[To view in a browser, these weekly prayer requests are posted on our website – https://onesimusministries.org/category/weekly-prayer-requests/]
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Each week the ministry team entering the prison has a kind of contest to see who can get through the metal detector “clean” without tripping the annoying buzzer when metal is detected. We’ve all tried our own tricks and tactics – walking fast, walking slowly, going through with arms outstretched, covering belt buckle with hands, etc., etc. Last night, we all got through metal detector without a sound! This scenario reminded me of how we typically see ourselves versus how God sees us. Every other week, most of us fail the test (how we see ourselves), but this week we all passed with flying colors (how God sees us).
I didn’t have the heart to tell the other guys I noticed the metal detector wasn’t plugged in. And we still had to be “wanded” with a handheld metal detector by the officer escorting us into the prison – rules are rules. It’s always nice to be reminded how we sinners are made right in God’s sight through the blood of Jesus Christ, who paid our sin debt on the cross – the perfect sacrifice, once for all time. Each week, we carry that message of hope to the inmates, and urge everyone in each service to accept God’s gracious gift of forgiveness and invite Jesus into their heart as Lord and Savior. Your prayers for these men (and the women in prison) are just as important. Thank you for your partnership in prayer and all the ways you support this ministry. I can assure you, it does not go unnoticed (by us or by our Heavenly Father). I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- Mark– I got to meet with my pastor yesterday and it was very uplifting, hoping to get a Bible so I can look up passages we talked about. [Mark got called out of the chapel mid-service to meet with his lawyer, we all prayed it was good news].
- Kenneth– pray for the justice system – politics and money involved that just ruins lives. We all need to make a plan for when we get out so we don’t stray when we have to re-establish a our normal routine on the outside. My girl Taja is moving to Virginia in January, and my pastor is dealing with some legal issues.
- Brian– that we all get out sooner than later (and understand God’s purpose for us while we’re here).
- Charles– my children, I haven’t been in contact with them in months.
- Kenny– I got no complaints, my maintenance job keeps me plenty busy. I got to talk to my Dad the other day, and my friend Frances came to visit but couldn’t get in – I put her on my visit list but they didn’t have her on the master list – pray that gets resolved quickly. Pray for family and friends, that my time goes safely, smoothly, and quickly, and that we all can give others a second chance like God gives to us.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Ron– praying to get back up state soon.
- John– pray for God to return us to our families soon.
- Kyle– my daughter (12) is headed to West Virginia for the holidays- pray for her safety and to have a nice time. Also pray for my Mother and my StepDad, and thankful how they are looking after her.
- John– pray that we will all continue to glorify God when we get out of here, and get connected with a good church.
- Josh– praying for what we all struggle with in here – patience.
- Phil T– for all of us in here to realize we have lots to be thankful for.
- Dan T– for wisdom and the right opportunity to witness to my brother-in-law over the Thanksgiving holiday, and for his heart to be softened and any roadblocks removed for him to submit and accept Christ. We also pray for all the family members out there who aren’t walking with Christ.
- Jim M– for Jacob and my grandson Benjamin.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Jeremiah– for my children, and for wisdom in considering a plea deal, praying they take into consideration my “good time” and good behavior. [I prayed that Jeremiah would receive an even better deal from our great God who can do all things].
- Patrick– for my best friend Jim and his wife Jody – she has issues with psychosis and stopped her meds – it’s a messy situation. Praying for her help and that Jim can cope with all this.
- Lemont– my stepdaughter (Lyric) turned 2 on Nov 22 and I missed it. Pray for my peace and her understanding – she’s probably wondering where I went. I pray she knows how much I love her.
- Dave– my family, and all our families and how hard the holidays are for all of us.
- Ryan– my wife Janice has been estranged from her family for 10 years and is really feeling it this week. She cried all through church on Sunday – God is doing something, pray He continues and there would be reconciliation in her family.
- Don– for my family, and for my heart issues – I was down to medical unit again, they did EKG and don’t know what’s going on and what meds to give me. Also pray for everyone in here.
- Andy D– for my sister Donna, and that we can renew our conversation about Jesus. Pray she is still willing to listen, and God would soften her heart.
Prayers from Onesimus Prison Ministries
- Blessings, provision, and daily strength for our prison Chaplains – Jack, Rhonda, and Heinrich – to continue ministering effectively through this tough holiday season.
- Prayers for the prison leadership and staff – in their personal lives and their family’s lives, and resolution of the staffing issues that plague the prison and impact volunteer opportunities.
- Prayers for all the inmates in the prison system – men, women, youth – and their families.
- Prayers for those anxiously awaiting trial, and those facing big decisions (like plea deals) affecting their future.
- Blessings upon those recently released from prison – that they connect with a good church, and surround themselves with faithful brothers and sisters to encourage their faith journey.
- Prayers for inmates headed to state prison- may their faith continue to grow in their new “mission field”.
- Blessings upon Aftercare ministries throughout the county – may they have all they need to continue serving released inmates and all those who come to them for help.
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.
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