SOCPM Newsletter | Janaury 29, 2022

Greetings,

With the snow and bitter cold temps of late, I'm reminded of how blessed Michelle and I are to have a warm home as we do our stuff.  The reminder of that blessing reminds me of all God's good blessings.

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate: The number of current COVID cases remains high but they are dropping.

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate: With the prison lockdowns still in place, I've been had  opportunities to give focus to SOCPM 2022 ministry plans.

On the Home Front: OPS (Operation picture scan) reaches a milestone.

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

The number of COVID cases within IDOC remains high but has dropped significantly. However, I've not received any notice of when either Sheridan or Dixon will reopen. In the interim, I continue to provide the Psalm study.

Would you please pray both facilities reopen soon?

Sheridan Correctional Center Lockdown 97 Weeks; Dixon 3 Weeks 🥺🙏

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate

I've been able to keep myself somewhat busy with the lockdowns.

I met with two of Redeemer Elders, Brian, and Jeff, on January 20th to discuss some items on the SOCPM agenda as 2022 is underway. A return to classroom teachings in Dixon and Sheridan is the main objective.

SOCPM's plans for expanding Church Connect to a more extensive network of churches and a closer connection between SOCPM and the church Elders. I'm currently working on a Church Connect document for potential Chuch Connect partners. The paper will detail some guidelines and suggestions for the Church Connect partner in welcoming a SOCPM student to their church family.

We also discussed Gospel in a Box or some yet undecided name. As I mentioned in the January 15th SOCPM Newsletter, USPS policies prohibit printed material not related to any books sent in a box via media mail. So, the 'box' may not be the best word. However, I've gathered all the Department of Correction websites for each state. I've begun reading their policies on acceptable mail to inmates. As I expected, the great majority have a policy that any books must come straight from the publisher. I sent an e-mail to SOCPM ministry partner Ligonier in their willingness to be the shipper of the majority of the items if SOCPM pays for shipping in addition to the books.

One other topic of discussion is putting together a simple but attractive printed material detailing the primary objectives of SOCPM and content management for details on teh SOCPM website.

All the above will require changes to SOCPM's website. So, is it justifiable to explore a rebrand of SOCPM's website depending on how everything progresses?

On The Home Front

3,697, that's the number of pictures I've scanned in as I at long last scanned the last of all the images I had boxed up in two paper boxes and two Rubbermaid bins this week. There is at least one box of pictures still in the garage, but it is on the ceiling rack, and I could barely lift the box onto the frame, so, the next time our handyman comes by, yes, more stuff for him, I'll ask him if he can bring it down for me. Until that happens, I plan to further organize all the pictures into various folders for eventual sharing with family.

As for health concerns, I haven't had 3,697 images of my innards but have had two CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis, each for different purposes, a CT scan of my chest, an MRI on my liver, and an MRI of my liver MRI of my cervical spine. All the results are on My Chart, but since I lack a medical degree, there are words beyond my vocabulary to make much sense of what it says. There is that gnawing urge to Google those words that mean nothing to me, but I'm going to seek patience from God and wait until I see the doctors.

On the Prayer Front
Cameron - I'm not a phone person, so for me to talk to Cameron for over an hour in one of our phone calls over the past two weeks, and since he didn't hang up, I took that as an indication he was open to hearing some fatherly counsel. He shared some of his struggles with past memories, but overall it was a good phone call. He is since our last call back into the sober-living home. Despite the phone call and an answer to prayer for his getting back into sober-living, would you please continue to pray for his salvation, sobriety, godly counsel, and getting connected to Christian fellowship. 

Michelle (aka my lovely bride) - Would you please pray she passes the exam for certification in Caboodle. In my curiosity, I have learned Caboodle is more than it rhymes with the poodle, as in the dog breed. Caboodle is Epic's enterprise data warehouse (EDW), an abstracted database supporting the clinical information system (CIS). So, now you have something to say if your children ask you what you learned today. In addition, please pray for Michelle's health.

Self - I have several, but my biggest concern is my upcoming visits with the doctors after going through the CTs and MRIs. Would you please pray that these visits will not result in my hearing any challenging health issues.?

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