Greetings,

I continue to pray all of you and your families and loved ones have not been directly affected by the virus as it continues to dominate the news stories. Michelle and I are blessed as she remains employed. We also continue to connect to two community groups. This past week our church Redeemer Fellowship in addition to the videocast of our Sunday services started a weekly live stream Wednesday service n YouTube. We also had a Good Friday service. I invite you to check them out by clicking here.

There was very minimal movement last week in IDOC but it appears to be picking up again this week. As always it is bittersweet to see current students paroling. This week there were three; James, Prestin, and Fernando. Though it is a joy for them to be reunited with loved ones. I miss them and with the classes being canceled we were unable to do our traditional praying them out and commissioning them as Soldiers of Christ back to their families and communities.

I sent another letter of encouragement to both the Dixon and Sheridan chaplains, but I heard back from the Chaplain McClimans it was rejected by the warden, because of my sharing too much personal information. He suggested I rewrite and resend which I did and will do the same for Dixon.

I’m sure you are but I do ask nonetheless to continue to pray for all the inmates. I’m not sure when they went on total lockdown but it soon will be ensuring a month of being confined to their cells.

My letter to the inmates was motivated by a disappointing news story where Ellen Degeneres was quoted in a news story about how being confined to her hame (a mansion) was like being in jail. Apparently, this quote was shared as she was filmed in an armchair looking out on vast, grassy lawns and mountains. It reminded me how we (self-included) can take our daily comforts for granted without taking into consideration that our daily comforts come from God’s mercy and that instead of grumbling, even in humor, be grateful for the many blessings we do have that many do not.

Another story I shared was about how some of the homeless in Las Vegas were sleeping in parking lots, using the lined parking spaces as a means to maintain social distancing motivated me to lift a prayer of thankfulness for the bed I sleep in nightly.

I further shared with them my personal thoughts on gratefulness and how when it comes to gratefulness we no matter our circumstances need to take time and recognize our blessings no matter how small or insignificant they may be and give thanks to all that we have to be grateful for. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I also shared when in trials (and how they are enduring very difficult trials being confined to a small place, separated from loved ones to name two there are others I do not know). We must be intentional in seeking comfort from the great comforter our heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as we are told in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I closed with some additional Scripture; Deuteronomy 31:6, Ezekiel 39:28, Psalm 27:10, 94:18-19, 139:7-10, Isaiah 49:15, 2 Corinthians 4:9, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Peter 1:2.

Please remain in prayer for all inmates and the chaplains in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

A quick update on my mom. She is in a transitional nursing home. She is on a feeding tube and is going to receive physical therapy on administering the ‘food’ and her meds into the feeding tube. She needs to learn this if she wants to return to her home at Prestige. Prestige said they can do the pureeing of the food and cursing of her meds. but she needs to do the actual administration. Please pray she can accomplish this in our phone call last night (Friday) she seemed to be overwhelmed undertaking this challenge. A prayer of praise she is in a private room, This was a big concern of hers not wanting to go to a nursing home. God answered our prayers.

As always I truly appreciate your prayers, if there is anything I can pray for you please let me know by responding to this e-mail.

To Him be the glory in ALL things!

Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries