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Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Last night's message in the 6pm prison service was a matter of the heart- Jose preached on the parable of the farmer scattering seed in Matthew 13. I can confirm we've seen all four examples of heart condition in the prison over the years. We witness on occasion an inmate or two with a hard heart like the seed scattered on the footpath – zero penetration by the Word or the love of Christ demonstrated by volunteers. Men who have disrupted the service by speaking heresy, or sitting in the back and talking with their buddies, or men who just plain got up and left. Thankfully we don't see this too often.
As far as men with hearts like rocky soil or thorny soil – only God can tell what's truly going on in there. We notice how some men seem like they want to hear and learn and follow, yet they get out of prison and soon enough we see them back again. It's our job to continue loving them and preaching the Word, and we pray each one will fully grasp the gift of forgiveness and salvation that God offers.
Every volunteer gets a real sense of joy and satisfaction when we get a glimpse of fertile soil, when they really seem to “get it” and want to see everyone around them take hold of God's promises. Again, only God truly knows the condition of anyone's heart, so we must be careful. So then why give us this parable? I think it's to show us that as we love others and share the Gospel, it may seem like nobody gets it, but some will. And God will produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold, so we need to keep plowing, planting, and watering.
Thank you all for your part in this process, as you water the seeds planted during each week's services with your faithful prayers for the men and their heart cries. Please continue to lift up all the men, women, staff, volunteers, and of course our chaplains on the front lines. Every prayer matters. May God richly bless your week.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (Inmate 1-on-1 sessions):
- William– for me, and for my girlfriend Samantha- she's doing good, but wanted to leave her recovery program- I talked her into staying. Pray I can get over to the work release center soon.
- Troy– 12 days until court date- I just want to get out and serve the Lord.
Prayer Requests from 6:00pm Monday service:
- Ariel– to have peace in our hearts, for my family, brother, sister, father, and my friend Troy's family. Also for my lawyer, that he would do the right things, and for all the men here.
- Troy– thanks for waking us all up this morning, please bless my wife and children, and my court date is a week from tomorrow, may it all go well. Also for tonight's preacher to have strength and inspiration of God, and that we can take it all in.
- Jim M– for a few of my friends – Dan and Mike. For all the men in here to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Praise God for my answered prayer from last week- my friend Gary's son had successful transplant surgery- both recipient and donor doing well, pray for healing.
- Corey– my court date is a week from today, hope to find something out, and pray that I can get into the program I'm interested in after I get out.
- Elijah– for my son, my mother, and everyone in here to let the Holy Spirit guide them and be reconciled to God.
- Mike– for my family – wife Robin, kids Hannah, Gavin, and Michael- and for forgiveness.
- Jose G– for Bob Lawson – guitar player and believer – scheduled for liver transplant tomorrow and his daughter is the donor- she will give half her liver to her father.
- Andy L– my neighbor is a single mom with 2 kids and has a neighbor that makes too much noise. Pray for peace in the neighborhood.
- Erwin J– for my wife and my sister – prayers for health and healing.
- Phil T– my cousin Dotsie doesn't realize she's dying, and is resistant to my presentation of the Gospel, pray for another opportunity and for her heart to be open to Jesus.
Prayer Requests from 7:30pm Monday service:
- Rick: for our brother, volunteer Bill Harkins undergoing cancer treatments. Continued healing and good reports.
- Steve– pray for his block friend “Pop” who lost his daughter and his daughters mom in a fire a few days ago
- Merlin– pray for his family's “provision” which includes his 5 year old daughter while he is in prison
- Dave– pray for his brothers in the service tonight and also his mother's recovery from back surgery
- Brian– pray for his upcoming court hearing on October 26th with hopefully a positive result of being released, pray for his dad who is in “hard times” and pray for his block friend “Pop” whose daughter and the daughters mom died in a fire a few days ago.
- Doug– pray for his children, including his son who has stage 4 cancer, pray for his release from prison which should happen Tuesday and that he would honor his parole requirements
- Andy– salvation of family members
- Matt– salvation of family members
- Jim– younger sister has stage 4 ovarian cancer, pray they can find a good hospice that is not short staffed
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- For a successful Onesimus Benefit Dinner at Green Street Grill on Nov 13.
- For Onesimus Ministries Board of Directors, wisdom and insight for the future of this ministry.
- For Chaplain Rhonda, in her ministry to female inmates, staff, and families.
- For Chaplain Heinrich, in his ministry to male inmates, staff, and families.
- For Chaplain Jack Crans, leading chaplaincy at Chester County Prison among both inmates and prison leadership, and for his personal strength and healing from cancer.
- For all Volunteers ministering in Chester County Prison.
- For the Warden and leadership at CCP, may ministries continue to find favor with them.
- For the Families of each inmate, staff member, chaplain, and volunteer.
- For Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations throughout Chester County.
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