Greetings,

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate: Still some stumbles, but an opportunity to show gratitude to Dixon's Chaplain.

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate: An evening with fellow prison colleagues and kind words from Sheridan's Chaplain

On the Home Front: With the arrival of winter, one more night on the patio.

On the Prayer Front: All things family, SOCPM, and more

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 GateI promised to focus on Dixon in this newsletter. However, not a lot to focus on other than the usual. God continued to strengthen me in contentment. The November 9th Discipleship class was almost canceled. Shortly after my arrival, an ambulance on the grounds stopped all movement. Resulting in the majority of the students not being allowed to leave their units for class. Six students did make it, but several of them, who rarely miss a class, were held back.

Richard, who, since May 2015, missed maybe two classes, fell victim to the no movement. He was so bummed. This past Wednesday, he asked me if I would bring the DVD of the class he missed back if he got the Chaplains approval. So he could watch it next Wednesday afternoon while I'm teaching Malachi Dads. As I've shared in the past, I'm blessed with a great Chaplin at Dixon, Chaplain Thomas, and he sent me an e-mail saying he gave approval.

Chaplin Thomas' grace for Richard and SOCPM, now and in the past, has not gone unappreciated. This year like last year, I helped him with the time-consuming task of fulfilling inmate requests for Christmas cards. Inmates will send a paper request detailing how many; almost all request the max six. Chaplain Thomas using a supply of donated cards, begins the process of getting the cards to the inmates. First, he must create a log to record who will get the cards. Then he has to stuff an envelope for each inmate with the required cards, tape the original request to the envelope, record those he completes, and then distribute them. This is on top of all his day-to-day tasks. So, during my break between classes, using the log, I'll stuff the envelopes, tape the requests to the envelope, log it, then sort them by housing units.
The time-consuming steps become more frustrating when the administration gripes at him for using too much scotch tape.

This year it took me three Wednesdays, with Chaplin's help his past Wednesday, to process about 98% of the requests. Chaplain Thomas hopes to finish the remaining request this week, but if need be, I'd be more than willing to finish the rest next Wednesday. It's the least I can do for all the times he has taken the extra steps to make my role as a volunteer go smoother each and every week.

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate

November 10th was the annual New Life Corrections (NLC) banquet. SOCPM, in the past, was a volunteer in 35+ two-days seminars conducted at prisons throughout the state of Illinois and has attended the annual banquets, I'm guessing, since 2011, minus 2020.

I first got involved with NLC in 2011 when the Director was Tom Beatty, who I consider the most influential mentor to me in prison ministry. Tom went home to the Lord in 2016, but SOCPM's partnership with NLC continues under the current Director, Steve Madawick.

Because of schedule conflicts and the reopening of IDOC prisons, I haven't had an opportunity to volunteer in any of the two-day seminars. So, this year's NLC banquet gave me the opportunity to reconnect with some fellow prison ministry volunteers. The most welcome one was seeing Mark Hopkins. Mark and I have done many 2-day seminars together. I even roomed a couple of times with Mark, which says a lot because I do not like sharing hotel rooms. But Mark was an exception, as we had various discussions on theology.

Mark is not only a dear fellow prison ministry volunteer, but Mark and his wife Susan have been sOCPM ministry supporters since 2014. Hence the banquet would not have been totally satisfying without a picture of Mark and me.

Among the speakers was an interview with Sheridan Chaplain McClimans. When asked to share about his time at Sheridan, I was humbled when Chaplin McClimans mentioned how he recalled his first week and listened in to a part of the SOCPM classes and saw my heart for the prisoners and my ongoing dedication since and until current to bringing the Gospel since to the prisoners.

Steve Madawick (Sr. Coordinator New Life Corrections & Sheridan Chaplain Leon McClimans

I was a bit embarrassed when Steve Madawick asked me to stand and then more when Steve asked me to come up and pray for Chaplain McClimans.

I was thankful for the kind words and recognition, but all glory to God.

On the Home Front

As much as I am not a winter person and even more ugh when it comes to snow, winter and snow arrived at Michelle's and my home Tuesday, November 15th.

The arrival was not unexpected since God blesses the lovers of cold and snow every year in the Chicagoland area. I being the insightful forecaster, knew the nice days on the patio had arrived and decided it was time to say farewell to the patio until Spring.

But not before one last cookout one our little Smokey Joe. The neighbors probably thought I was a bit touched, but I bared the 32-degree temperature as I kept an eye on the Smokey Joe as I grilled a nice little rib-eye and a couple of corn-on-the-cob. While making sure a radical spark did not burn the community down, I enjoyed a couple of glasses of Merlot from a Washington State winery, Columbia Crest, while reading a Kindle on my iPad.

There was part of me that wanted to enjoy the last grill on the patio, but even I figured I best enjoy the steak and corn-on-the-cob inside where it was warm, and the food would not turn cold before finishing it.

And tasty it was! Not a 5-star restaurant tasty but I was quite surprised 😱, it was a 5-star on a Smokey Joe tasty 😋 😋 😋 😋 😋.

But alas, all good, even tasty, things must come to an end. See you in the Spring Smokey Joe and patio ☹️.

A not so happy welcome to winter 🤨

On the Prayer Front

Cameron - Cameron remains in Pima County Jai, and per his mother, he'll be there at least until January 3rd. Pray for his salvation. I'm at a loss for more to say other than he feels his need for God and receives God's comfort.

Michelle (aka my lovely bride) - Praise, Michelle was recognized for her dedicated and resourceful work; praise to God for giving Michelle the gifts to do her job well. Another upgrade at her work is underway. Please pray all goes well.

Self - Continue to pray that I have wisdom in my role as a father to Cameron and his current situation.

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Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
A ministry of Redeemer Fellowship Church St. Charles, IL

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