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My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Dependency on God is so freeing. He always brings the right things in His perfect timing. Like when I sensed a week ago He wants me to preach about religion versus a personal relationship with Christ, and how understanding what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ was the defining moment in my faith journey. Then last night several inmates had questions or testimonies about that very subject. I believe God used me to deliver a message they needed to hear. And that is simply amazing – how He can use such a broken vessel to accomplish His work on Earth. As I’ve heard from pastors a number of times, the ability God seeks most in us is our availability.
And we appreciate how each of you consistently give your availability in support of what God is doing through this prison ministry. I hope and pray you sense His joy and blessing as you lift up these men and women in prison, and their prayer requests each week. Your partnership means more than you know.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- Kenneth– praise the Lord my lawyer issues are being resolved, and even the judge seems to care more about my situation. I was about to unload on my lawyer about how he messed up so many things when he apologized and told me how he was going to proceed – it gave me peace. I’m praying for the process and for God to prepare me for what’s coming next, and help me stay on the path.
- Hypolite– to get back to my wife and kids. I have court on Tue (today), and pray for the judge’s heart.
- Eugene– healing from wrist surgery, and encouragement for men’s meeting in his church.
- Kenny– the other assistant maintenance guy (Tech) is going home Feb 18, pray that his replacement would be a good guy. My May 25 release date coming quick, pray my time would continue to go fast and smooth. Pray that my family all doing well, my friends doing good, especially Jimmie and Frances, and that we all get a 2nd chance.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- John– that God would return us to our families.
- Demonta– court on 24th, pray I can go home with time served.
- Aaron– that we can be reunited with our families.
- Jon– everyone’s family, for all the victims of tragedy, like from California wildfires, the plane crashes, and murders. For all of us to renew our minds in here.
- Rick C– for quick healing of our friend Jim who had heart surgery last week.
- Kevin– for spiritual strength and security.
- Dan T– for the hostages in Gaza still in captivity over a year later, and for my brother-in-law to be receptive to the message of Christ’s forgiveness.
- Ross– I’ve been in here 37 months, praying for what God wants me to do and where He wants me to go – I wanted to go back to Florida but I’m at the point where I’ll go wherever God sends me.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Pascual– pray for me and my family.
- Jeeter– to get released soon.
- Joe– my daughter’s wellbeing while I’m in here.
- Elizer– a better life.
- Jeremiah– my sister Tameeka who had cancer surgeries was rushed back to hospital – not sure of severity.
- Shawn– my friend and her mom.
- Pat– my family, and for patience.
- Charles– for my anger issues to get better – need peace.
- Andy D– my friend Ralph unsuccessful trying to sell his business- weighing on him for some time.
- Rick C– my daughter and son-in-law looking for a house close to church, work, and friends. They put in a bid on a place, pray it’s accepted if that’s the right house for them.
- Donny– praise God my heart issues are clear, all tests normal.
- Joe– need transformation.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- For a successful 1st annual Benefit Breakfast on March 1 (details on website, link below).
- For all our prison Chaplains – Rhonda, Heinrich, Jack, and their families.
- For ministry volunteers serving inside and outside the prison, and those waiting to serve.
- For prison staff, especially those in leadership, and their families.
- For staffing issues (shortage, retention, etc) and for more opportunities for volunteers to serve inside the prison.
- For all the incarcerated women and men, and their families.
- For Aftercare ministries and other support organizations ministering to men and women released from prison.
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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