Greetings,

It’s hard for me to believe it has been 5 weeks of lockdown and it looks like it will be another few weeks before any chance of returning to Dixon or Sheridan. In an e-mail from an individual also involved in prison ministry, they mentioned once the current shelter-in-pace it will be another 30 days before volunteers are allowed back in.

Everett, a current and favorite student of mine was paroled this past week. He was originally scheduled to be paroled in May, but I’m assuming because of COVID-19 he was paroled early. He had planned to parole to Stepping Stone an extended residential treatment center in Joliet. But according to the IDOC web site, he was paroled to a parole district, which is downstate. I had hopes of Everett connecting with one or more of the three churches I gave him. I contacted the churches letting them know to not expect Everett come May. Everett was a new believer when he first started attending SOCPM classes last May and was passionate about continuing to be discipled once he was paroled. Please keep Everett in prayer that he gets connected to a solid Bible teaching church in his community.

I had communication with the Pastor of a church in Peoria regarding Zahn another student who I connected to his church and an issue with mail correspondence. It was encouraging that communication is taking place.

One other item, Gavin, a former student of mine, who is now discharged, sent a notice via Facebook that he has symptoms of COVID-19. Since then I’ve exchanged a couple of text messages with him abut getting tested but since he did not have a temperature above 102 he could not get a test. Please keep Gavin in prayer.

I had a couple of e-mail exchanges with the chaplain from Sheridan and did some administration work. Otherwise it pretty much an inactive week.

Please remain in prayer for all my students, other inmates, chaplains and Illinois Department of Corrections staff.

My mom is back in the hospital with pneumonia and a kidney stone. She is very uncomfortable and in very low spirits. As a result of her being hospitalized, she lost her private room at the transitional nursing home. With all that and still adjusting to the feeding tube, please keep my mom in prayer. She professes Christ but her faith is weak right now. Pray God will draw her close and comfort her in the trials she is enduring.

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