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My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Last Thursday, and again last night (at both services), I shared a message about freedom and independence to coincide with July 4th holiday. We explored the question of how we can have freedom, yet follow the example of Jesus to be fully dependent upon God.
To illustrate the point, we walked through the Exodus story. God used Moses to secure release of the Israelites, who finally left Egypt after 400 years of oppressive slavery. Over a million strong, they escaped into the desert with all they could carry, only to run out of food and water. They were free, yet totally dependent on God to provide navigation (pillar of cloud/fire), protection (Red Sea crossing), water (from a rock), and food (manna and quail).
We also heard Nicky Gumbel’s soccer story (from the Alpha course) as a modern day rendition of how rules allow players to fully enjoy the game. It can quickly turn chaotic without rules, ultimately leading to confusion and people getting hurt. Choosing to follow God exercises our freedom of choice, and depending on Him for direction as we live within His guidelines leads to life lived to the full. As Creator, He designed us, so why wouldn’t His ways lead to the best possible life?
Each of us is given the opportunity to choose- live for God, or live for ourselves. We appreciate all of you who make the choice each week to live for Him through support of this prison ministry, with your faithful prayers and other means of support. I pray you all had a nice holiday weekend, and for God to richly bless your summer.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- Lamar– for freedom, guidance, understanding, and mental stability and strength. My court date on 7/16.
- Brian– my grandmother has COPD and having a hard time breathing- she means the world to me.
- Manuel– for my familia, and my court date on 7/28.
- Javier– for familia, court date on 7/14.
- Arely– my familia.
- Carl– for all those who don’t know Jesus, not just in this prison, but in the whole world.
- Rick C– my friend Matt recovering from shoulder surgery.
- Roland D– my wife (Deb)- healing and relief from pain.
- Eugene – my sister (Yvette) having triple bypass surgery 7/8.
- Jack– for all the issues with my case and outstanding warrant to be resolved before my release date of 7/23. Also for my grandmother still rehabilitating from heart surgery. Praying my kids will enjoy the summer and my incarceration would not be remembered by them. Thankful to be talking with my Dad again- he’s really stressed out as the main point-of-contact between me and family.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Rick C– healing and quick recovery for our volunteer brother Jim who got really banged up in an accident with his e-bike.
- John– God get us home soon to our families.
- Timothy– court date on Aug 18.
- Eric– my court date on 7/23.
- Manuel– for 2 of my friends, family, 10 yr old daughter, and Mom
- Caesar– for my wife (Isabel) to change her mind, heart, and attitude- something is going on with her, and for my court date tomorrow.
- Daniel– court date on 26th, I’m very anxious and nervous about what will happen. Praying for good outcome.
- Michael– to keep on track studying God’s Word, and for the mothers of all of us in here, may they have patience and peace after what we put them through. Pray we can all do right by our families.
- Brian– my Mom has been in and out of hospital, and needs gall bladder removed. My 19th birthday is coming up and I’ll have to spend it in here, hope it’s good.
- Deron– strength from God for my frustrations.
- Andy L– for all the victims and families affected by the high death toll from Texas flash floods, and for girls and their counselor still missing from flooded Christian camp.
- Tim– health and happiness for my family.
- Dan T– my brother-in-law is dodging my conversations about Christ. Pray for opportunity.
- Woodrow– for my family- no contact for a while, pray to reunite and restore.
- Erwin J– wife Rena in a lot of pain waiting for back surgery next week.
- Phil T– my friend (Joy) has high risk pregnancy with twin girls- doctors gave one girl less than 1% chance to live- fearful of one dies the other will also- they need a miracle.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Chris– get out as soon as possible.
- Rick C– for Matt’s healing and quick recovery from shoulder surgery.
- Robert– for the Phillies to win the world series.
- Sam– patience and understanding.
- Frankie– for my mom- she has cancer on her face. They are treating with radiation to not leave a surgical scar. Pray for my uncle and Mom with heart issues.
- Rick– for my mother-in-law Seddie to settle in to assisted living situation, and heal quickly from surgery to remove cancer from her neck.
- Jose– for a young girl (Anna) suffering deep depression with suicidal thoughts, may she experience the love of Christ filling her heart. They are poor and have no means of mental health treatment.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- For Chaplains Rhonda, Heinrich and Jack, and for all the prison ministry volunteers.
- Continued prayer for Heinrich’s family in South Africa after sudden loss of his sister.
- For everyone at the prison- inmates, staff, and all their families/support systems.
- For the Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations across Chester County ministering to recently released men and women.
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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