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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Halloween is by far my least favorite holiday, yet I was very moved by something that happened that night. My wife and I were away for trick-or-treat, so we put out a bucket of candy and printed a sign she found online. It read “Trick or Treat, help yourself to something sweet. Please be kind and leave some behind”. To us, that meant don’t take all the candy for yourself, leave some for other trick or treaters.
We put out nearly 200 pieces of candy, right under our Ring doorbell camera, so the motion sensor would record all visitors to our front porch. When we reviewed the video clips that night, I was not surprised to see some kids taking fists full of candy, quickly emptying the bucket. But what we saw next floored me- a group of five pre-teens gathered on the porch and a young girl read the sign out loud. After she read the second line, she reached into her bag and put some of her candy into the empty bucket. Others in the group followed her lead, providing their own candy for trick or treaters who would follow. Wow. It gave me hope for the future of our society. I had expected the worst of kids, and this group proved me wrong.
Isn’t it often the same with prison? Many in our society write off inmates as criminals who deserve what they get, and only expect the worst of them. But our Heavenly Father expects more from us – He loves each one of them so much He sent His son to die for them (yes, them) too. Jesus modeled the proper behavior for us, having charity towards the lost. God treasures each one of them, so how can we call ourselves Christ followers if we do any less?
We are called to love one another, and it’s amazing how giving basic human respect to an inmate can boost their countenance and lift their spirits. And how much more when we honor them by serving them in the name of Jesus. The icing on the cake is when we remind them how you pray for them throughout the week. Do you know how much they appreciate that? Several of them remark that they pray for you, too. Thanks for being part of God’s family extended into Chester County Prison. God bless your week.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Female Inmate Prayer Requests from Chaplain Rhonda
A.P. – in danger of losing custody of her daughter. Very fearful and asking for prayer
J. K. – asking for prayers for her mother’s health
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service):
- Sean– my daughters Morgan and Rejoice.
- Montese– help for all those needing food and shelter, all those who are worse off than me.
- Terrence– my Dad (Jesse) is in hospice, praying he will last longer so I can see him again. Pray for all our families, and for our active military and their families.
- Patrick– my Dad’s lymphoma- praying it’s not cancerous. I keep looking to the Lord to get me through this, and for all of us to depend on God to get through it. Pray my lawyer can works things so I can get out.
- Manuel– family, daughter Sophia and wife Adriana, and my friend Javier dealing with immigration.
- Richie– family and friends.
- Andy– we will be on vacation next week with my wife’s cousin, who is challenging to be around. Asking for God’s grace and wisdom in dealing with the situation.
- Roland– for solid court dates for all the men, and God to walk with them through the process. Keep them safe when they get out, continue to lead them on a new path and stay close to family.
- Eugene– for the Nov 8th Jesus pop-up rally in Coatesville, that Jesus will have His way.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Phil T– for my daughter’s sister-in-law Joy with high-risk pregnancy – hoping to wait until thanksgiving, but they are inducing today and her water broke – babies are coming today. Pray all goes well.
[Update text last night– “Babies were born. Everyone is good. Waiting for details, but thanks to all. Four months ago doctors said less than a 1% chance of survival. Truly NOTHING is impossible with God.”]
- Jim M– for volunteer Jose recovery- to build up strength climbing stairs and carrying guitar so he can return to serving in the prison. Also for my recovery from knee surgery, pray for physical strength and stability.
- Corey– family and friends, and my case deliberations.
- Andrew– my family of brothers in the prison, and for my actual family, for my Mom, Dad, and sister Kiera. Also pray for all the staff in here.
- Daryl– for myself, and for all inmates in prison – the system seems designed for us to fail.
- Dan T– for witness opportunity to my brother-in-law, and he would accept Christ.
- Andy L– my next door neighbor is pregnant and the baby has serious problems and expected to live only a few days after birth.
- Woody– for the bogus situation I’m stuck in, pray the truth will be clearly seen. For family members not Christian, to come to the Lord. For Israel to get through the crisis. And for women who get abortions to know the forgiveness of God.
- Mark– for my fiancé to have the strength to stay sober and to stay strong of the children.
- Phil T– for the women who want to have kids and are unable to conceive, may God bless them with children. And for the elections Tuesday- may leaders be elected who respect life and honor God.
- Deron– for God to provide, and for more peace.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Chris– to move on to the next step in my journey this week – Liberty ministries. Thankful that hell loses another one.
- Edward– for everyone in here to keep in good health, for the world, for my kids, my aunt Michelle with stage 4 breast cancer.
- Casey– my family’s health, my Dad (David) has stage 4 bladder cancer.
- Frank– my Dad (80) and I haven’t spoken in 2 years. I’m ashamed and embarrassed, pray for softened hearts and the courage to pick up the phone.
- Karl– that all goes well for me in court on Friday, and pray I land at inpatient facility in Chestertown, MD.
- Tseeo– for the courage to turn over a new leaf and repentance.
- Armand– for my family to have abundance the next 2 holidays, and for a productive conversation with my public defender.
- José– for my case- heard nothing yet. For my kids, family, Father, Mother.
- Ryan– my boss’s husband (Glenn) had surgery that didn’t go well- pray for healing and all to be alright.
- Cam– (unspoken prayer requests, overwhelmed by how many of them)
- Andy– for unsaved family members.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Continued safety for Heinrich and wife Susan visiting family in South Africa (yes, they are still there), 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.
- For the members and future of Onesimus Ministries board of directors.
- 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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