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My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
During chapel services last Thursday, I watched a young man break down as he spoke a prayer request for his Mom who suffered a massive stroke and may not live much longer. It reminds me how we flawed human beings tend to categorize and dehumanize people, especially bad people. Like those sent to prison for breaking our laws. But prison ministry volunteers often see another side – the hurting, remorseful, and defeated individuals who never counted the costs of their actions and didn’t realize what could be lost.
Emotions surfaced as this young man realized the last time he saw his Mom might be the last time ever. In our youth, didn’t we all assume our parents would always be there when we got back from wherever we went? I fully expected Mom and Dad to still be at my childhood home when my Air Force enlistment was up (and they were). But we aren’t promised such things on earth. We routinely remind the men how God promises us in His Word if we trust Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we will be with Him for eternity. And we can surmise that if our parents also trusted Christ as Lord and Savior, we’ll get to see them again. So every week we pray with the men for salvation of themselves, lost family members, and others they know aren’t walking with the Lord. We also pray for God to use each of us as He would to make that happen.
We thank each of you for your part in making that happen through your support of the ministry through your prayers, your time, and other gifts. And please be attentive for any other ways God may have for you to spread the love of Jesus and grow His Kingdom. Be bold, and be blessed!
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- Charlie– my oldest turns 15 today, and my Mom (April) had a massive stroke with bleeding on the brain – she’s in Paoli hospital and they say it doesn’t look good.
- Kenneth– help me to trust in the process of life with Christ, like what is He teaching me through this? My biggest fear is to lose another family member while in here. Help me focus on what God wants for me, and pray for the men back on the block – one guy had a heart attack, and another guy is just giving up.
- Ken– for all the people that fall into corruption.
- Kenneth– for miss Barb who has open heart surgery coming up.
- Rick– all the victims of wild fires in California.
- Kenny– very thankful my good friend Frances came to visit me. Pray for my brother leaving for Mexico on Saturday 1/11, he will be there a week. Thankful all seems to be going well, and pray things would continue to go well and my time would go smooth and fast. Pray for my family and friends.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- John– my fiancé is pregnant and needed iron infusions, insurance wouldn’t cover so we prayed on it, still rejected and prayed more, then approved – thanks to God. Pray for my cellmate (Essam) who had a heart attack, and pray God returns us to our families soon.
- Phil T– my neighbor’s son and his wife had twin boys 8 weeks premature, pray for their health and strength.
- John#2– that everyone’s family is blessed, and for renewed minds – that we can give it all to the Lord. Also praying for world peace.
- Nicolas– for our struggles.
- Phil T– for courage to witness to my coworkers.
- Dan T– for my brother-in-law at a grief seminar for his son’s suicide where he blames himself. Pray he would find the Lord and his burden be lifted.
- Erwin– California wildfire victims.
- Jose– my daughter is scheduled to be induced on Jan 20th, they don’t want to wait long because of her diabetes.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Ryan– my friend Eric has a growth – potentially cancer – nervous about tests – he’s searching for peace thinking that all his stress is causing the cancer, but he’s looking at secular and buddhist solutions, may he find true peace in Christ.
- Jeremiah– my brother (Tyrell) recently got out of prison after 17 years, but now he can’t be found.
- Pat– for our families, and for patience.
- Pasquale– my wife, my kids, extended family, all our families, and everyone here.
- Logan– thanking God for His grace, and praying for continued mercy.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Our Prison Chaplains- Jack, Rhonda, Heinrich, and their families.
- All prison staff, particularly leadership, stressed about staff shortages other issues. Blessings on them and their families/ support systems.
- All ministry volunteers, both serving in the prison and behind the scenes. May volunteer opportunities increase and the staffing issues be resolved.
- All inmates and their families – both are doing time.
- Aftercare ministries and support organizations – vital for continued growth once inmates released.
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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