Greetings,
A pleasant surprise and praise this past Wednesday. A wheelchair bound man was wheeled into my afternoon fatherhood class. While explaining to me he was expecting to receive a pass for the discipleship class not the fatherhood, I thought he looked familiar and noted hie name was Perry and asked him if he was ever in Pontiac maximum security. He said 'yes 23 years'. I met Perry when I first started doing prison ministry, doing cellto cell visits in Pontiac Correctional Center. Every month I was intentional in my going to Perry's and his cellmate Ricky's cell. Ricky was a strong atheist, Perry was simply a non-believer with little or no interest but would listen to Ricky and my 'debating.' as Perry said Wednesday 'listen as Ricky tried to convert me to atheism.' It's been about 6 or 7 years since I last saw Perry, but praise God, Perry came to faith in 2012 and will be joining my discipleship class next week.
If you read them you'll notice two names in the prayer request for parolees, Curtis and Quincy. They are two men who God has carved that special niche in my heart.
Please pray Curtis follows up on contacting Hillcrest Baptist Church, a church whose pastor I met at Plant Midwest Chicago this past May. I gave Curtis pastor's name and contact info. I've contacted the pastor and both are expecting to connect. I sincerely believe Curtis will follow-up but I've learned no matter how determined one says he is to go to church once paroled, it doesn't always happen. Please pray Curtis does connect to Hillcrest and feels led to make it his and his family's church family.
Please pray for Quincy. Quincy was one a student in the first class I taught at Sheridan and he too was determined to get connected to a church. Quincy re-offended in May 2013. I was blessed to see him again when I did a dad's seminar at East Moline in July 2014 and he confessed he didn't connect to a church as promised but learned from his not doing so. Please pray Quincy indeed has learned and this this time will indeed get connected to a church.
Sorry for the length, but just a few items on my heart.
To Him be the glory
Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
The Gospel in Knowing Christ Jesus & All That He Did
Dixon Correctional Center
Douglas - Pray that my younger brother and me and my whole entire family will reunite together again and pray that my dad slows down doing stuff 16 and 17 hours a day. I need him to slow way, way down and pray for Scott's son that he stays focused on what he has to do out there to make due to his life.
Jesus - Pray for my loved ones to keep them safe and in health.
Ignacio - Lord please watch over and protect my family Ignacio, Enriqueta, Antonia, Veronica, Anthony, Gabriel, Kathleen and Peter and Libby. Please give me the strength perseverance and determination to survive and thrive during my incarceration.
Sheridan Correctional Center Afternoon
Joseph - Please pray with me to grow in the grace of God that I would fear Him in a way that restrains sin in my life. That I would be able to discern spiritual truth from spiritual error. Amen. Praise report my wife's surgery went well thank you for your continued prayer for post surgery healing for her and for her to have finances to pay bills until she can get on her feet. Thank you! Please pray with me for the restoration of good conduct credits, I had revoked for disciplinary reasons. I will be reviewed for the restoring of these credits in July. Please remember me in your prayers. Thank you.
Michael - Please pray for the health of my family, my grandmother Linda who is sick and also for the health of my newborn nephew Landon, thank you. Please pray for my friends who are still getting into trouble and using and abusing drugs. Pray so they can have the strength to seek help and quit. Also please pray that I can make good choices in my life and stay sober from drugs and live a responsible flight.
Isaac - Prayer for myself, family and friends and even those in doubt of God's blessings.
Sheridan Correctional Center Evening
friends, especially Scott and his loved ones.
John - I want God to teach me His Word, by teaching me how to read it and understand it. I need my tooth fixed, glasses, I need a letter from Latonya and I want to work on getting my sons back in my life and for two months good time.
Isaac - my out-of-state parole was approved, praise God!!! Thanks to the prayer team! I pray that God will make provisions for me to have a safe travel and food to eat on my way to El Paso, Texas. That God make provisions for me to have the clothes etc. open job opportunities for my transition. I parole on 7/29.
Joshua - Pray for me and my walk to stay strong in the Lord.
Christian Living: Renewing Fatherhood
Dixon Correctional Center
Ernest - I want favor with my case June 10th until mini trail around August. but God's will to be done. I could get time release I've done 13 years so far. Pray for my 14 children (10 girls and four boys).
Sheridan Correctional Center
Larry - Please pray for me and my family that we all stay in the best of health always be among those who share the same common goal and that is to serve God. Please pray for Larry, Michelle, Nikkta, Moni, Savana, LaShawnda, and the rest of our family.
Ricky and family - Pray that my relationship with God grows stronger. Pray that my relationship with my wife and stepson gets stronger to make us a happy family. That I myself and along with my family stay safe and in good health and spirit. For me to become a better husband and father. I also pray that I get a visit on 6/11/16 to see my kids . It's been almost a year. Thank you Lord, amen.
Donald - pray for my religious diet tray I have been waiting for six months I do not eat meat.
Edward - Pray that I may receive my son back into my care.
Dwayne - I would just like to pray for my family safety and security. For their financial security and safety.
SOCPM Student Alumni
Admission/Transfer/Other
Steve
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 12/2013 thru 12/2013
Admitted to R&CC Menard 06/07/2016
Adam
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 10/2010 thru 10/2010
Transferred to Jacksonville 06/08/2016
George
New Life Corrections
Lawrence; 05/2016 thru 05/2016
Transferred to Southwestern 06/08/2016
Cedric
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 01/2015 thru 09/2015
Admitted to R&CC Stateville 06/09/2016
Nathaniel
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 08/2015 thru 09/2015
Admitted to R&CC Menard 06/09/2016
Paroles
Thomas
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 05/2015 thru 10/2015
Paroled 06/03/2016
Michael
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 08/2014 thru 08/2014
Paroled 06/03/2016
Terrance
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 03/2013 thru 05/2013
Paroled 06/09/2016
Joselito
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 01/2015 thru 04/2015
Paroled 06/10/2016
Curtis
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 11/2015 thru 06/2016
Paroled 06/10/2016
Quincy
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 08/2009 thru 07/2010
Paroled 06/10/2016
Discharges
Thaddeus
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 03/2013 thru 05/2013
Discharged 06/07/2016
Jeffery
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 10/2014 thru 05/2015
Discharged 06/07/2016
Albert
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 12/2013 thru 06/2014
Discharged 06/07/2016
Ministry Partners
Sycamore Baptist @ DeKalb County Jail
Riggs - I am struggling with a decision I need to make concerning my children. It seems to me, a lose lose situation no matter what I believe His ways are higher than my way, so I need God's guidance in this situation.
Henry - My prayer request is for our brothers in Christ, that God would provide us with the spiritual armor, because what heaven started hell can not defeat it. I pray that each brother would stay in the path be mentally and spiritually strong. I pray for family and friends that the Lord would put his hand of protection over them in Jesus mighty name. Thank you and God bless.
Chris - Please pray for the Lord to give me strength and guidance and to look over my family and to give them health and peace in these hard times.
Rick - Please pray for all the children with disabilities and the parents who love and take care of them. Pray that Jesus come soon to take away our pain, suffering and tears. Please give thanks for all our blessings!
Andrew - Please pray for strengthening of faith and the tenacity and determination to stay the course for my life, through the Holy Spirit. Also, please pray for mercy in the courts and for peace and healing among anyone affected by my circumstances. Amen!
Todd - Please pray for the men, women and juveniles in jails in prisons. Most of them are the damaged, hurting and lost people that Jesus said he came to save. They need to be repaired comforted and brought to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gary - Truth, justice and protection for the children in the process.
Tyler - There are a lot of things on my heart right now. Most of it has to do with my lack of performance and matters of godliness. It's nothing that the Lord is responsible for it falls on me because much of it as a matter of choice and stuff I need to do. In that however, I guess what I am requesting prayer for is that the Lord would increase my faith and trust in Him and His promises so that in those moments of crisis I wold be more greatly inclined to choose in favor of godliness rather than sin.