Greetings

Week 36 of the lockdown 😞.

COVID-19 cases as of 11/21/20; Dixon: confirmed staff 171, recovered staff 117, confirmed inmates 411, recovered inmates 239 | Sheridan: confirmed staff 65, recovered staff 39; confirmed inmates 29, recovered inmates 22 | IDOC: confirmed staff 2101, recovered staff 1556; confirmed inmates 3649, recovered inmates 2625. The numbers for COVID-19 cases at Dixon continue to increase, are now increasing at Sheridan and IDOC as a whole. Continue in payer safe recovery for all.

I made a stop as opposed to a visit at Sheridan, to drop off the 5 DVDs with 'The Heart of a Father' video lessons. I also had five print copies of the Heart of a Father. I have ordered 100 additional copies, but thus far, only 15 have been received. I met Chaplain McClimans at the gatehouse. They have it taped off, so no one coming in will pass someone leaving. They have a table set up to screen those entering for fever and other possible COVID-19 symptoms. Since I was not entering the facility, I was not screened. Though it was brief as in less than 15 seconds of seeing Chaplain McClimans, and though it was on the outside, it was kind of nice to see Sheridan.

I didn't have much communication with Dixon's Chaplain Thomas this week. He confirmed he received the links to download the video lessons. I notified him that I ordered a set of 'Crucial Questions' booklets from Ligonier Ministries and that they were shipped. Hopefully, they will arrive next week if they haven't already.

This week was an off week for Redeemer Fellowship's mid-week teaching. In place of the midweek teaching, I sent an article titled 'Is the Bible Reliable?' from Got Questions for this week's Weekly Notes. I plan on sending additional articles related to Bible Apologetics. As you may have experienced when sharing your faith, the person will counter with the position the Bible is unreliable for various reasons. So I hope to equip the guys with facts to counter back.

I had a pleasant surprise this week. I received an e-mail saying someone subscribed to the SOCPM Newsletter. Embarrassingly, I can't recall when I last, if ever, had someone signup without an invite. So, I was curious to find out who it was. I was more surprised when it turned out to be Wesley, one of my former Dixon students. So here is a shout out to Wesley.

To Him be the glory in ALL things and to Him alone!

Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries