August 28, 2009

Dear ALERT friend,

Last month we experienced the fury of a storm that damaged
parts of our property taking down trees, ripping off roofs, and wreaking havoc
on some of our electrical systems, phone equipment, and computers. Some of you
came to the rescue and we praise God for His love that was poured out through
His supply of the needed funds to take care of the losses. Although we are
still working on many of the repairs, it appears that the financial gifts will
meet the costs associated with the storm. We have many other needs for
financial gifts, but I am overjoyed to say, “please do not designate any more
funds for the storm damages.” Thank you for your prayers and supply for these.

In the midst of all this, we have continued to send men to
other areas of need. More than two weeks ago, approximately 20 of our ALERT men
spent ten days helping with some of the rebuilding projects on Galveston Island
as part of the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Ike last fall. A
smaller group returned there this past week carrying on some of that same work.

Basic Training Unit 42 will begin on Monday, September 14,
less than three weeks from now. We currently have 69 applications with room for
many more. As we have opportunity to invest in the lives of these young men, we
hope to strengthen the relationships within their individual families and to
build character into the lives of many sons. This will be one of our largest
(if not the largest) units in our history and it is greatly needed as we prepare
these men to face the rising tide of calls for assistance. We want to be ready
to serve!

Last week our ALERT Men‘s Chorus sang at the Sonrise Prayer
Fellowship in Tyler, Texas, where the men brought encouragement to a crowded
room of fellow believers. Afterwards, one of the Sonrise leaders stepped to the
microphone and said quite enthusiastically, “Whew! That brings hope to
America!” Many people have repeated these words on numerous occasions across
the country as they experienced our men‘s diligent and joyful demeanor in
meeting the needs of others. We desire to see God bring hope to others through
us as He molds us, shapes us, and uses us across our nation and around the
world.

As an addition to the already existing service and training
venues, I am seeing the need to begin a Missions Training program here in
January. Many ALERT men, some staff, and some outside of our campus have
brought ideas to the table. There has been a great amount of interest in it.
Please pray that if it is God‘s will for us to do this, that He will provide
someone to coordinate it and to oversee it, as well as the resources needed to
make it a reality.

We also ask for your prayers as we seek to carry forth the
torch of this ministry to prepare men and women to follow after Christ, to find
purpose in their lives, to draw closer to the Savior, to bring hope to our
nation.

Please seek whether God is prompting you to invest in the
life changing, service-minded, conveying of hope ministry of the International
ALERT Academy so that we may continue our faithful endeavors as good soldiers
of Jesus Christ.

Strengthened in Christ,

Colonel John Tanner, Director

International ALERT Academy

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Or, mail us at: International ALERT Academy, Faithful Endeavors, One Academy Blvd., Big Sandy, TX 75755