Greetings,
Some good discussion in this week's Discipleship classes where the topic was assurance of salvation. Paraphrasing Richard a student in Sheridan's afternoon discipleship class '...before hearing the first lecture I would have said I was a Christian, but while listening I realized I wasn't but after listening to the second lecture our classroom discussion, I feel I truly am a Christian.' Only God knows Richard's heart but if the Holy Spirit truly did replace Richard's heart of stone with a heart of flesh, praise God!
You may note a women's name, Hope, in SOCPM Alumni, no SOCPM has not started teaching in a women's facility. SOCPM became aware Hope through a friend of hers who is a member of my church Redeemer Fellowship. She was incarcerated in a Florida facility. SOCPM sent her SOCPM's Discipleship package which contained Ligonier's 'Crucial Question' series, a Reformation Study Bible and a couple of other books with a focus on the assurance of salvation.
In a follow-up, her friend said the books and especially the Bible were very helpful and encouraging to Hope during her last days of incarceration. One other quick note SOCPM contacted ministry partner 'A Man in Recovery' who placed Hope in a transitional home upon her release. Praise God that He opened the doors for Hope's discipleship, housing and now being discharged.
Thank you for your prayers.
To Him be the glory!
Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
Discipleship: Developing Christian Character
Dixon Correctional Center
Bruce - Dear Father, your love is so merciful, kind and forever. I pray to You, for my understanding of You, become openly wiser. I at times, cannot fully position myself on you. As I mean this I must fill my heart more of your way as I should be, I am opening my eyes, heart, compassion, belief, understanding, and vision to seek all of how I must commit so many confessions that I have not given to you. As each day grows I find myself seeking you, is to guide me to loyal love, and a heart full of joy to all. I asked that Scott leaves this place, may your arms be wrapped around him safely to reach his destination back home to his family and maybe all be secured, loved always in love with You. And that Cameron finds his way to resolving his addiction and returned back to living right with both of his fathers.
Adam - Pray for all our families while we're away on our journeys. Be with Scott and his son. May their prayers are answered and their needs met. Pray that each day we wake that our minds are clear and our hearts open to receive the Lord's blessings and His teachings for us. May we grow closer to Him as we go in our walk in faith.In Jesus name, Amen.
Carl - Pray for spiritual health in Dixon C.C. Pray for healing throughout our world. Pray for Mr. Scott's son's recovery soon. Pray for my sister's health and assist her in life to become more Christ-like. Pray for my brother Fontaine to get employed. Pray for my wife and my marriage. Pray for this class to become more Christ-like too. In Jesus name, Amen.
Wes - How to tell what the will of God is for me and not myself telling me to do something. Pray for my family and the letter I gave them would be a blessing to them and that they would do what I asked them.
Sheridan Correctional Center Afternoon
No prayer request submitted.
Sheridan Correctional Center Evening
No name - Please pray that as my release date gets nearer that my reentry can go as painless and seamless as possible my "shelter", meaningful work, and necessities are met impossible SSC is awarded.
William P. - Please pray for me and my family. Thank you.
Rob C. - Please pray for me Rob that I'll come to understand God's word and gain wisdom.
James W. - I'm asking for the ability to blow and have a relationship with Christ. Please pray for me.
Mike - I just want to thank God and praise the Lord for He has given me much peace and contentment. If you should know someone who needs some peace and contentment I hope God can give them a piece of mine.
No name - Please pray that my loved ones have continued health and happiness and that they find in their hearts to forgive and reach out to me including Crystal and any others that may not be sugar. Thank you.
William R. - Please pray for my mother Patti and father Ronnie and both of my sisters Doris and Rhonda. They have all been sick and have ongoing problems with their health!! I also want to thank you for taking the time to pray for us all. I know that I can use all I can get and give. Thank you so very much.
Steve P. - Pray for my continued faith and trust in Christ and continuance in my study of Christ. Also, for the health of my parents and my children. Also, for the good welfare of Mary and that Calsey can find her way out of addiction. Amen.
