Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” A common phrase heard during many Pennsylvania summers, and very true inside Chester County Prison where the chapel air conditioning seems minimal at best. The air in that place is already heavy with depression and despair, the sticky humidity just makes it more miserable (well, it is prison, after all). The volunteers bring the light and love of Christ each week, transforming that sticky chapel into a sanctuary filled with God’s Holy Spirit as we pray, lift up our voices in song and testimony, and hear from God’s Word. To see the countenance of so many men lifted, if only for an hour or so, is a great feeling and indicator that we are doing what God wants us to do – love one another as He loves us.
Thanks for how you show your love for others by your support of this ministry – through prayer and other means – I pray that God’s spirit gives you the peace and joy that you are doing what God wants you to do.
Last night, a short excerpt from Psalm 20 set the stage, as if King David himself directed it to all of us in that chapel:
In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry.
May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Selah
May he grant your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers. (Psalm 20:1-5)
In 1st service, Dan read from a letter sent by a former volunteer who posed some tough questions as he left Christianity behind, ultimately claiming there is no God. Many people have difficulty reconciling the thoughts of having a fallen world and a loving God at the same time, but that’s what the Bible teaches. We lament at all the suffering in our world, wondering why God doesn’t do something about it. And why do bad things happen to good people? God gives us free will, and a choice to follow Him or not. Unfortunately, mankind is fallen and corrupted from His original design, and many people make bad choices which cause others to suffer. We can’t see what God is doing in many circumstances but are called to trust Him, and know that one day He will make all things right.
Bill spoke of Life and Resurrection in the 2nd service, centering on John 11:25 where Jesus announces to Martha that He is the resurrection and the life. He also recounted Job’s sad story about our universal longing for something beyond this life, coming to the glorious conclusion in Job 19:25, “I know that my redeemer lives!” Back to John 11, Bill walked through the story of raising Lazarus, where Jesus used his friend’s death as a lesson to who He is and what is to come. You can see the gospel message in verses 25-26, where Jesus tells Martha “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Now the question is, do we?
God bless you as you consider the requests below, lifting them up in prayer to the Throne of Grace.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 service):
- Daniel– stop my anger
- Michael– to get out of here soon, was supposed to leave on the 6th.
- Kenneth– my trial on Sep 23, and for my girl moving to Virginia on July 1st.
- Jose’– court on Monday or Tuesday, and for the people praying for us.
- Joel– court date in August, hope to get released, and then find a good church and a good place to be with God, my family, and my little girl.
- Jesus– spiritual battles.
- Gene– family.
- Jeffrey– my family is having financial difficulties.
- Rob– my family, and that they gutted the whole house when they moved, and get settled nicely in new place.
- Keith– God be with me in court on the 17th, that all goes well, and for my family.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm service):
- Derrick– continued healing from my heart attack last week. And for my roommate Lisa who recently beat breast cancer, but is in the hospital with an infection. Also thankful for my recovery from cancer.
- Eric– to receive a nice paying job when I get out of here, and for a girlfriend, and that I won’t be turned into a dhampir (half human/half vampire), and to get out of this tabernacle. [NOTE: We believe Eric has mental issues, which would be a good thing to pray about]
- Brent– for my friend’s daughter (Natalie) with tests coming up for internal health problems that they can’t figure out. Also for guidance.
- Drake– to finish my certifications for PT, Nutrition, and Security. For continued guidance, for good plea deals, and for my body to recover from steroid abuse.
- Elder– for all of us in here, and that we can get out as soon as possible.
- Adolfo– my wife and 2 kids, strength, get out, and our families.
- Vince– for Roger on the cell block who’s health is real bad, and that his lawyers don’t drain all his finances.
- Andy L– my daughter, granddaughter, and niece all have stomach problems.
- Steve– all our loved ones, and loved ones who have passed on.
- Warren– wellbeing of everyone here, and for those who want to know Jesus and how it all works. Also for Bernard back on the block still in a lot of pain. Also for the disappointing inconsistency of the justice system.
- Jose– for the upcoming elections, that godly men and women would come into office.
- Phil T– my son got engaged on Saturday to a nice girl who is a believer, pray they have a blessed marriage. Also for Erwin who is having some issues with allergies.
- Dan– my brother-in-law to let go and finally accept Christ.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm service)
- Craig– my family at large, my daughters, my wife Kay, for sick and suffering addicts, for the family of my friend George who died from overdose, for my strength in the Lord and zeal to run the race of life.
- Martin– salvation, family, thanks for volunteers.
- Clarence– thanks for volunteers coming out, my family and children, my case where I’m still in the dark and was supposed to be in court today but it got pulled, keep me strong Lord.
- David– family, my father is an alcoholic who is always relapsing, for myself that I could do better.
- Donald– family, for myself and all of us to get into the Word and not keep coming to a place like this.
- Steve– safe travels for my sister and nephew, and good outcome in court next week.
- Dominic– I’m very thankful.
- Kevin– my family, especially my grandma with cancer, that my court case works out, thankful for volunteers.
- Matt R– for all the men in here, and my friend Shaun’s wife passed away from cancer she was battling, pray for strength and healing of her family.
Prayers from Onesimus Prison Ministries
- Our prison chaplains – Jack, Heinrich, and Rhonda.
- Prison leadership, their families, and favor upon the religious programs at the prison.
- Prison staff shortages impacting families and programs in the prison.
- Recently released inmates to continue their faith journey.
- Aftercare ministries taking care of inmate transition back into society.
- Thankful for individuals, groups, and churches that support prison ministry.
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.
These weekly prayer requests are also posted on our website – https://onesimusministries.org/category/weekly-prayer-requests/
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