Usually fellowship sessions in the prison are devoted to learning of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and how to apply the truths of the Bible for an effective change of life. The inmates have been diligent in their attendance of Chapel and have shown that they have a thirst for the knowledge available through our Lord Jesus Christ. Lately I have been challenging the inmates with a question I feel is important for us all to contemplate. “What do you believe?”

The inmates have been hearing the Word of God regularly and have also taken to studying on the blocks about a living and loving God as well as attending a class called “Behold Your God” in the chapel. This has been a strong reinforcement that they are truly new creatures or “new wine skins” if you would [Matthew 9:17]. I have been moved of the Spirit to address this pertinent issue of what they believe, now that they have been exposed to an alternative to sin. Too many have believed what others have said about them in the past. Comments such as, “you will never amount to anything”, or “you will never change your ways,” have locked many a man into a false belief about themselves and their position before God [an old worn out wine skin]. It is time for the inmates not only to read about becoming a “new creation in Christ, no longer who they were but made new” (2Cor. 5:17), but to believe it is true. As “new wine skins” the inmates are in much less danger of bursting upon re-entry to society. The truth of God’s Word is fleshed out in their daily lives. They must “believe and not doubt” (James 1:6) that the changes made in their hearts are determined by the author of our lives, not by other people. These changes are developed by the Holy Spirit to be a daily effectual development of their character in Christ. I believe that we could all benefit by trading many of our preconceived notions and beliefs about ourselves as “old wine skins” for the “new and improved wine skins” created by Jesus Himself. God does not make junk! All of us inside and out are precious and beautiful creations of the Living Lord.

Blessings,

Chaplain Peter

“For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” “Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and put fertilizer (manure) on it. If it bears fruit next year fine! If not, then cut it down.” (Luke 13:7-9)

Give the inmate another chance for that is whom the fig tree can represent. Because the tree (inmate) is not doing well on the inside or out, a different approach is offered. Some people are stuck in the ground that has been used up. Chaplains are gardeners who are able to loosen the soil and apply fertilizer. Not that manmade chemical “stuff” and psychobabble, but the good wholesome organic fertilizer of God’s Word and Love.

I am not saying that God’s Word and Love are manure but (bear with me now) we need the unadulterated outpouring of the Lord as our nourishment to be able to grow in grace. Prison can be the ideal condition to be fed and nourished to then be able to grow and bear good fruit. Society says pull them out and throw them away whereas Jesus says that there is hope for the fruit that is hidden within.

It takes people who are willing to get their hands dirty to help the incarceraed. That would be the chaplains and others who volunteer their hearts and time to reach the “throwaways” of society. Onesimus is in the fertilizing business for God’s precious plants.

If you were to be so bold as to ask the members of your church or neighborhood if they had been in prison at some time of their life or directly associated with someone who had, you would be surprised at the number. Incarceration is a fact of life in the United States. At least 50,000 men and women are in state prison in Pennsylvania alone. This is not even including the 63 county prisons that are overflowing with dads, moms, sons, daughters, grandparents, and friends.

I pray that you give thought to supporting our ministry that helps train people in a new way of life as opposed to accepting the cost of approximately $43,000 per year to keep someone locked up. We are inside to help change lives for the blessing of society as the “new creations in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17) return to your town.

What statistics do I have to prove that our ministry works? The system would love to have figures to shout success or failure of a plan but I offer you the testimony of changed hearts and lives of those whom have returned to your church, neighborhood, and families. Ask them if it was serving time or serving Jesus that made a difference.
Blessings to you all.

Paul had declared that: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greek, slaves [prisoners] or free –and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” [1 Cor. 12:12, 13] As one body in Christ are you aware of what all of the limbs and parts are doing? Onesimus ministries has been an intrigal part of the “Body” for many years, yet I sense many of you and your congregations do not realize how much so. Daily as a Chaplain in Chester County Prison I am an extension of the body of Christ, a hand so to speak reaching the lives of the prisoners within. When the prisoners make a profession of faith and are “Saved” by Jesus they are no longer who they were, but have become new creatures in Christ. [2 Cor. 5:17]

I offer to you two opportunities to become more aware of the work of the Onesimus Chaplains in Chester County Prison. One would be to invite me to your “Body” the church to share during a service our ministry, purpose and victories. I am a living testimony of the change that occurred while incarcerated. I would love to share the victory of the past 30 years of following the call of Jesus, 24 of which have been as a Chaplain. The second would be to attend our annual celebration banquet, April 10th at Mt. Vernon Church and hear the testimony of Ronald James [see the biography], and others whom had been touched by the mighty hand of Jesus through our ministry. Many men and women that have been ministered too through our Chaplains have now taken their rightful place in the Body of Christ and in our communities. Come and be introduced to the many right and left hands as well as the feet, ears, eyes, elbows etc.

Please contact Onesimus Ministries, Pastor Vernon Myers (610-932-4429) or myself (610-857-3980), proomet@chesco.org to arrange a time that I may share the vision and work being accomplished at your county prison.