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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Are there different kinds of joy? Or is joy just expressed in different ways? And how often do we mistakenly use the terms ‘happiness’ and ‘joy’ interchangeably? I’ve read that happiness is a temporary emotion completely dependent upon our circumstances, whereas joy is something deeper inside, tied to our sense of purpose. Perhaps what I’ve witnessed this past week has been combinations of the two? I’m not sure.
Kenny and I have met weekly since July of last year. He is beyond excited that his release date is here. In fact, he should have gone home this past Sunday. He’s been very happy about that circumstance, but also joyful that God has been shaping his heart through this past year in prison. He gave his life to the Lord a week or two before I met him, and has voraciously read his Bible ever since. Each week we review all he’s been reading, and I try to emphasize the bigger pictures of those passages. He’s been so impacted by God’s Word it’s hard not to smile when I think about our discussions. Now it’s time to make good on the plan to re-connect with his believer friends and get plugged into their church. I can’t wait to hear of continued progress.
This week I also had my first meeting with Jack. We have similar backgrounds being raised with organized religion, and Chaplain Heinrich informed me how Jack is awakening to what salvation is truly about as laid out in God’s Word. He is excited to pick my brain about my faith journey, and I’m just as excited to help guide him on his path from religion to relationship with the living God.
I think both situations have elements of happiness and joy. As long as God is honored and glorified, I guess I’m not overly concerned what we call it! And let me once again thank each of you for how You honor and glorify God by lifting up these prayer requests each week. Your faithful obedience is inspiring, and makes a real difference in all of our lives. Keep up the good work!
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- Eugene– for my daughter (Cashmere) to have full use of her right arm again.
- Chris– for my family to find their way home.
- Warren– hope for the judge to be lenient since I was in rehab before turning myself in.
- Ralph– that we can stay strong in tribulation.
- Manuel– family.
- Boz– forgiveness and health.
- Andy D– safety for my wife who is travelling.
- Rick C– to recognize the right opportunity and have the right words to witness to my little sister. Also safety for Roland and his family traveling to Italy for daughter’s wedding.
- Kenny– our last meeting! I get out in 3 more days! My dad came to visit me on Tuesday, and everything is all ready for my release on Sunday- he’s going to come pick me up. Pray for all the paperwork to be ready so that I can go home Sunday. Pray for my family and friends.
- Jack– pray for my grandmom (Janet, 89) who can’t get out of bed after her heart surgery. (My first meeting with Jack went well. He is reading his Bible with fresh eyes, and curious how to move from having religion to having a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are both excited to continue meeting each Thursday.)
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Dan T– on this Memorial Day, remember the 58,000 men who did not return from Vietnam, and pray for their families.
- Jose G– for Andy who leads second service who is sick at home. Also praise that my son-in-law is doing better. Thanks for my son and family (wife, child, dog) moving back to PA, pray for safe travels as they drive everyone from Colorado to PA.
- Rick C– my son Kyle has kidney stones- prayers for healing and pain relief.
- John– God please bring us all home.
- Timothy– for family and friends, and peace on earth.
- Ross– my heart goes out to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.
- Jon– all honor, glory, and thanks be to God who allows us to be here- He is the God of second chances. For our children, and our grandchildren, and thanks for the volunteers each week.
- Joseph– God give us strength to carry on with your will and serve you. Help us change the things in our lives that dishonor God and others.
- John– My Dad went to the Emergency Room with some kind of psychosis- I’m worried about him.
- Dan T– for volunteer Phil not here tonight- this is the anniversary of the passing of his youngest daughter – pray for his family is mourning. Also pray for my brother-in-law who is in mental decline, that God provides me the opportunity to witness to him while he still understands.
- Jon– for family, put us back together.
- Andy L– I was at the funeral today for one of my best friends in life, he died of a heart attack. I’m sad to miss my friend, but have joy that he’s in the Lord’s presence.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- For volunteer Andy who is sick at home, pray for healing and quick recovery.
- Sidney– world peace
- Alex– my son Nathan (8) is autistic in a special school. He’s getting strong and I’m not there to help contain him.
- Vince– my son Parker (6) is also autistic, and doesn’t get the help he needs. Also for the men and women fighting for us today. Pray for all incarcerated people to get through this and make a change for the better.
- Jose G– for everyone here and the salvation of every soul in Chester County Prison.
- Rick C– healing for my son Kyle with kidney stones.
- Matt R– comfort for the family and friends of a local West Chester man (Matt Clare) who just passed away.
- Joshua– each generation is getting further from God, pray we can all get closer to Him.
- Doug– for everyone in the jail to make a change for the better, and when we get out to become productive part of society.
- Steve– my Mom is 82 and bends over backwards for me, I want to be able to see her again.
- Ryan S– my son’s friend Andrew was thrown out of parent’s house – it was a bad situation with drugs and violence- we helped as much as we could but ultimately had to put him in hospital for some mental help.
- Vince– for my friend Scotty who is going through a lot, hope he gets out soon- he doesn’t deserve to be here.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Thankful for our dedicated Chaplains- may they be blessed with all they need to minister to staff and inmates each week throughout the prison.
- Bless our volunteer teams and thank you for all the ministry opportunities each week across different groups of inmates.
- Lift up the prison staff, from the newest member to the leaders, may they have peace at work and at home.
- For all the families of our Chaplains, our volunteers, and prison staff.
- Blessings upon every inmate and may they have open hearts to hear and respond to God’s Word with a decision for Christ.
- Please provide for Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations across Chester county. May their volunteers and staff have all they need to minister effectively, and bless all the clients as they integrate back into our communities.
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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