Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“History repeats itself” – before the prison shut down to volunteers due to covid, we had 2 teams – one for the 7pm service and one for the 8:30 service – often passing each other in the hallway. After 3-1/2 years of shutdown, our volunteer pool shrunk to 6, requiring all to stay for both services. If it was your week, preaching back-to-back services was the order of the day. Then God blessed the ministry with new volunteers, forcing a return to 2 teams as not to overwhelm staff processing 10+ volunteers entering at one time. Please pray for this time of adjustment as we reconfigure schedules to appease our hosts while not impacting the inmates we serve.
This week, our encouragement of the men began with Psalm 103 to kick off prayer time:
Praise the Lord, I tell myself;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, I tell myself,
and never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death
and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious;
he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He has not punished us for all our sins;
nor does he deal with us as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us
as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:1-12)
Phil’s message in the first service was all about wise choices, particularly where we place our faith. God gave us our faith along with the responsibility to grow it by spending time with God – in His Word, in worship, and in service – doing the things He wants us to do. The alternative is sin which separates us from God and is entirely our choice. God will never leave us or forsake us, and if He’s distant, we’re the ones who moved away from Him. The best choice we can make is to invest everything we have and everything we are in His kingdom and for His glory.
Troy encouraged second service participants to hide God’s word in our hearts (Ps 119:11) through selecting our favorite verses and memorizing them – a necessary step to renew our minds and be transformed as Paul urged in Romans 12:2. He shared a few favorite passages he’s memorized that get him through tough times, then circled around to Romans 10:9-10 discussing what is necessary to be saved. As we see in Luke 23, one thief crucified alongside Jesus didn’t go to church or accomplish a life of good works, he simply believed with a repentant heart in Jesus as the King of Kings and was assured his place in paradise.
Every week we encourage the men to make a decision for Christ if they haven’t already. Jesus commands us to love one another, and showing the way to the King is the best way we can do that. Another way is through persistent prayer for them – that’s where all of you come in. It’s a privilege to serve alongside each of you on our God-given quest to grow His kingdom. Thanks for all you do in support of this ministry and to glorify our great God. May He pour out an extra blessing on you and your family this week.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Inmate Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm service):
- Nathan– for lenient judgement and short sentences for those of us facing that, and for forgiveness.
- Dan– all of our children and our parents.
- John– world peace, God’s comfort for everyone affected by tragedies in the world – sickness, wildfires, destruction, war. For my family, kids, grandkids, leniency and God’s mercy in court, and a second chance.
- Junior– for my friend Antonio in court tomorrow, and all the upcoming court appearances.
- Josh– that the probation officers could get a better perspective of prison life.
- Ulysses– salvation.
- John– thanks for the volunteers and everyone who prays for us, like the little old ladies in Lancaster.
- River– freedom from selfishness, and everyone’s family.
- Kaylon– for a closer relationship with my Mom, and with my family.
Inmate/volunteer Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm service)
- Craig– thanks for faithful volunteers, for my wife Kay in Georgia, my children Briana and Brielle, all our kids, my family at large, and the whole wide world. Also thankful for sister Dolores Thomas who continues to support me financially even though I’m working and have some money now.
- Mark– very thankful and praise God for these services coming back after covid, for my family and friends, the little old ladies in Lancaster that pray for us, and the half-hearted brothers in here who need Jesus.
- Phil T– for Jeremiah who’s been in here much longer than necessary. Also for Martin and his recovery.
- Logan– my step-daughter (Raina, 21) has stage 4 cancer and was ignoring it, but now decided to fight it.
- Harry– Lord give us wisdom and help us to put it to use in our lives.
- Andy D– my sister Donna has cancer and marriage difficulties. She seems receptive to the Gospel, please give me the right words and the right timing on our phone call tomorrow.
- Dan T– prayers for a project I’m on with my brother-in-law who has a PhD but is spiritually lost. Lord give me the right opening and the right words to share Christ with him.
- Rick C– for my friend’s son (Justin) in the hospital with Lyme disease that spread to his brain, he’s in serious condition with an antiviral pic line 24/7.
Prayers from Onesimus Ministries
- We remain so very thankful for God’s blessing of two wonderful chaplains in Chester County Prison – Heinrich and Rhonda – and how their faithful service impacts inmates, staff, and families connected to the prison. May God continue to bless them to be a blessing to others.
- May those suffering sickness and infirmities within the prison receive a healing touch from the Great Physician, restoring them to full health and wellness.
- For our friend Pastor Jack Crans to receive God’s strength and healing from his cancer.
- For peace among inmates and among the staff within the prison. May each encounter between officers and inmates be filled with compassion and respect (on both sides). We also lift up the staff that must work long hours and cover many shifts due to staff shortages. May God bless their home lives and all who support them.
- For aftercare ministries across our county to have all they need in resources and support to effectively mentor and minister to women and men recently released from prison. May there be significant growth as they walk the journey of faith together, building upon the foundation of Christ alone. May each volunteer and staff member find their service fulfilling, and may each client walk closer with the Lord each day.
If you’d like to find out more about mentoring and discipling a man or woman coming out of prison, drop us a note at outreach@onesimusministries.org.
These weekly prayer requests are also posted on our website – https://onesimusministries.org/category/weekly-prayer-requests/
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