Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I was blessed to retire from corporate America at the end of last year. You can read all the books on retirement you like, it’s still a strange experience with surprises along the way. If you over-analyze everything like I do, you begin to question everything now that you’re “on your own”. Going from evenings and weekends to having ALL of your time available can be daunting.
Of course it’s great at first – like extended vacation. Sleeping in, catching up on projects at home (or not), catching up on reading, having time to go to the gym and not be in a hurry for anything – a whole new world. Yet through it all, I was plagued with wondering if there’s more I should be doing. God blessed me now with an abundance of time – am I using it effectively for Him?
I prayed about it for months, had others pray for me as well, and sought wise counsel from mature Christian brothers and sisters. Finally, inspiration came through helping a friend solve his HVAC issues. He was quoted hundreds of dollars for what seemed an easy fix. I dropped by and got him fixed up in no time, saving him hundreds. On the way home it struck me – I could help out others just like that. I love to troubleshoot and solve problems, and I’ve done all sorts of home repair work for decades.
That evening, I read a biker devotional describing how different kinds of bikes (sport bikes, touring bikes, and cruisers) excel at different types of riding. They’re all different, but it’s still riding (and still lots of fun!). Like how people are all made with different skills and strengths, but with one overall purpose.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. (Ephesians 4:4)
The picture was becoming clear, and now the big question was how to use these skills and gifts for God’s glory?
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(1 Corinthians 10:31)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.(Colossians 3:17)
An old idea re-emerged with new vigor- why not become a Christian Handyman? I told some family and friends about the idea, and they all thought it was a good fit. Now I’m excited to start my own Handyman business to help people out, save them some money, all while spreading the love of Christ. Lots of details to iron out, but it feels good to have a mission again.
What about you? What are you good at? Are you using it for God’s glory? Our Chaplains are gifted at counseling, ministering to inmates, sharing the Word, and being God’s shepherds over His flock in Chester County Prison. We’re honored to obey God’s will through supporting Rhonda’s and Heinrich’s gifts, and we are so very thankful for all of you and how you join us in that support.
May you all experience the rich blessings of our great God as you exercise your gifts to His glory!
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from Chaplain Heinrich
Please pray for:
C.C. – 18 year old young man incarcerated for a serious crime that will alter his life. Pray that he finds Christ. Thank God for concerned neighbors who have reached out to him prior to the crime. May those seeds from God’s Word germinate in the darkness of his heart.
F.H. – Concerned about his family back home.
W.M. – Seeking information about Santeria, a polytheistic Afro-Cuban religion full of many mysterious elements that was developed in Cuba and then spread throughout Latin America.
B.E. – He wants information about the Pagan/Wicca “religion”.
Prayers from Onesimus Ministries
Thankfulness for the safe return of Chaplain Heinrich and his wife Susan from their travels abroad. May the encouragement from completion of a local dialect Bible translation stick with them, and may the refreshing received from family visits be felt for years to come.
Thanksgiving for a return to “normal” for Chaplain Rhonda now that Heinrich is back from an extended leave.
Continued prayers of strength, endurance, and wisdom for both Heinrich and Rhonda as they minister to everyone (inmate., staff, family members) connected with Chester County Prison.
Pray that discussions of the Chapel opening at the prison become reality, and that services for the inmates would resume very soon.
Also pray for quick expansion of activities within the chapel, that daily activities could expand into nightly activities where volunteers could come in and minister in person to inmates.
For health, physical and mental well-being, and peace to be evident throughout the prison population.
Pray for quick recovery from recent covid cases at the prison, and protection of inmate health ongoing. And protection of the progress made towards reopening the prison – may these cases not be a setback.
And finally we lift up those that minister to released inmates, building upon the progress made while incarcerated. May all the aftercare ministries flourish with adequate resources and volunteers, and may all clients get a very real sense of your presence, Oh Lord.
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/
If this email was forwarded to you and you’d like to subscribe, click HERE.
