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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Deep depression is quite common in prison, especially during holidays like Christmas and New Years. It’s palatable, yet the inmates are so grateful that volunteers come in and genuinely ask how they are doing. We act as a proxy family to these men. Last night during prayer time I read Psalm 142, and it seemed to strike a nerve when I got to verse 4. Here is the entire psalm:
1 I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.
3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.
4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.”
I think we often underestimate the effect of our presence in other people’s lives. Showing up matters. In the prison, volunteers are a consistent presence that seek only to give, wanting nothing from them (which some find hard to believe). We just love on them like family – the family of God!
Who do each of us need to reach out to today, to love on them as part of the family of God? Like Paul says in several of his letters, I continually thank God for you and the prayerful part you play towards the inmates, volunteers, chaplains, and others in the family of God. I pray this new year will provide many blessings for each of you, as well as more opportunities to bless others.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service):
- Jerron– for my fiancé Paige, blessings upon the volunteers, for understanding, love, and appreciation.
- Manuel– my family, my wife Adriana, my daughter Sofia, and for friends.
- Frank– my Mom (Barbara) is sick at home and feels awful.
- James– to be a victorious champion for God this year.
- Boz– for Shawn, and for everyone to be a better version of themselves in 2026.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Rick– volunteer Jim recovering from covid, volunteer Dan managing return of cancer and meds are causing him some issues.
- Steve– for my 18 month old son Elisha, my baby’s mom, and my court date on the 15th.
- John– my family and my friends.
- Dave– my public defender.
- Dan T– my brother-in-law keeps dodging requests to meet, pray for breakthrough to accept Christ. Also for peace on the earth, there are lots of wars going on.
- Andy L– we have problems all over my neighborhood- pray for single mom who’s been abandoned with 2 kids, and another lady who is pregnant but doctors give the baby 5 days to live after birth.
- Brandon– my brother Clarence on E-block is really going through it.
- Jose G– salvation for all souls in the Chester County Prison facility- inmates, staff, volunteers.
- Phil T– former volunteer Ray Hunter left his faith years ago, now had stroke about a month ago and is struggling- pray he finds our gracious Heavenly Father who is waiting to welcome him back at any time. Also pray for twin babies Josie and Ellie, going through a myriad of health issues (Josie), and for the parents Joy and Andrew to remain strong and faithful through all the life and death struggles for the 2 months of their little lives.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Joseph– myself and everybody in this facility
- Mike– my family and their safety
- Ryan– family
- Franklin– freedom from addiction and lies
- Geybi– making the right decisions and court date
- Jose– court date and my kids
- Olen– mother
- Tyreek– my girl and 2 kids, court date, V’s mom
- Steve– wife/marriage, father in law who has prostate cancer, getting home to family, kids
- Paul– wife, protection and health for my 2 year old son
- Daniel– wife, myself, I have a lot going on
- Matt– watch over my mom because she’s alone
- Thomas– favorable outcome for violating my probation in Montgomery County, health and happiness for my 3.5 year old son Noah
- Jason– relief from extreme pain, wife
- Andy– volunteer Bill- favorable outcome of biopsy that he had on 1/5/26
- Matt R.- Gerald and Cheryl’s health, friend’s daughter Abi who has a small hole in her heart
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Chaplain Heinrich, and the male inmates and staff within his mission field.
- Chaplain Rhonda, and the female inmates and staff within her mission field.
- Chaplain Jack Crans, leading the chaplaincy program at Chester County Prison, and for inmates and prison leadership within his mission field. Also personal strength and healing from cancer.
- For the Onesimus Ministries board of directors.
- All the volunteers ministering to male and female inmates at Chester County Prison.
- The families supporting each inmate, staff member, chaplain, and volunteer.
- Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations throughout Chester County.
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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