Greetings,
Sorry to dump another coronavirus story on you, but it was announced yesterday that all Illinois Department of Correction facilities that all visitations and volunteer programs are being halted at least until April 1st. Thankfully I was able to complete all four classes yesterday. This appears to be happening in all correctional institutions in the United States. I do ask you to please pray for all the incarcerated who will not be seeing loved ones or partake in volunteer programs. My students have shared with me quite often how visitations and volunteer programs are the highlights of their week. Also, keep the staff in prayer. With the restrictions negative emotion can rise and increase the potential for inner conflicts, causing stress for all.
As for this week’s classes they were encouraging despite a drop of attendance in Sheridan (several housing units were already under quarantine lockdown). In the Discipleship class ‘Assurance of Faith’ by Joel Beeke the eighth lesson was on ‘Cultivating Assurance.’ We covered a lot. The Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 18 paragraph 3 dealt with five areas of cultivating assurance; the relationship of faith and assurance, the time involved in attaining assurance, the means to attain assurance, the duty of pursuing assurance, and the fruits produced by assurance.
The Malachi Dads’ class at Dixon continued reading from ‘Family Restoration’ the chapter seven on ‘Toxic Families.’ We talked about how everybody needs someone they can trust. However, quite often some of the most difficult people to trust can be, like Jeremiah, in our own families and or close friends of the past and how we need to recognize the toxic people in our lives and the proper steps to take so as not to be put in danger any longer. The memory verse was Psalm 94:18-19.
In Sheridan Malachi Dads' classes, we continued our teaching based on the book ‘The Heart of a Father’, chapters six and seven ’Marriage’. We discussed several topics including; identifying the origin of marriage, exploring the problems sin caused for marriage, understanding biblical reasons for marriage, explore what it means to be a godly husband, and the husband's role in a godly marriage. As always a lot of scripture but two that were key in our discussion were 2 Corinthians 6:14 and the importance of both husband and wife being believers. We all spent some time on 2 Timothy 3:16:17 and how God’s Word is key to being equipped for all work but especially in our roles as husbands and fathers.
Thank you for your support and prayers.
To Him be the glory!
Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
Discipleship
Dixon Correctional Center
Wayne - Please Play that my attorney’s phone call with the main witness goes great tomorrow. Please pray that God gives us the right direction to go in with Christian classes and our church services here at Dixon. Thank you.
Todd - Pray for God's grace and wisdom to befall myself as well as my family, trust in His vision for my life, and for me not to disrupt them with my human ways. To become more rooted in His Word, and speak things with gentleness, love, and concern, not selfish motives or anger.
Frank - Could you please pray for me, Frank and everyone else battling mental health issues. Could you ask God to shine some light in that world of darkness? I've found myself, ourselves trapped in. Could you ask that strength offer balance as a weakness ?????? their ambushes. Could you ask Him to forgive us for these weaknesses and remind Him how much we love Him though we are following Him on so many levels? Ask him to caress your hearts as the wounds of the past slow it's beat.
Sheridan Correctional Center Afternoon
No prayer requests received.
Sheridan Correctional Center Evening
Demond - Please pray for me and the Harris family. We need prayer. We are having a rough time with our kids, we need strength and patience. Please help us to hold on to God’s unchanging hand, just please keep Demond and his family in prayer. We need it right now. Thank you.
Joseph - Please for strength for all that are affected by the Covid-19 virus. Also, for my family to remain strong and have grace during trying times involving sickness with numerous members. Thank you so very much! God bless.
Gregory - Pray for the Grant family in the time of loss of a loved one. For Mary, that God restores her back to her right frame of mind. Amen.
Jeff - That all this virus stuff is taken seriously and a cure of meds will help everyone, families, countries, etc. Pray for the power to continue this journey and thank Him for everything that occurs in my life.
Christian Living
Dixon Correctional Center
No prayer requests received.
Sheridan Correctional Center Early
No name - I pray for my family may they all be safe and sound and for the world with this virus going around every one of us be safe, pray for all the men here and Sheridan present and all the others.
Damareo - Please pray for my relationship of me and my fiancé that we work out our issues and allow God in our lives and let Him lead us to happiness and His grace shows upon our family and please pray for my faith and patience Lord Jesus, please.
Cameron - Please pray for my marriage with Jennifer and my kids Jakob, Joshua, and Cameron. May I become the spiritual leader in the head of our house again (trust). Also, I have an uncle that has had a rough surgery and is in critical condition, pray for him to pull through this. Thank you God bless.
Sheridan Correctional Center Late
Brother Jeffery Ray - Lord, I give all praise and thanks for Your grace and mercy. Thank the Lord Jesus for the blessing to be content and having contentment in all things. Philippians four verse 11 “In whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Lord I have Your blessing of being content during all things that I encounter in my wife as Lord, You are who carries me through, guiding me through and blessing me through life in service to Your will. I pray this peace, joy, hope, faith and love his blessed upon many, many more in their lives. Jesus' name amen.
Kevin - Please pray for my father. His stubbornness may keep him from taking proper precautions and staying healthy during this virus season. He suffers from respiratory and immune system problems so I worry for him. Please also pray for my daughter as she travels.
Cody - Pray for my grandpa (Dave); he has Alzheimer's/dementia. Pray that the coronavirus ends soon and be with those affected. Pray for health, strength, and guidance to my family; especially my kids. Pray that my escape charge gets expunged. If that is God's plan. Praise for the prayer warriors in my wife (like you, my grandma, Marsha). Pray for patience and strength and joy for all inmates and addicts. I might have a four-year-old son I never met. Pray for me while I figure out that and do my best to connect with him and his mom. Pray for my uncle (Michael); he gets sentenced later this month. Pray for my sister (Jessica); she is having thyroid problems. Pray for Daniel; a close friend and believer! He just got moved to a different prison.
Greg - I would like you to pray for my cousin Tony who has cancer behind his eye and he's not doing well right now! Pray for those that are sick out there and struggling. Pray for all of us here in Sheridan for the strength to persevere through these trials and tribulations. Pray for all of our families and friends that they are safe and healthy. Pray for me to stay in the light and out of the darkness. God bless you!
SOCPM Alumni
Keyon
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 01/2018 thru 02/2018
Paroled 03/09/2020
Calvin
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 12/2017 thru 03/2018
Discharged 03/02/2020
Matthew
New Life Corrections
Jacksonville: 12/2011
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 01/2016 thru 03/2016
Transferred Sheridan 03/11/2020
Michael
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon: 02/2018 thru 12/2019
Transferred Centralia 03/11/2020
Christopher
New Life Corrections
Southwestern: 10/2012
Discharged 03/13/2020
Jeremiah
New Life Corrections
Illinois River: 01/2013
Paroled 03/13/2020
Carmelo
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 01/2018 thru 03/2018
Discharged 03/13/2020
Wesley Ministries
Illinois River Correctional Center
No prayer requests received from ministry partner.