Greetings,

I hope all of you are doing well considering the circumstances that have befallen us all, aka Covid-19.

As I shared last week the Illinois Department of Corrections closed all facilities to visitors and volunteers end of the day March 13th.

As a reminder this means for all inmates, they will not have any visitations from loved ones for an indefinite amount of time. The same holds true for any type of activity that is volunteered related. My heart truly goes out to all the men and especially my students. As I write I see the faces of Kevin, Irwin, and others saying how Friday was a day they look forward to every week. It was their favorite day of the week and now that has been taken from them.

My heart especially aches when it also means they will not hug any of their loved ones, wives, children, mothers, fathers, siblings, etc. They will still be able to make phone calls and have a video conference on a limited basis and it no doubt will be their most sought moments to reconnect with their loved ones. But a phone call and a video call, though better than a phone call is nothing compared to the physical touch and seeing in the flesh.

Prison is a dark, dreary place when they have visitations and volunteer activities and only becomes that more dark and dreary when they do without those two precious things.

As of a week ago yesterday it was understood that they would still have educational classes, and counseling sessions but that may have changed since last Friday with the whole state now being shutdown if those who connected those activities are not considered essential employees. Without those activities, their day will mostly consist of being confined to their cells. They will still leave to go to the chow hall, but that may even be halted if correctional officer staff is not at a certain level, which means total lockdown where even meals are confined to their cells.

I pray it does not come to that but I’ll use that as a reminder how blessed I am when my two-bedroom condo gets too confining and I wish I could go to a local coffee shop and just hangout.

This past Thursday was my hardest day thus far. I think it finally hit me that what I loved doing had been removed from my life indefinitely. It was at least for the day one of my loneliest days that I can recall. Thankfully I posted to Facebook a request for prayer, perhaps you were one of the many who did pray. If so thank you. The prayers were answered.

I did actually got to Sheridan yesterday but it was only to drop off class certificates for the chaplain to distribute to several men who will be paroled before the end of the month. I was planning to do it monthly until the prison shutdown was lifted, but that was before the whole state shutdown. I need to check if the post offices will remain open as I’m thinking of mailing them. But that will also require the Chaplain having to distribute certificates.

In closing please pray for my students and all inmates, Illinois and all states including federal prisons that they will endure this trial. That God will use those who are incarcerated believers to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and be used as a vessel of support to those who are struggling in this crisis without Christ. Pray for the staff; correctional officers, wardens, maintenance, nurses, etc. that they can remain positive and have healthy attitudes towards the inmates and that the inmates have healthy attitudes towards the staff. Pray for the Chaplains, Robert in Dixon and Leon in Sheridan, that God will provide them wisdom in ministering to the inmates. Pray that I’ll be able to mail the certificates to those who will parole in the coming months and the chaplains will have the time and willingness to distribute. I’m certain they will have the willingness but their schedules may be burdensome with having many counsel sessions.

Pray, I will use this downtime for God’s glory by studying His Word, sharing Christ through social media and of course a collective prayer for us all surviving by God’s grace this Covid-19.

Psalm 34:17, Luke 21:36, John 14:1, John 16:33, 2 Timothy 1:7

To Him be the glory in ALL things!

Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries