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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I’ve noticed as we age, we seem to see things differently. Call it experience, wisdom, or something else – hopefully it’s a better, clearer outlook than in our younger years. I just spent a week at the beach in Ocean City, Maryland with my wife, 2 grown kids, and their significant others. In years past, we’d have the whole week mapped out with mini golf, water parks, jet skis, kayaks, go kart tracks, arcades, the boardwalk, Candy Kitchen, etc. Then we’d spent the whole week on the GO trying to fit it all in. We’d get home more wiped out than when we left! But how different now – we’re all a bit older and it was less about what we did, and more about spending time together. Sure, we went out for dinners, trivia night, and karaoke, but we also stayed in some nights to play games and hang out – It was refreshing and relaxing.
It reminds me of something Paul once said, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (! Cor 13:11-12)
Granted, there is much, much more to this passage than what my small example reminded me of. But I believe that in life, as in faith, if we follow the path God lays out for us, He lets us see a little more and a little more as we grow in Him and get closer to the ultimate goal. And at the end, we get to see it all (and it will all make perfect sense!).
In the meantime, we listen, we watch, we pray, and we follow all that God would have us do to the best of our knowledge and abilities. One of my favorite Pastor phrases is “the only ability God wants from us is our availability”. Thanks for all you are able to do in support of this ministry. We are all blessed by how God works through His people each and every week. Blessings upon you and yours!
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service, plus Inmate 1-1 sessions):
- [NOTE: I was on vacation last week, and the Thursday volunteer crew had a communal prayer time during chapel, but nobody wrote it down. The names below are from requests the week prior – please pray for them and all the men.]
- Javier
- Manuel
- Lamar
- Shaun
- Larry
- Boz
- Andy D
- Eugene C
- Roland D
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Chris– going home, pray for loyal people
- Aaron– prayers for people with anger: many people get very angry.
- Timothy – prayers for family and friends
- Ross– prayer for his family members getting saved.
- Josh– prayers for his children.
- Coty– praying for a job when we get out.
- Dan T– praying for his brother in law .
- Cory– prayer for Mental Health Court.
- Phil T– praying for Joy who is in her 20th week of pregnancy; now the doctor is talking about the delivery of these twin babies! Amen!
- Rick C – prayers for his recovery from food poisoning.
- Jose G– fell in the bathroom, hurt his knee and facial injuries, could not attend tonight.
- Erwin J– wife recovering from back surgery.
- Jim M– prayers for my wife (Kim) recovering from knee surgery, and praise for my future knee surgery in October
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service)
- Tyler– for his wife and kids and all the families while they are away.
- Robert– Going to court today, praying for light sentence.
- Matt R– pray for in-laws Gerald and Sherald health.
- Micheal– stays in Gods will after his release.
- Bo– all the inmates and his lady to accept Jesus.
- Rob– 30 locked up pray that he stays strong.
- Frankie– Get Johnnie out (another inmate who didn’t want to give a prayer request) also Nancy and uncle and brother battling cancer.
- Andy D– For Jose injured his knee and relief from pain.
- Shawn– his girlfriend Stephanie stays sober.
- Louis– that he can see his daughter soon.
- Ryan – Daughter Caitlyn got in a pretty bad accident hit by drunk driver. Prayer for her leg and pray for the driver who is in a lot of trouble.
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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