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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Just a quick plug for our Benefit Dinner coming up on Friday, Oct 24, at Green Street Grill in Downingtown. It’s sure to be a fabulous evening (like it was last year), and tickets are going fast – get yours today before they sell out – Benefit Dinner Tickets
In last night’s message in the prison, we learned how the overarching story (metanarrative) of the Bible illustrates God’s plan for humanity and the world in 4 main parts: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Genesis clearly describes the Creation and Fall, then we walked through the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53 to see how the prophet laid out the coming Redemption and Restoration (in great detail) roughly 700 years before Jesus was even born! Often referred to as “the Gospel in the Old Testament”, we marveled at the accuracy of each element as attested to in the Gospels, and how Jesus perfectly fulfilled Isaiah 53 hundreds of years later.
The Bible narrative also illustrates God’s plan for His chosen people, as well as our own personal faith journey. The Bible is so alive, so accurate, so multi-faceted, and operates at several levels all at once- so unlike any other publication in History, truly the inspired and infallible Word of God! And we have it available in practically every language, across numerous translations, in print, online, and in our hands on smart phone apps. God’s Word is more available now than any other time in history, yet how many of us neglect getting into it on a regular basis? Lord, forgive us!
Thank you all for the time you spend each week looking over and praying through these requests from inmates and volunteers. It’s truly a service done for the benefit of others. Why not tack on a little time for yourself and dig into a bit of God’s Word? It never returns void (Isaiah 55.11) and can keep our hearts soft and our connection to the Father a bit closer. No guilt here- just a suggestion. May our great God illuminate your path and bless you richly this week.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service):
- Sean– no court date yet, pray for my daughter Morgan and all the guys on K block.
- Dutton– asking for a positive outcome of my court case, and family peace.
- Patrick– I go to court Tuesday, hoping to get unsecured bail so I can get out to take care of my Dad with health issues.
- Manuel– court date once again TBD, family, daughter Sophia, wife Adriana
- Quan– for my family, and peace.
- Andy D– need to speak with a friend who insulted my wife – something amiss with him- asking for grace to care for him and wisdom to speak in love to whatever may be going on.
- Carl– for everyone to know God and Jesus, and for everyone who wants to get closer to use his name – Jehovah. [NOTE: Carl is our Jehovah Witness friend, pray for him]
- José– peace in the world, my court date tomorrow, hope to get out so I can start utilizing God’s word in feeding the poor, also for my wife to get well and be healed.
- Roland D– for all the upcoming court dates, and that the men can get out of here as soon as they can.
- Eugene– for all of us to have sensitive hearts to the Holy Spirit prompting any unconfessed sin.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Naseem– safety for my niece, that she not be neglected -going through a tough time, and for me to get through the program they are sending me to, and not be too hasty.
- Daryl– for my court date to hurry up and get here (next month), also to get a good injury lawyer. Thankful to be off the crutches 2 days ago, hoping to get out so I can secure the same place to live in West Chester.
- Billy– court date coming up
- Cory– for my friend Jack who got out last week – pray he doesn’t come back.
- Deron– for my Mom getting into a new home.
- Tameesa– for all the good folks trying to get into this country for a better life.
- Dan T– for the right opportunity to share Gospel with my Brother-in-law and that he would accept Christ.
- Erwin– for my sister (92) with colon cancer that spread to her liver – she will not do chemo treatments, pray for Lord’s mercy on her.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Frankie– for everyone in here, and my Mother, my kids and family, for their mother, and for my uncle with colon cancer.
- Chris– for family, and everyone with worry on their heart and mind – bring patience, relief, and happiness.
- Rick– for my mother-in-law (92) healing for her wrist and her general health.
- Jerry– for patience, to talk to someone outside to take classes, and to talk to someone about life.
- Frank– for justice to be served, temperaments to be calmed, and thoughts to be matched up to God’s way.
- Ryan– for my wife Janice – God’s working on her – and her brother who is 14 days sober today.
- Andy– for unsaved family members.
- Cam– my wife is suffering with seasonal depression, we have rough winters every year, pray for my understanding of how best to support her, and pray for those in my life who don’t know Jesus.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- For a successful benefit dinner/silent auction at Green Street Grill on Oct 24.
- Safety for Heinrich and wife Susan visiting family in South Africa, and for Heinrich’s Mom and his sister’s family after her sudden passing several weeks ago.
- Chaplain Heinrich and all the male inmates and staff within his mission field
- Chaplain Rhonda and all the female inmates and staff within her mission field.
- Chaplain Jack Crans and the entire chaplaincy program, and the prison leadership within his mission field. Also for strength and healing in the face of his cancer.
- Onesimus Ministries board members, and the future of the board.
- Volunteers ministering to the 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 ministering to recently released men and women.
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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