Greetings,
An official return date for Dixon or Sheridan has not been established, but I did get an e-mail from Chaplain Thomas at Dixon outlining guidelines for the return at least to Dixon. However, the Chaplain at Sheridan said he had not received any guidelines or notification from Sheridan's warden on volunteers returning.
I'm don't know if the guidelines received from Dixon are specifically for Dixon or all of IDOC or all of IDOC and some specifically for Dixon. My guess is the latter. As I envisioned, the guidelines post COVID are much more restrictive than the guidelines before COVID.
As one might expect, volunteers will need to wear IDOC approved face masks at all times. The chaplain said most face masks would be acceptable; unacceptable would be a bandana pulled up from the neck or something similar. IDOC will check volunteers for a temperature at the gate and deny anyone exhibiting COVID symptoms entry. I would have been surprised if that wasn't a guideline. Volunteers also need to have a current TB test, which is already an annual requirement, so there is no significant change. I had exposure to TB, most likely from my days of doing cell by cell at Pontiac Corr. Ctr., way back in my early days of prison ministry, if it hasn't changed, I have to submit a form stating my situation and that I have on record an x-ray. I'm hoping it hasn't changed, and I won't need a current x-ray. I've sent an e-mail to Dixon's chaplain submitting the form and asking if it has changed. Please pray that will not have changed.
As for some of the significant changes, there will be a limit to only two volunteers per volunteer team will be limited to two volunteers. Since I am the SOCPM team, this will not affect me, but I know several volunteer teams who it will affect. The most notable is New Life Corrections. When they do their two-day seminars, a group of 6 - 8 volunteers is the norm. Please pray for NLC that they will be able to adapt without a considerable impact on the seminars.
Some of the changes that will have a weightier impact on SOCPM are inmates will have to maintain the minimum 6 feet distancing. This distancing will significantly reduce SOCPM's class size of thirty to forty students. Also, no one can share items during groups. I need to clarify if this will restrict me from bringing in items for the SOCPM distribution table. I'm hoping not, but I expect it will. Not the end of SOCPM's attempts to glorify God, but it will reduce our effort to do so. One question I had for the chaplain was, can I still bring in DVDs? If that is a restriction, that will have a significant impact on the SOCPM ministry. Please pray DVDs will be permitted.
Depending on whether DVDs will be allowed will determine the curriculum for Discipleship. If there is a restriction of bringing in books for Malachi Dads, it will be a disappointment but will not stop classes.
Another concern is will SOCPM be limited to doing only one class? Dixon is reducing the number of volunteer spots and will only be available when the chaplain is onsite. Please pray SOCPM will conduct both Discipleship and Fatherhood classes and during our usual Wednesday time slots. The chaplain informed me he had submitted SOCPM for the same time slots.
There are some things not related to doing ministry. Bathrooms will be closed; will this include bathrooms in the officer's commissary and dining room? Perhaps, there will now be restrictions on volunteers from entering these previously open areas. No bathroom is a concern for my impatient bladder.
There are other restrictions, but they don't relate to anything SOCPM had done before COVID. I'm sure there will be overlooked matters or come into question as the return of volunteers begins and moves forward, but praise God the return of volunteers is in motion.
This week we returned to the study on Psalms with an introduction to Psalm 5. James Montgomery Boice's quote by P. C. Craigie is a good summation on Psalm 5. [1] “Psalm 5 illustrates with clarity the polarity and tension which characterize certain dimensions of the life of prayer. On the one side, there is God: on the other, evil human beings. And the thought of the psalmist alternates between these two poles. He begins by asking God to hear him, but recalls that evil persons have no place in God’s presence. He turns back to God again, expressing his desire to worship and his need of guidance, but then is reminded of the human evils of the tongue. Eventually, he concludes in confidence, praying for protection and blessing. The prayer is not only for protection from wicked persons, but also a prayer for protection from becoming like them.” [2]
I seldom get someone submitting a contact form from the SOCPM website, but this past week, I had two.
One is from David Kakooza, a pastor, who does prison ministry in Busia Uganda, East Africa. He was inquiring if SOCPM had any correspondent Bible studies to help prisoners during the coronavirus. I told him SOCPM does not have any studies developed by SOCPM, but I forwarded him applications for SOCPM's correspondent Bible study partners. He has since said that he had contacted them to see if they have any in languages his prisoners read and speak. I've never heard of any of the languages; karamong, Lumasa, and Lusamia Lugwe, the language he speaks. I also forwarded some other resources to contact, including Ligonier Ministries. We exchanged a couple of additional e-mails. He also shared some pictures of his family. I just loved the picture of his daughter, Hope Nasazi Korreta, age 4. She's the one in pink in the lower right.
The names of his sons left to right; Hassan wejuli (7), Evens John (8), Kwagala Samali (9). His daughter in front; Kalungi Robinah (3), and Hope Nasazi Korreta (4). His wife’s name is Justine Apio.
David teaching a Bible class to prisoners
I'm searching for resources that can send Christian books to David. I plan to contact current SOCPM ministry partners, Ligonier Ministries and Grace to You. Bibles are always much-sought need, and I plan to contact Wycliffe Bible Translators and search other Bible resources.
I also was contacted by Anthony from Marengo, IL. He is a 70-year old, a former prisoner, divorced, no other family, including a church family, and feels very alone and downcast. Anthony professes Christ but has had some bad experiences with a couple of churches and very hesitant in getting connected to another church. I ended up calling him and prayed for him. We're going to meet next week for lunch. I hope to encourage Anthony to visit some 9Marks churches I found not too far from his home. Please pray God will use me as a vessel of hope and encouragement to Anthony and that he will trust God and visit one or more of the churches I found and that one will welcome Anthony into their church family.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
On the personal prayer front, A praise Cameron, Cameron's health issue is not as severe as it could be. But, the doctor did tell Cameron that unless he makes a definite lifestyle change in his alcohol abuse, it will become a serious health issue with permanent health issues. Please pray this message from the doctor will be a means for Cameron to not give in to the temptation to continue abusing alcohol. Cameron may have found a bed in a sober-living home. Please pray it is God's will for Cameron to move in, and he will find it to be a suitable and comfortable place to live. Please continue to pray first and foremost for his salvation, sobriety, continue and expand his reading the Bible, and simply experience some joy and peace in his life instead of a constant life of trials.
My wife Michelle has been experiencing vertigo. She has good days and bad days. She sees her neurologist later this month. Please pray he can pinpoint a cause and treatment. I've been experiencing some fatigue. Please pray it clears up; if it doesn't, I will see my doctor and check it out versus just assuming it is nothing. Please continue to pray that I find and grow in confidence and boldness in sharing the Gospel with family without causing rifts.
To Him be the glory in ALL things and to Him alone!
Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
Week 65 of the lockdown 😞.
COVID-19 cases as of day, 06/11/21; Dixon: staff confirmed 318, staff recovered staff 318, staff current 0, staff tests 13,910; offender confirmed 592, offenders recovered 592, offender current 0, offenders tests 49,481 | Sheridan: staff confirmed 149, staff recovered 149; staff current 0, staff tests 14,303, offenders confirmed 464, offenders recovered 464, offenders current 0, offender tests 31,055 | IDOC: staff confirmed 4,619, staff recovered 4,573, staff current 46, staff tests 277,702; offenders confirmed 10,913 offenders recovered 10,906, offenders current 7, offender tests 654,271 [3]
The number of COVID cases for Dixon and Sheridan for both staff and inmates remains at 0. The number of cases in all of IDOC among staff and inmates is static. Praise God!
[1] James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 44.
[2] P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1–50, vol. 19 of the Word Biblical Commentary (Waco: Word, 1983), 89.
[3] “COVID-19 Response.” Illinois.gov, 11 June. 2021, www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/Pages/Covid19Response.aspx.
CHS - Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations from Clarke, Roy H, editor. The Treasury of David: Spurgeon's Great Commentary on Psalms, by C. H. Spurgeon, 3rd ed., vol. 1, T. Nelson Publishers , 1997 are from the New Geneva Study Bible published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., using the New King James Version of the Bible, ©1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.
FDK - Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations from Derek Kidner, Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
JMB - Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture from James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005) is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.TM
WAV - Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture from VanGemeren, Willem A. “Book 1 Psalms 1 - 41.” The Expositor's Bible Commentary Psalms, by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, Revised ed., vol. 5, Zondervan, 2008 is taken from is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
WSP - Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture from “Psalm 1.” Psalms: A Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks, by William S. Plumer, Banner of Truth Trust, 1975 is taken from the Holy Bible King James Version.
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Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
A ministry of Redeemer Fellowship Church St. Charles, IL
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