on The Experience this Summer with Forge!

We are also so proud of Jordan, and he is ready to take the next step in his life. Jordan is excited about graduating and looking forward to following his sister to Texas A&M to pursue a degree in Counseling and Social Work to follow in his great-uncle’s footsteps to open a practice to as a licensed counselor. We are so grateful for where our children are at in their lives.

We love you and look forward to seeing many of you this summer!