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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In any church service, there are spectators and there are participants.
Spectators come to watch and listen, to see what they can get out of it.
Participants come to bring their praise and worship, to give testimony, and
to actively listen to what God is saying through the preaching of His Word.
Which do you think God desires most?
Sometimes there is little energy in a prison church service, where most of
the participation comes from the volunteers. And then there are times like
last night, where most inmates sang loudly, many offered prayer requests,
and several gave heartfelt testimonies. There was encouragement between the
men who came out – they were ministering to one another. THAT is what a
church service should look like (IMHO). I pray all our churches would have
services that resemble that.
We need to ask ourselves – do WE attend church to get or to give? In our
post-consumer society, it’s easy to slip into the wrong mode. Aside from
church, Thank you for the ways you give your time on behalf of the inmates,
volunteers, chaplains, and staff when you lift up your prayers each week.
Your gift of time in prayer is an absolute blessing to all of us, and I
believe it pleases God greatly. May you be blessed in a special way this
week.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service):
* Manuel- for my family – daughter Sofia and wife Adriana, more
patience, and my court date on 6/1.
* Juan- for my family, all of us in here, hope for a court date next
month- don’t have a date yet.
* Diego- my fiance Esmerelda and daughter Melina, and my mom who is
doing so much for me now, I pray God would multiply her blessings 10 fold.
* Edgar- for family, that I would get a court date, for my brothers
family and friends.
* Blair- for my kids, my mom, court on /28, and I have 1 month to go
after that.
* Zackary- for all the people that like me, and all those that don’t,
and everyone in between.
* Rich- pray for my court date, and that they would look out for him.
* Andy- my sister-in-law’s Mom just passed away, comfort for the
family and that they would clearly hear the Gospel at the services.
* Eugene- my niece still in coma after ankle surgery – never woke up
from anesthesia. Praise God she’s breathing on her own, but fear there is
brain damage.
* Roland- for my wife Deb who broke her wrist when she fell, pray for
quick healing and to have full function by summer.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
* Jonathan- my grandfather has hernia surgery Tue (today), and I
should be on a bus to state prison on Wed, and for forgiveness.
* Ryan- my court case is on Wed, hoping for the best – that I would
receive a mental health diversion. Also for family and friends, and for
those affected by our actions.
* Troy- for my wife Beth and my kids Stephanie, Tyson, and especially
Lexus, thankful for God’s blessing each day, thanks for opportunity to have
church 3 times over the weekend. Pray for all these men and where they are
headed. And thankful for the volunteers that come in each week.
* Brandon- for our brothers that are not here tonight, whether didn’t
make it out to church, or released, or sent up state.
* Ryan #2- pray that my wife would respond to my communications.
* Carl- my family has financial concerns with me in here, pray we
don’t lose cars or anything while I’m here.
* Mike- for my wife Robin and my kids Hannah, Michael, and Gavin, and
forgiveness.
* Jose G- for the salvation of everyone in this facility, and for our
brother Jim’s recovery.
* Avery- success and longevity for all of us here and our families,
for our prosperity, and that we would get the answers we’re looking for –
the right answers. I have court on Thursday, pray for understanding of the
judge and compassion.
* Dan T- for volunteer Jim cancer surgery recovery and healing, and
praise God the biopsy was negative for cancer.
* Nevin- I have my court date June 8 up in Norristown, pray I would
get time served.
* Andy L- safety for my wife Dot and I as we travel to Portland Oregon
this week.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service):
* Joel – that his brother would not worry about him while he’s in
prison.
* JJ – for the families of the inmates, and for better understanding
of addiction and those dealing with addictions, and for a better
relationship with his son Josh.
* Ryan – for him and his wife and kids Michelle, Braden, and Elena
that they would be able to pick up the pieces of their family again and hold
together once he is on the outside again.
* Jeff – for the homeless and starving people of the world.
* Jacob – that God would take care of his daughters and grandmother.
* Josh – for better understanding of God’s word.
* David – for all the inmates and for his kids and grandkids that God
would take care of them, and that his sentencing coming up would not be
delayed again, and for patience.
* Barry – for his girlfriend to stay clean.
* Milton – that God would take care of his kids and wife.
* Todd – who lost his way from God and that God would find him and
bring him back.
* Ryan – that his brother Tom would get to 30 days of sobriety.
* Shane – who has to chaperone his son’s field trip and that it would
be a safe, good, fun trip for all present.
* Andy – for unsaved family members.
* Jim – that his son’s wife Judy would have a safe delivery of their
child.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
* For the Volunteers ministering to inmates at Chester County Prison.
* For Chaplain Rhonda, and her ministry to female inmates and staff.
* For Chaplain Heinrich, and his ministry to male inmates and staff.
* For Chaplain Jack Crans, as he leads chaplaincy at Chester County
Prison among both inmates and prison leadership, and for his personal
strength and healing from cancer.
* For the Families supporting each inmate, staff member, chaplain, and
volunteer.
* For Onesimus Ministries Board of Directors, thankful for our new
board members.
* For Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations
throughout Chester County.
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