Greetings,

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate: A special session Christmas week was one of the most emotionally consuming sessions I've had in a long time. This past week attendance was down, apparently, because of Omicron concerns.

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate: A couple of nibbles towards pursuing 2022 goals.

On the Home Front: A lot of 'stuff' there; The forever-going garage storage, a new forever project, and 2022 Bible study.

On the Prayer Front - All things family and SOCPM

These are the topics for this week's SOCPM Newsletter. I hope you enjoy it, despite my lack of an editor. Michelle would like to edit my newsletters (I think she has a deep-seated desire to be an English teacher with a red pencil in hand), but her work voids the time.

To Him be the glory in ALL things and Him alone,

Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate

We took a break from both SOCPM curricula on December 22nd and instead discussed Christmas in Dixon and the truths of Christmas, based in part on the December 20th Doctrine and Devotion podcast, '6 Reasons Jesus Was Born.'

I gave all the guys an opportunity, if they so chose, to share their thoughts of Christmas in prison.

Victor, who has been in prison since 1998, said knowing that Jesus Christ was born for him despite his sins. Therefore, he does not miss the worldly way of celebrating Christmas.

In prison since 2002, Jose echoed Victor's words about the real reason for Christmas but said he does grieve not being able to be with his children for so many years.

In prison since 2017, Henry said he hasn't had a 'happy' Christmas since he was a child. Henry is 36.

I can't recall who shared, 'the treatment by some COs is hard. They want to make it even harder for us.' We spent a few minutes on the whys and how, as a Christian, one should respond.

There was more from the heart sharing before I gave a short message, that there is no minimizing the sorrows of loneliness and being separated from family and friends, gifts, lots of food, and all the other traditions of Christmas except one thing. The truth of Christmas. Being in prison does not separate you from the true purpose of Christmas. Being in prison does not separate you from the gifts of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, especially the gifts of salvation and growing in holiness.

On my way home, my emotions were like a ping-pong ball being swatted back and forth from weeping to rejoicing and so many emotions in-between.

The emotion of weeping, as I thought of Michael, who by words and appearance seems to be a man carrying a heart of bitterness towards life in general. And a spirit of pride in his blindness to his need for the truths of Christmas and how I feel defeated in being God's vessel to change his heart.

An emotion of rejoicing as I think of Henry, who came up to me after class to tell me how much he appreciates SOCPM. When he first came to class, he struggled in many areas, his faith, his relationships with his daughter ( teens I came to know), and his daughter's mother. But SOCPM is helping him, and he still has a lot to do (writing a letter to the mother), but God has used SOCPM to increase his hope and faith.

I could write much more on my emotions from the classroom discussions. But my words to Henry as he departed the classroom sums up my heart regarding prison ministry, 'Thanks, Henry, you just gave me my best Christmas present.'

Sheridan Correctional Center Lockdown 93 Weeks 🥺🙏

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate

With 2022 now being here, barring Jesus' not returning since I wrote the newsletter, I've begun some initial steps for programs I hope to launch in 2022; Church Connect, Gospel in a Box, and a ministry reaching out to prison staff. Of course, it would have been ideal to have taken the steps in the final months of 2021, but my excuse is too many things going on the home front.

SOCPM's existing program, Church Connect, getting men connected to a potential home church before their parole, has been in place since 2018 and started getting some solid footing in 2020, only to hit the COVID wall. As a result, it is a high priority in 2022.

The COVID wall gave me time to review Church Connect, see the weak spots. A program for partnering churches, stronger relationships with partner churches, and getting the SOCPM to attend the church.

I saw a need for one shortly after Church Connect started and was developing it, but a surge of happenings related to inside-the-gate programs resulted in it going on the back burner. It's time to put it on one of the front burners with changes now that I've identified some of Church Connect's weak spots.

Another weak spot is my desire to have a stronger personal connection with the churches. A roadblock to that in the past was the cost of traveling to churches, especially downstate. With Zoom, a thing many are familiar with because of COVID, it may be the solution to that weak spot. Thanks, COVID!

The most challenging weak spot is getting the guys to the churches. I've connected a good number of students to a good number of churches, but their setting foot in the church is dismal. Still, I think Church Connect is vital in a student's sanctification. Perhaps, even for true salvation.

I have a couple of thoughts on the how but they will require the preceding Church Connect guideline and stronger personal relationships.

Next newsletter barring, who knows what, I'll tell you about Gospel in a Box.

A quick final note, in an e-mail yesterday I was told I received a letter from my pen pal David. I've not had a chance to read it but am looking forward to it.

On The Home Front

The good news is 'Operation Garage Storage should be 100% complete by the following newsletter 😁. The bad news is I've begun 'Operation Picture Scan,' 😉, 🥺.

Yes, after many a newsletter boring you with 'Operation Garage Storage,' it is near completion. A couple of storage shelves for the south wall, and then once my great handyman Charles puts the bike hoist and a couple of storage hooks in place, OGS will be no more, 🥳! Unless my OCD notices something that isn't just quite right. 🤓

So, you may want to pray my latest obsession Operation Picture Scan,' to keep me out of the garage. OPS has been on my obsession list for years. The addiction is to get literally, thousands of pictures from print to digital. I tried a couple of printer scanners, but they were slow. 😴 Then, I found the Epson FF-680W. Feast your eyes on this toy!

This scanner is impressive; it scans pictures at a rate of one per second 😱—Thanks to my lovely bride, aka Michelle, aka Mrbie, for the wonderful Christmas present. OPS will be more than just scanning. It will require sorting first by picture size, then subject, then approximate date. Already I can hear screaming STOP. 😫 Oh, the joys of OCD 🤪

On a more solemn topic is my personal 202 Bible study. I plan to read the Bible in a year. I decided to make the Bible in a year part of my Bible study in alternating years in 2019. I also plan to include Tabletalk magazine's daily readings (except Sundays), and finally, I plan to continue my current reading of Edmund Clowney's commentary on 1 Peter. I'm sure there will be days I'll fall short, but the highest one on my list is the Bible in a year. Would you please pray I can fully accomplish reading the Bible in a year? I desire to read Tabletalk and 1 Peter too, but there will be days of many tasks and those days of laziness. Would you please pray the days of busy and lazy are minimal?

On the Prayer Front

Cameron - I've talked to Cameron several times over the past couple of weeks, and he is doing good. Praise God! last night, Friday. Since the last newsletter, he started working at Olive Garden. Praise God! However, he has had some days of stress. But as we all know in life, there will be more to come. Would you please pray he handles them well? Would you please pray I can give him godly, fatherly, and wise counsel when he does call stressed? There are many prayers on my heart for Cameron, but as always, foremost is his salvation, sobriety, Christian fellowship, and happiness.

Michelle (aka my lovely bride) - My beautiful night owl bride still sleeps as I write; she probably worked well beyond midnight. But if she were awake, her response to prayer requests would be 🤷🏻‍♂️. So, I'll request on her behalf. She is diligent in performing her job skills. She is consistent in her Bible studies. Since our move, her RA has had minimal flareups, but please pray for her RA, and other health concerns remain in check.

Self - In addition to my 2022 Bible study, another top one is my health. I need to exercise, but my want doesn't match the need. Would you please pray God would increase my desire to exercise? The same with diet, but my need to eat healthily surpasses my wanting to eat healthily. Would you please pray I can return to the practice of juicing those greens 😝 into a smoothie with fruit 😋? Would you please pray my 2022 stewardship of SOCPM glorifies God? With Sheridan's planned reopening on January 21st, the strengthening and implementation of new programs will be challenging. I need to do my least favorite thing in stewarding SOCPM, fundraising. Would you please pray I can find peace in asking for support? Would you please pray I can replace my anxieties of what I fear is a poor presentation with a clear presentation to God's calling in my stewarding SOCPM? Finally, my nephew Shane has begun serving a prison sentence. I've written him a few letters and my sister says he appreciates them, but my hope is he will start writing me. His living in California and me in Illinois has, for all practical purposes, prevented us from having a close relationship. Laziness and I confess not truly loving him as an uncle should play a role in the lack of a relationship, not just the miles. Would you please pray God will forge a strong relationship between Shane and me in the coming days? There's more, but you can probably do with something to eat by now 😀

Citations

Scripture

SOCPM - All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

CHS - Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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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