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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
How do we react when a major event in life approaches, then the date slips by with nothing happening and nobody seems to even notice? I can’t imagine the disappointment for Jack and other inmates who get a release date, then continue their prison stay after that date. According to many prisoners, they typically receive little to no information on their situation, and spend most of the time waiting without a clue of when the next step will occur. There may be many reasons why it’s like that, but the end result is the same – feelings of disappointment, depression, and hopelessness.
We volunteers routinely try to help refocus inmate’s attention from their current situation to an eternal scale. We don’t naturally think that way, but that’s where our hope is found. Our current circumstance may seem important, but will it still be important a year from now? Five years from now? Ten? How about our entire lifetime as compared with eternity? Those who put their hope in Christ look forward to sharing God’s glory for eternity. Difficult to conceive, but an infinitely better outlook than our present situation.
I pray each of you take the time daily, or at least weekly, to contemplate our future and how truly blessed we are to be adopted sons and daughters, and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14-17). In the meantime, thanks for your support to keep reminding inmates there is hope through faith in Christ. And thanks for praying for these men and their requests each week. When I remind them this happens each week, you should see the brighter eyes and a few smiles. You make that happen! Have a stellar week everyone.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- Carl– for God to help with my anger – something happened and it surprised me how angry I got, a wave of rage came out of nowhere – it scared me.
- Larry– that my kids and my dog will know love when I leave this earth.
- Lamar– my family, all to go well at my court date on 7/30, maybe even get to go home with charges dropped or reduced. Also for strength.
- Manuel– court date on 7/29, and for my family.
- Javier– court date was postponed, and for familia.
- Kevin– my family, especially my daughters (Adrianna and Leah).
- Antonio– my grandmother, myself, my relationship with my companion, and for all of them to be doing good.
- Boz– everyone here, and I have court next week.
- Devon– for my family while I’m here.
- Andy– for my sister Donna to trust the Lord, may the Holy Spirit be working on her heart.
- Roland– for all these court dates to stop getting canceled or postponed, and for positive outcomes for all.
- Eugene– continued healing for my sister after her triple bypass heart surgery.
- Jack– Still here (not released as expected on 7/23), praying for a good offer from South Carolina on charges there – probation or community service – and for my Mom who has Lyme disease which is worse because she is primary caregiver for her mom. Also for my new cellmate who is stealing from me – how do I handle it like Jesus?
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- John– For God to guide us all home.
- Pablo– family.
- Josh– understanding.
- Timothy– upcoming court dates, mine is Aug 19.
- Aaron– for family, and to get life back on track when I get home.
- José– my wife (Yolanda), for all my friends in here, and for everyone in here.
- Dan T– my brother-in-law to stop deflecting the Truth and accept Christ, and for the right opportunity to witness to him.
- Phil T– for my Daughter Morgan and her depression. Also for my son’s sister-in-law Joy carrying twins in a high-risk pregnancy. Still 2 heartbeats at 16 weeks, the doctors are very negative and don’t even want to make next appointment (they give no hope). We ask our merciful and gracious Heavenly Father to continue both of these miracles of life through full term and delivery.
- Tim– for a speedy appeal process, and for faster processes overall for all of us.
- Jim M– my friend Mike is going through a divorce- pray for the right opportunity to talk with him about Jesus.
- Rick C– for our brother Erwin’s wife Rena who just had back surgery and still in much pain. Pray for relief and full mobility for her, and wisdom for Erwin on the best ways to take care of her.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Bo– my significant other’s son (Trevor) was in Ocean City, MD for senior week, just bouncing a ball down the sidewalk when it bounced funny and went in the street, he instinctively went after it and was hit by a city bus. He’s now paralyzed. Please pray for Trevor and the Vollmer family.
- Frankie– my Mom (Nancy), my Uncle (Jimmy) and his brother (Benny) all dealing with cancer. Also want to pray for my buddy John sitting here next to me.
- Tino– for my kids (Amani and Hunter).
- Christian– for my son (Alex) and his mother.
- Jeff– for my brother in Christiana Hospital, I don’t know how he’s doing. [NOTE: Jeff was comforted by Andy who filled him in after visiting his brother in the hospital].
- Michael– I feel very selfish about my prayers after hearing about Trevor’s situation. Please pray for my mother, and I go before the judge on Wednesday, hoping to get to a healthy rehab.
- Matt R– my in-laws health (Gerald and Sheryl).
- Andy D– continued prayer for my sister, that she would read the Bible I gave her and put her trust in Jesus.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Our Chaplains (Rhonda, Heinrich, and Jack) and all the volunteers ministering within the prison.
- God’s provision for expanded opportunities within the prison, and God’s wisdom for how best to capitalize on them and get more volunteers plugged in.
- Continued prayer for the family of Heinrich’s sister in South Africa after her sudden passing.
- All the inmates and staff at the prison, and the families that support them.
- For the Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations in Chester County ministering to recently released men and women.
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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