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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I type this, I’m serenaded by the melodic chirping of birds outside my window – what a wonderful sound! I, for one, am not sorry to see winter fade, and welcome any signs of spring. Yesterday I walked the dog without a coat on, and even took a quick motorcycle ride. Most importantly, while taking down the last of my Christmas lights, I got to chat with a few neighbors who made their way outside to enjoy the sunshine and warmer temps. When asked how he was doing, one neighbor replied, “I’m just so tired of being in my house.”
Spring always brings new life – in nature all around us, and in social awakening when we all get outside to enjoy the day. It’s a beautiful representation of how Jesus offers each of us new life. How many people in our lives, or even within our own family, are lonely, empty, or tired of “being in their house all the time”? Have we ever invited them to new life in the family of God? To join all of us who are destined to be in the Father’s house? May God bless and ordain our every interaction with those He puts in our path.
Thank you for blessing us and everyone at Chester County prison each week with your ongoing prayers. Investing spiritually in people you may never meet is a wonderful demonstration of love and obedience to what Jesus would have us do. Thanks for being a partner in this ministry – hope to see and speak with many of you at our benefit breakfast this Saturday, 9am at Waterway Church in Oxford, PA.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- Bradley– to get some good news in court on Tuesday (today).
- Kenneth– my girlfriend (Taja) is moving to Virginia on March 1, pray it all goes smoothly. Also pray for all of our families.
- Javier– my family.
- Andy D– my friend (Rich) has a high PSA and is waiting on more test results regarding possible prostate cancer – may he find peace as he is trusting in the Lord.
- Manuel– for my family and everyone here.
- Kenny– for my friend (Sophie) who is out of the hospital, but has the flu, walking pneumonia, bronchitis, and RSV. Thankful my family is feeling well (after several flu cases). My Dad is excited I have only 3 months left to go. Pray my time continues to go smooth and fast. [Note: it is such a treat to meet with Kenny each week. He brings his Bible and we spend most of the time talking about what he’s reading and what may not be clear to him. His thirst to understand God’s Word makes it really easy. I pray we could all have a “Kenny” in our lives!]
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- John– God please bring us all home soon, return us to our families.
- Justin– for my fiance – her safety and wellbeing.
- Joshua– for my mother, my child who turns 9 next month, my little sister, my brother, and my grandma. Also pray for the safety of everyone in here, and for wealth.
- Jon– all of us in here, all the upcoming court dates, for mercy and forgiveness, for all the kids and those who have turned away from the Lord. For everyone to have faith, strength, and patience.
- Barnell– for health and strength.
- Phil T– it’s my son’s birthday today, plus he and his wife are expecting – ask a blessing on that, and pray for couples struggling with fertility (Andre and Nicole, Thomas and Josie). Also pray for my cousin (Dotsy) who’s been on dialysis waiting for a kidney and now they found cancer in her kidneys.
- Jose G– for the salvation of everyone in Chester county prison – inmates and staff. Also lift up the persecuted Christians in India, especially Northern India. Thankful for healthy first grandchild we got to visit for a few weeks in Colorado.
- Dan T– for the right timing and the right words to my brother-in-law struggling with guilt over his teenage son’s suicide, God please remove whatever is blocking him from accepting you.
- Phil T– for some ladies at church with employment struggles (Carline and Cheniza), may this trial not negatively affect their faith.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Jeremiah– healing for my sister (Tameka), from cancer surgeries, and bringing her back to life. Also my court case not going well at all.
- Timothy– my Dad passed away last month, pray for my Mom (it’s her birthday tomorrow), for my brothers and my sisters. Also my sentencing is on Thursday.
- Demetrius– court date on the 28th, please protect my 3 kids, my girlfriend (Angela), and my family.
- Jeeter– for “the process” and that I can get released soon.
- Elizer– for everybody in jail to find God, and for my family.
- Mark– thankful the my church is coming out Saturday afternoon, pray for everyone to have good hearings and to get some good news.
- Ryan S– for my son’s friend (Andrew) still thrown out of his grandmother’s house and living with us. Pray he can reconcile with his father (just released) that he never knew, and wisdom for all of us on how to handle this situation.
- Andy D– new volunteer Cameron’s daughter having serious reaction causing trip to hospital so he couldn’t be here. Healing for daughter, and peace for Cam and his wife.
- Donny– for my family, my girlfriend, and for them to figure out what they’re going to do with me in this place. Also for Aunt Janet with stage 4 cancer.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Saturday’s first Prison Ministry Benefit Breakfast to be successful (details on website, link below).
- Our prison Chaplains – Rhonda, Heinrich, Jack, and their families.
- Our ministry volunteers serving inside and outside the prison, and those waiting to serve.
- The prison staff, especially those in leadership, and their families.
- Staffing issues (shortage, retention, etc) impacting opportunities for more volunteers to serve inside the prison.
- All the incarcerated women and men, and their families.
- Aftercare ministries and other support organizations across Chester County that minister to men and women released from prison.
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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