Dave M. - I pray for everyone in my family, ex-lovers, and the people of Sheridan. Help me build a strong relationship with God and my family. To be released from Sheridan Correctional Center in 2018 and have a spiritual future and a righteous one at that. Amen.
Michael F. - Hello, how you been doing, thanks for always praying for me and my family. My name is Michael, can you please pray for me that I get out soon and go back home with my family. Also can you please pray for me that I talk and see my family soon. Thank you so much. God bless you and your family. Thanks a lot.
Michael F. - Hello, how you been doing, hope and pray everything is alright with you and your family. My name is Michael, can you please pray for me that I go home soon with my family and can you also pray for me that I see my sons soon. Thank you. God bless you so much. Thanks for taking time to pray for me.
Ainsley B. - I ask that you pray for me, that I stay focused and pray for my wife she had got rushed to the hospital Wednesday due to over high blood pressure and pray my kids take care of mom while I'm gone and I hope they do well in school. Amen.
Christian Living: Malachi Dads - The Heart of a Man
Dixon Correctional Center
Cedric - My prayer request is for my own continual growth spiritually, so that I may, in turn, become a more understanding and patient being. I may be strengthened in areas that God desires for me to be stronger in because temptation is always prevalent in our lives.
Christian Living: Malachi Dads - Family Restoration
Sheridan Correctional CenterShaquille M. - I ask can you please pray that God helps me regain control of my emotions, give me the strength to stay humble in time of trouble. Please and thank you, have a blessed day.
Derrick B. - I would like to pray for my kids that God is leading them on the right path and that my wife and her kids are okay with their current loss. And ask God to help me stay focused to use the things that I learn here in the future to stay out of prison.
Toby B. Please pray for me that God will help me find a solid church and believers to fellowship with upon my upcoming release. Asking that God will help me to transition into society and develop appropriate spiritual disciplines so that my son can return home and that I can model and pattern the life of Christ before him. Also, I'm interested in getting connected with a good formed Calvinistic church in the Decatur area please pray for Scott's church in finding one. Also, I am preparing a study on the incarnation and who Christ says he is for two guys. One is associated with the Jehovah's Witness, the other Islamic faith. Both show interest in Christ and the faith but are openly skeptical of Christ's deity. Please pray for them both and that God's Word in conjunction with the spirit will illuminate their minds and cause them to the Lordship of Christ, recognizing who He is.
SOCPM Alumni
Anthony
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 01/2016 thru 09/2016
Discharged 11/13/2017
Henry
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 07/2017 thru 11/2017
Paroled 11/14/2017
Terrell
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 10/2015 thru 11/2015
Paroled 11/14/2017
David
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 05/2015 thru 10/2015
Discharged 11/15/2017
Steven
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 05/2015 thru 06/2015
Discharged 11/15/2017
Shawn
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 10/2015 thru 11/2015
Paroled 11/15/2017
Angel
New Life Corrections
Dixon; 03/2016
Transferred to Jacksonville 11/15/2017
Orlando
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 09/2016 thru 11/2016
Transferred to East Moline 11/15/2017
Hope
Soldiers of Christ
Pastoral
Discharged 11/17/2017
Richard
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 08/2014 thru 01/2016
Discharged 11/17/201
Eric
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 08/2017 thru 11/2017
Paroled 11/17/2017
James
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 01/2017 thru 01/2017
Paroled 11/17/2017
James
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 08/2014 thru 08/2014
Discharged 11/17/2017
Kyle
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 10/2014 thru 11/2014
Transferred to Sheridan 11/17/2017
Reynaldo
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 10/2015 thru 10/2015
Paroled 11/17/2017
Steven
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 10/2015 thru 08/2017
Discharged 11/17/2017
Thomas
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan; 08/2016 thru 10/2016
Paroled 11/17/2017
James
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon; 04/2015 thru 11/2015
Discharged 11/17/2017
Ministry Partners New Life Corrections
New Life Corrections
Dixon Correctional Center
No prayer requests received from ministry partner.
Wesley Ministries
Illinois River Correctional Center
No prayer requests received from ministry partner.