My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Monday night team is almost back to pre-pandemic strength, with 6 volunteers covering both services. The big difference is that prior to the break, the first and second services were covered by different teams. Until we can further build up the team, we’re all doing “double duty”. Please pray with us for more laborers.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
God already knows what we need, but I think He likes us to ask anyway to demonstrate our reliance upon Him, and to remind us how good He is to us (all the time).
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8)
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. (1 John 5:14-15)
In fact, God has been answering that prayer in that we have a number of new volunteers going through the clearance/investigation process right now. That doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will be approved, plus we’ve all seen volunteers in the past who come a few times then decide this ministry is not for them. So please keep the team in prayer for strength and longevity in our volunteer pool.
We had another set of good services last night, and the prayer requests are below. Our prayer time was kicked off with an excerpt from Psalm 18.
To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.
To the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.
You rescue the humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
Lord, You have brought light to my life;
my God, you light up my darkness.
In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall.
God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
God arms me with strength,
and he makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
leading me safely along the mountain heights.
He prepares me for battle;
he strengthens me to draw a bronze bow.
You have given me the shield of your salvation.
Your right hand supports me;
your gentleness has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping. (Psalm 18:25-36)
Thank you for praying for the inmates, their families, and these requests each week. Your ministry to them is so important, and you are blessing them more than you know. May God bless you as well.
Grace and peace,
Rick
Inmate Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm service):
- Corey– family, love, perseverance, and God’s help to make it through this storm – my wife and I just had a baby with serious complications (in NICU for several weeks and pulled through), and they thought we did something to the baby but it was birthed wrong. So thankful for my wife and the love I have for both of them.
- Bernard– having a lot of physical pain, needing strength in the Lord
- Brandt– for my niece with 2 babies – their house burned down.
- John– for the non-Christians in my family, and my sister who is a single mom with 4 kids. Also want to pray for the victims of the Russia/Ukraine war.
- Eric– for my family, and that all goes well with my trial on the 25th.
- Kevin– for my 5 kids and for my grandmother on hospice.
- Dave– for my children, my girl, and for forgiveness.
- Phil T– for volunteer Andy and his family on the loss of his mom recently, thankful she knew the Lord.
- Thomas– for my 2 granddaughters.
- Phil T– for a couple at church- Thomas and Josie- who just miscarried their first child.
Inmate Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm service)
- Maurice– for my ex-wife Tanya going through some stuff.
- Clarence– thankful for the volunteers that come out each week, prayers for our families and that all of our situations work out.
- John– for all the upcoming court dates, for my cellmate Oscar, and for all of our health and wellbeing.
- Chris– that everyone finds their way.
- Bo– thankful for the volunteers, for wellbeing of families and kids of all of us here, and for me- that God would stay close and help me with my situation.
- Ken– for our families, our children, and especially my fiancé’s son in the hospital.
- Daryl– that we would all be encouraged to depend on God more, and that we could all be more positive with each other.
- Dan T– for our country that has drifted far away from God, kicking Him out of our schools and government, may all Christians boldly stand for and speak the truth of the Gospel.
- Dave– God has me here in a “time out” so I can draw closer to Him.
Prayers from Onesimus Ministries
Thankful that the escaped convict was recaptured without any shots fired or injuries to law enforcement officials, and that residents can feel safe again.
Thankful for all the dedicated law enforcement teams that came together and worked tirelessly for 2 weeks to accomplish the mission.
Continued prayers for families of a few Onesimus Ministries board members. Strength and wisdom for Dan’s family caring for his 94-year-old mother-in-law. And for Andy’s family grieving the loss of his mother June.
Prayers for the staff of Chester County prison and their families as staff must work long hours due to shortages. Pray for staff shortages to be relieved and regular working hours to return.
For chaplains Rhonda and Heinrich serving inmates and staff each day, showing the love of Christ to everyone at the prison.
For the aftercare ministries that take good care of recently released men and women as they strive to maintain faith and discipline towards God’s Word and His will for their life. May they be fruitful in their endeavors and may they enjoy ample resources and volunteers to get the job done.
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 info@onesimusministries.org.
These weekly prayer requests are also posted on our website – https://onesimusministries.org/category/weekly-prayer-requests/
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