[To view in a browser, visit this Link]
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Last night in prison I shared a message on stewardship God put on my heart. Wait, stewardship? To inmates? Why in the world would I ask them for money? The answer is – I didn't. Funny how when we hear the word 'stewardship' in the context of church, our thoughts typically turn to finances needed to keep the building and organization running. But in His Word, God calls us to be stewards of ALL He has entrusted to us.
We used the story of the Rich Young Man in Mark 10:17-27 to illustrate true riches in God's eyes, versus riches in the World's view. A heart towards faithful obedience and trusting God to provide will store up treasures in Heaven. Then we read the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 looking for guidance on what to do with the most valuable thing God has entrusted to us – The Good News of Jesus Christ who makes salvation possible for you and me. Someone was obedient and cared enough to tell each of us about Jesus, now it's our turn to be that person for somebody else – friend, coworker, family member, or all of the above!
One day we will all be called to account for what we did with what God gave us. He gave us Faith, and He gave us Time – what are we doing with them?
Thank you all for your faith and the time you spend in prayer for this ministry, for our chaplains and volunteers, and for the inmates and their requests each and every week. Your obedience to love one another, remembering those in prison, is surely building up treasures in Heaven. May our Heavenly Father also bless you richly in this life. Have a blessed week.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel service):
- Rick– thankful our Thursday chapel service has restarted. [Note: Thu chapel service only scheduled for 1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursdays of the month]
- Chris– My Dad (William) died in July, and my daughter (Alexis) died from drug overdose 3 weeks ago, pray for my wife (Jennifer), my Mom (Maryann), and my sons (Nicholas and Max).
- Dan– for my girlfriend to clean up her act- she's still drinking and doing drugs. I'm in treatment court and headed to rehab next week, I want to stay with her but can't if she doesn't straighten out. Tough relationship decision- not sure what to do.
- Troy– for my family and forgiveness, get a court date soon, in God's time, give me peace and strength in the meantime.
- AJ– I have no home to go back to, pray my family can forgive me for being here – I'm the primary breadwinner and we're going to lose everything, and I'm going to lose my family. My Mom has stopped helping me out, I pray for my family over my needs, help me trust that God will provide.
- JD– for my family, asking for forgiveness, Lord please do your work in my life.
- Elijah– for my whole family, please protect them from the enemy who is working overtime on them. Please open their eyes to the Lord.
- Elwood– for my aunt, my cousin, nephews, nieces, and good luck on my case.
- Nick– I leave here in a few weeks and need a place to live.
- Jordan– please give my daughters (Myna and Jordin) strength, and also my wife. For my Father (Alan) and his brother who is in here with me.
- Juan– for my family, friends, a court date, and to get good news, and for all the men here.
- Cardone– for my court date on 13th, and my family.
- Edison– for my familia.
- Raul– for my family, and a court date – don't have one yet.
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (Inmate 1-on-1 sessions):
- Troy– broken heart for AJ's situation (his family essentially disowning him), thankful Thursday chapel service is back, thankful for my cellmate Elijah. Pray for good CT scan results. Still no word on a court date – I put it in God's hands, it's tough to wait with no info, but He's got me.
- William– [another missed opportunity – this is almost comical. Now he is on kitchen crew from noon to about 6:30pm. Not sure I'll be able to meet with him after all. Guess we'll see what next week brings, but I'll keep trying.]
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (6:00pm Monday service):
- Ariel– for every man here to have peace inside, thank you God for each day, we need to all be together and love one another. For my court date on 10/5, my family, and especially my brother healing from accident.
- Greg– for my sister who is pregnant and just found out she may have cancer.
- Troy– for my wife (Beth) struggling right now with car issues. For my kids (Stephanie, Tyson, and Lexus), for my forgiveness, to get a court date, and for all of us when we get out to stay with the Lord.
- Rick– for my daughter (Ali) and her husband (Aaron) trying to conceive with medical intervention, pray everything goes well and God would bless them with a baby.
- Dan– my brother-in-law John as he struggles and grows as a new Christian.
- Jim– my buddy Mark who lost his wife suddenly, I talked to him about Jesus, pray for more opportunities with him and he'd be open to hearing.
- Phil– thank God for answered prayers, and even unanswered prayers – help us be persistent in prayer.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (7:30pm Monday service):
- Rick: for our brother, volunteer Bill Harkins undergoing cancer treatments. Continued healing and good reports.
- David: for the men in the room, for our kids and grandkids, for good things to happen to him soon and that he would see his kids in Georgia soon.
- Brian: For healing for his grandmother who broke her ribs And is in the hospital, And also that God would take care of his kids.
- Kristian: For his mom's healing from cancer, and that God would take care of his wife and kids and grandkids, And that he himself would “get his stuff together”.
- Maurice: That he would get out on his release date, which is September 28, and also that God will take care of everyone in the room and himself.
- Dave: For strong faith, and that he would be able to help others with his testimony.
- Jacob: for the well-being of his mother who is in recovery from addiction and that God would take care of his kids.
- Merlin: For his daughter as a senior in high school, and that she would find and get into a good college.
- Al: For his mom who was in a nursing home that she would be able to be moved closer to home and that his guardianship hearing would go well, and that God would take care of his wife and kids.
- Matt: That God would take care of his unsafe family members, and those around them, and also for strong faith, and that he would stay close to God.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- For the organizing and ticket sales of Onesimus Benefit Dinner at Green Street Grill on Nov 13.
- For Onesimus Ministries Board of Directors, wisdom and insight for the future of this ministry.
- For Chaplain Rhonda, in her ministry to female inmates, staff, and families.
- For Chaplain Heinrich, in his ministry to male inmates, staff, and families.
- For Chaplain Jack Crans, leading chaplaincy at Chester County Prison among both inmates and prison leadership, and for his personal strength and healing from cancer.
- For all Volunteers ministering in Chester County Prison.
- For the Warden and leadership at CCP, may ministries continue to find favor with them.
- For the Families of each inmate, staff member, chaplain, and volunteer.
- For Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations throughout Chester County.
If this email was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe, click HERE.
