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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We all have people in our life who are not walking with the Lord – friends, neighbors, coworkers, and especially family members – and it breaks our heart. They live their lives like God doesn't really matter, and oftentimes things are going OK for them, so they don't find a need for anything beyond what they have now. We can see a bigger picture that they either can't, or don’t want to see. What are we to do?
Scripture is clear – God wants a relationship with each of us, and desires to be reconciled with those who have drifted away or perhaps never knew Him in the first place. 2 Corinthians 5 explains how God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Himself, and now He has given us this ministry of reconciliation.
Bottom line – “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!'” (2Cor 5:20)
It's not judgement or condemnation, it's an invitation. Just like how Jesus invited others to follow Him. It may be uncomfortable, definitely not easy, and many times it's hard to find the right words. That's when we must rely heaviest upon the Holy Spirit of God. We need to be prayed up and allow God to use us as He will.
Very similar to what you do as part of this ministry each week – praying up all the male and female inmates, staff members, chaplains, and volunteers. We ask our Holy Father to move through us and help each of us share the love of Christ with all those around us. And one of the best ways to love anyone is to invite them on the path towards Christ. Oh Lord, help us to be good ambassadors, to honor and glorify you. Thanks as always for your partnership in prayer!
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (Inmate 1-on-1 sessions):
- Troy– Thankful my son came from California to spend over a week with my wife for her birthday. Pray for my son Tyson and daughter Stephanie to have forgiveness for their little sister Lexus, and pray for Lexus to get on the right path. Pray for my wife Beth, I'm worried that she's alone. Also pray for my cellmate Ariel who is very negative and needs encouragement, and another guy on the block (Mac) who's court date slipped and he's in the dark.
- Brandon– for multiple issues going on within my extended family, and for peace on the cell block – there have been several fights lately. Pray for my GI health issues, many test results still not back, and I don't think they are going to try and figure it out since I'm due to be released Aug 19.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (6:00pm Monday service):
- Greg– for our friend Erskin who is now going to the VA, he helped me find the Lord. He gave me a list of prayers, and my favorite is “don't worry about anything, but pray about everything”.
- Andy L– I have two neighbors that are fighting and things are escalating. My wife and I are trying to be peacemakers and we ask the Lord's help in restoring peace to our neighborhood.
- Dan T– my brother-in-law John was out to dinner with us and bowed his head in prayer before the meal – I'm so thankful for where he is compared to where he was. Pray for protection and growth for all new Christians.
- Erwin J– for my wife's health – not doing well – bloodwork tomorrow at 1:30, pray for an indication of what's wrong and wisdom for doctor to treat her effectively.
- Carl– I'm trying to get peace, I have so much anxiety being in this place. Pray I can get out of here soon.
- Jose G– for salvation of all the souls within Chester County prison, and for those being released to find a Bible-preaching church with brothers and sisters in the faith who will walk alongside and encourage them.
- Phil T– my daughter Morgan is due on Aug 12 with her first child and has not been able to get much sleep.
- Rick C– for my daughter Ali and her husband to be able to conceive, then have a normal pregnancy and birth.
- Ryan– I've had one prayer answered, and I'm waiting on the other one – in God's perfect timing.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (6:15pm Monday service):
- Craig– hearing tomorrow and favorable outcome
- Kevin– mother's health
- John– court Wednesday, pray for the woman who is going against me and myself
- Edgar– family, new court date, friends and everyone here
- Ariel– forgiveness, freedom, everybody in here, my friend Troy, his family-God to touch his daughters' hearts, my attorney Brian McCarthy
- Troy– forgiveness, family, wife and kids (Stephanie/Lexus). court next Tuesday, favorable outcome, everybody on K Block to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, brother Jimmy and his family, sister Debbie and her family, my friend Ariel
- Andy (volunteer)- unsaved family members
- Troy (volunteer)- wife is having hip replacement in October-wisdom for the doctors, that my neighbor Lew would come to the Lord-repent and believe
- Matt (volunteer)- comfort, peace and strength for my family as we grieve the loss of my father-in-law Gerald
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (7:30pm Monday service):
- For continued healing of our brother volunteer Bill Harkins.
- Harry D– faith and addictions
- Harry K– court Wednesday-favorable outcome
- James– son, daughter, granddaughters
- Jacob– court this week, get back to grandmother, daughters, wife
- Blair– kids, family, everybody here
- Artemio– family, people in prison, Venezuela and victims of the earthquakes
- Terry– court Wednesday, favorable outcome, Matthew/Maura, everyone in prison, Armed Forces
- Al– daughter Gabrielle leaves for Temple, pray for deposition hearing next week, my son Dante-his mother is suffering from cancer
- Mark– myself, brother and sister-in-law, my lady friend Debbie
- Andy (volunteer)- my wife is having knee issues-pray for healing and that it doesn't require surgery.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- For the many 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, wisdom and insight for the future of the ministry.
- For Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations throughout Chester County.
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