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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Imagine you’re the pastor or one of the support people at church – Sunday rolls around, and the weekly worship service is about to start, you look in the sanctuary and there’s only one person sitting there. What do you do? Everything is all ready to go. Do you continue as you would on a regular Sunday?
That was our experience last night in the prison. Our team of 6 volunteers was in place for the 7:00pm service, and one inmate showed up. We suspect the others may have been watching the Phillies in their playoff game. We joked about that, then pressed on with our weekly worship service as normal. It reminded us of the lost sheep passage in Matthew and Luke.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15.4-7)
We want to follows God’s heart, where even one lost sheep is important. We still had a great time of worship, prayer, testimony, and hearing a message from God’s Word. I’m sure Deron wasn’t thrilled to be the object of so much attention, but he took it in stride. What I learned from this is every person we come across is important to God.
In fact, on the way to the prison, I came upon a motorist who had broken down. One of our prison volunteers had already stopped to help by letting him make a call on his cell phone. A few minutes of inconvenience, but another opportunity to show God’s love. When we live our testimony, there will be people that notice. That’s why 1 Peter 3.15 reminds us to always be ready.
Thank you for valuing each of these inmates as we do, and supporting them with your prayers each week. We may never know the full impact our prayers have on each individual, but know that each prayer most certainly helps, because we lift our prayers to a Good, Good Father who loves us more than we can fathom. May He bless your week in new ways.
And don’t forget about our benefit dinner on Friday, Oct 24, at 6pm. Tickets still available (for now).
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service):
- Sean– been waiting 3 months for a court date, pray it comes soon. I have some entrepreneurial ideas I want to get moving on. Also for my daughter Morgan.
- Richard– for my family, thanks for those who take time to come out to the prison, and prayers for the men in here going through it.
- Dutton– for a good outcome in my court case.
- Manuel– my family, daughter Sophia, wife Adriana, and my friend Javier who got out. Pray for my purpose.
- Quan– to be closer to God, for my family, my children, and loved ones.
- Andy D– thankful for a good conversation with my sister- she’s reading her Bible and starting to ask questions.
- Roland D– for all the upcoming court dates, and that the men can get out of here as soon as they can.
- Eugene– for the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into the fields.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Deron– for better health.
- Jim M– for volunteer Jose to heal up after his fall, for my Brother-in-law Jeff in a nursing home, and for my upcoming knee surgery next week.
- Andy D– my wife experiencing some symptoms, had some tests done, praying for good results.
- Dan T– for the right opportunity to share Gospel with my Brother-in-law and that he would accept Christ.
- Phil T– for Deron to get home to his family before Thanksgiving. Also for Joy and her husband, thankful they could enjoy a baby shower, and we ask for continued miracles for those twin babies to be healthy and go full term, and that God would heal the heart of the baby they are planning heart surgery for at 3 months.
- Andy L– for all of us to be faithful in our prayers, and that the Lord would revive our spirits.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Frankie– for my mother’s health. Also I’m having a lot of body pain.
- Aaron– for freedom of the mind.
- Lynda– for my daughter’s mom and for strength and endurance.
- Chris– forgiveness and another chance with my family.
- David– for all the men here, and for my grandkids and daughter. Court date soon.
- Matt R– in-laws health. Leo’s anxiety. Peace with his parents.
- Troy L– unity in my family.
- Andy D– wife’s concerning bloodwork. Faith to walk thru it.
- Ryan S– for David’s sobriety and continued reconciliation with family.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- For all plans to come together for a successful benefit dinner at Green Street Grill on Oct 24. Link to details and tickets.
- Chaplain Heinrich and all the male inmates and staff within his mission field
- Safe travels 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 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.
- All volunteers ministering to the male and female inmates at Chester County Prison.
- Protection for the families that support each inmate, staff member, chaplain, and volunteer.
- For Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations in 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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