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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A huge THANK YOU to everyone involved, especially our gracious host Kerry Greco, for another successful Benefit Dinner this past Friday. The funds raised will keep the ministry in operation well into next year. It was great to see everyone, and meet some of you for the first time. Truly a wonderful evening of fellowship, sharing a delicious meal, and hearing how this ministry impacts lives in Chester County Prison.
I just saw a report on Hurricane Melissa, and my heart goes out to everyone in Jamaica. They are saying the island has never experienced a storm of this strength before (Cat 5 hurricane), and the devastation will be felt for years. Join me in prayer for our brothers and sisters in harm’s way throughout the Caribbean – may our merciful Lord watch over them and protect their lives.
We sit in our comfortable homes, enjoying the Fall colors, and complain that it’s chilly and getting dark too soon already, yet Jamaica is facing the storm of a lifetime. It’s hard to relate sometimes when we’re far from the action. I think the same thing can happen with those in prison – we are far from the inmates, who are facing serious storms of life. It brings to mind Matthew 7:24-25,
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
We must continue to do the most needful thing- lifting them in prayer before the Heavenly throne. Thank you for your unwavering support of the men and women in prison, their families suffering along with them, and the staff looking out for them. Stay safe, and may God bless your family in a special way this week.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service):
- Sean– my daughter Morgan, and for my court appearance to go well.
- Richard– friends and family.
- Mike– to understand God’s purpose for me and His will for the journey I’m on.
- Manuel– family, daughter Sophia and wife Adriana, and my friend Javier dealing with immigration.
- Patrick– my Dad has lymphoma- not sure if cancerous. My sister turns 30 today, and gave birth 3 days ago to my niece Evelyn. Perseverance in here, and to get out soon.
- Boldn– everyone in here.
- Andy– praise that for the first time in 24 years I shared my faith with my brother and he’s interested in discussing it.
- Roland– for everyone to get a solid court date, and that God would walk with each man in court.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Rick– Praise the Lord for another successful Benefit Dinner for the prison ministry.
- Jim– Please pray for my wife’s 102 year old aunt (Josey) in skilled care and near the end of her life.
- Jose– healing for my friend Bob with stage 4 Colon cancer.
- Billy– upcoming court dates for everybody.
- Saul- safety for my friends.
- Andrew– my Mother and Father.
- Cory– my Mom is having surgery on Nov 7, hope it all goes well.
- Erwin– my sister (Elwyn) with cancer.
- Dan– my brother-in-law to accept Christ.
- Deron– I’m out in 30 days, pray it’s easier to be out there and not harder.
- Phil– praise that Joy is back at home as of Friday – she didn’t think she’d be home for months until after the babies born. The premature labor stopped, she’s at 31 weeks, they want to get to 34 weeks before birth. Continued prayer for Joy, her husband, and those 2 precious babies inside her that they would be completely healthy and go full term.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Chris– family, brother works for DOD and dealing with the protests, court on Wednesday and get moved to Liberty Ministries
- Frankie– mother, uncle battling cancer, all the guys here to come to Jesus, for Cecil County to let me alone
- Edward– dealing swollen lymph nodes, recent blood work, all the guys here and their cases
- Nakeith– kids, family, court on Monday
- Lyndon– all the guys in here, daughter, my child’s mother, strength/guidance, court on Nov 3rd
- Aaron– pass my test for Safe Serve to get my food handlers license
- Bill– blood work done for my prostate
- Ryan– to be able to give Dave his 30 day sobriety coin this Thursday
- Frank– enthusiasm for life, information about my court date
- William– strength/guidance, positive outcome with my case
- Logan– my release on Friday, moving to Pittsburgh to start over
- Karl– brother (Chris) had a procedure to see if he has cancer, reconciliation with my family
- Jerry– patience, my release this week
- Andy– unsaved family members-especially my brother
- Matt– unsaved family members, share the Gospel, be a light and lead by example
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Continued 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 in July.
- 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 – it’s members and the future of the board.
- All the 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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