Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
How often do we have opportunity to share the Gospel? More than you might think. People all around us- at work, the store, the gas station, in our favorite restaurants- wherever you look, people need Jesus. Often the best opportunities come from unlikely places, and as followers of Christ we need to be ready.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
My Christian Motorcyclists Association chapter had such opportunity Sunday afternoon. A West Reading motorcycle club asked us to provide a “bike blessing” at their May meeting (we don’t actually bless motorcycles, we pray for riders). After a group prayer, we ask everyone to stand by their bike for a personal blessing. We split into teams and before we pray for each individual, we ask if there’s anything else we can pray for- at work, in the family, health-related – and almost always, something comes up. It really touches people- yes, even outlaw bikers- when you pray for something meaningful to them. It shows we care, and opens them up a little more to receiving God’s love and the message of salvation.
Some ministries stress about getting folks to make a decision for Christ in one conversation. I think that’s pretty rare, especially with someone you just met! Personally, I’ll rely on the Bible, like Paul’s words to the Corinthian church…
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:5-8)
We may never know if we’re planting seeds, or watering what someone else may have planted, but we are called to tell others the Good News of salvation made possible through the blood of Christ shed on the cross for us all.
Chaplains Heinrich and Rhonda have similar opportunities every day in Chester County Prison, and these opportunities are consistently met with Christ’s love and the Gospel message thanks to their obedience and their presence, made possible by supporters of this ministry. And prayer support is every bit as essential as financial support. Thank you everyone for the part you play in meeting the needs of inmates and prison staff and their families. God bless you for your faithfulness!
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from Chaplain Heinrich
Please Pray for:
DC: He had a bad relationship with his father who passed away on Friday after surgery. Pray that DC may discover his Father in Heaven.
AE: Pray for brokenness and honesty among all involved. Thank God for extremely concerned family, friends and neighbors.
JD: Very confused young man with serious spiritual/mental (and probably demonic) challenges.
CW: “Want to see a Chaplain about a religious emergency”.
Prayers from Onesimus Ministries
For all the inmates (and their families) to stay healthy – physically, mentally, and relationally.
For those inmates really thinking about their life and what it all means- that they would open their heart to God and seek His face by asking their questions to Christian inmates and the prison Chaplains.
We ask God to provide the open doors for in-person ministry to inmates to resume, and for chapel services to be held once again. We pray that the prison chapel would once again be a hub of activity throughout the week.
For the hearts of prison staff to be filled with compassion, and the hearts of inmates to be filled with respect for staff, and for peace to reign throughout the prison each day.
For all the aftercare ministries helping the recently released men and women to cope/assimilate to life outside prison, and to build upon a foundation of faith that may have begun or been re-ignited during their prison stay. We pray success for ministry workers and clients alike.
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 info@onesimusministries.org.
These weekly prayer requests are also posted on our website – https://onesimusministries.org/category/weekly-prayer-requests/
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