Jay and Bella Curtis
Riverwoods Christian Center reaches out to underprivileged young people in the Fox River communities offering an activities center in a Christ-centered environment. WSBC’s own Jay Curtis serves as the executive director at Riverwoods. Jay and his wife Bella have a real passion for the more than 15,000 young people living below the federal poverty line in the Fox Valley region. During the past school year Jay was able to significantly expand the Riverwoods Community Advocacy Ministry, add two more full-time staff to the Community Advocate Staff serving seven low-income housing communities. More church congregations are coming alongside Riverwoods to help Community Advocates to better serve the families in Fox Valley communities. Jay adds, “Please pray with us that God will continue to grow the ministry of the local Church in our communities.”
This spring Riverwoods opened two new large residential facilities, and a third one will be completed in October. Each facility houses 40 people with kitchen, bath, and shower facilities. “These wonderful new buildings have far greater capacity to serve our youth and families year-round. By God's grace and provision, all of these are completely paid for and all of the commitments are in place to build a fourth building (and hopefully a fifth) next year!”
This summer Riverwood’s largest-ever summer camp program served 900 children and teenagers through six different camping and leadership development programs. Younger children came for a week long summer camp while older teens came for up to eight weeks in the College and Career Prep program. “Please pray with that the seeds that have been planted this summer (and in years past) will grow into maturity in the lives of our youth.”
This fall, Riverwoods’ growing Community Advocacy Ministry will serve more youth than ever before. Jay expects 150-200 kids to participate each week in programs and family advocacy ministries. “We are very grateful for the increasing ability to serve youth throughout the year. Please pray that God will provide many new volunteers to come alongside in all of these fall programs.”
How to Pray for the EXTENDED STAFF OF THE WEEK
Thank you for your faithful prayers for our missionaries. You play a key role in their lives and ministries.
As you pray, keep up to date by reading their news in the VOICE each month. Pick several missionaries and read their correspondence regularly. Their emails and letters are available on request. Here are some suggestions about how to pray for them. --The Missions Committee
1. Remember their walk with the Lord.
• daily Bible reading and prayer time
• spiritual growth
• victory over discouragement and temptation
• the power of the Holy Spirit in ministry
2. Remember their families.
• relations between husband and wife, and with children
• children’s education, salvation, spiritual growth, health and safety
3. Remember their ministries.
• wisdom, courage, and boldness in witness, evangelism and discipleship
• wise use of time, energy and resources
• relations with local believers and fellow missionaries
• acceptance in the community
4. Remember their physical and emotional needs.
• good health; wise life style choices
• deliverance from discouragement, loneliness and depression
• safety from accidents and terrorist attacks
5. Remember the countries where they live.
• for peace and stability
• for wise government leaders
• for helpful bureaucrats
• for freedom to preach and teach
• for responsiveness to the gospel