Greetings,
The Discipleship class ‘Assurance of Faith’ by Joel Beeke was well attended as we dove into the seventh lesson ‘The Role of the Holy Spirit. The Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 18 paragraph 2 continued to be the focus of study. The primary scripture was Romans 8:16. The three grounds of assurance through the role of the Holy Spirit in the infallibility of our assurance of faith is founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces and the testimony of the Spirit of adoption.
The Malachi Dads’ class at Dixon continued reading from ‘Family Restoration’ the chapter on ‘Fake Peace.’
In Sheridan Malachi Dads' classes, we continued our teaching based on the book ‘The Heart of a Father’, chapter five ’Church’.
This chapter on the church matched well with a weekly objective the SOPCM has been seeking to do and that is getting the students connected to a church before they parole. I don't have the number of students who have requested to be connected to a church but it has been encouraging. Several even though they have a year or more remaining before being paroled are requesting a church. What is even more encouraging is the great response from the churches I've contacted. Out of the many I've contacted all have responded positively. I hope to share at greater length on 'Church Connect' in a future newsletter.
Continue to pray for our Chaplains. A specific request from Chaplain Thomas of Dixon is the management of the ‘many irons he has in the fire.’ His request confirms what some of my students have been telling me and that is that Chaplain Thomas is working on bringing many new programs to Dixon.
Sorry for the shortness of this week’s update on what is happening but I’m running up on my deadline of getting this newsletter/prayer requests configured for the e-mailing.
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 pray for my girlfriend who will be having surgery on Wednesday 03/11/2020 to remove a cancerous polyp from her left breast. Also, please pray that on 03/05/2020 my judge allows my evidentiary hearing to go forward on 03/19/2020. Also, please pray that my girlfriend can keep her house where she lives after her son moves out and puts it in her name for the community in which she lives is going to evaluate her finances to see if she makes enough to live there. And finally, please pray that I humble myself so that God can lift me up. Thank you.
Randy - Cameron’s salvation and overcoming addiction, Scott's ministry and health and financial, my family’s salvation and reconciliation with my older brother (Ron), salvation to the men here at Dixon.
Cameron - Please probably for my son-in-law (Adam) and his family, the father has terminal cancer.
Thomas - Please, put in your prayer for a counselor or a veteran officer to step up to the position of veteran affairs counselor. Once this has been accomplished “Footsteps” will be allowed to gather to create viable solutions to aid and assist our fellow veterans, honor all and promote future social services and heal the soul of this great nation. Please, pray to help, Kendra, Elaine & Michael (dad veteran) turn back to Christ and heal our family. Sincerely yours.
Sheridan Correctional Center Afternoon
Greg - Pray my cousin Tony who recently found out he has cancer behind his eye, for my family and friends and everyone in Sheridan. All the employees, pray for our strength to persevere through trials and tribulations.
Jesse - Please pray for my wife and my marriage to be filled with love, trust, and faithfulness, for her to find her way back to the Lord and find salvation, for her to be part of my children's lives, for me to be part of her children's lives, for my continued finding salvation, for my wife to find stable housing and a suitable job, for my participation in work release to all be part of God's plan.
Sheridan Correctional Center Evening
Brandon - Please All the Christian messengers that come into our presence. Pray that we receive the message that is given. That I will be spirit-filled. Please pray that I find my quality in Christ and become the man God created me to be and my life is about God's will. That I am a good father, husband, and Christian leader. Please pray for my wife and children.
Ray - Please pray that I become stronger in my faith. Also, pray that I can listen for God and obey what He says. Also, pray for my family that they have joy and happiness in serving God. Thank you!
Jeff - I would like to pray for my fiancé's father, Leroy he suffered a severe stroke a couple of days ago.
David - Please pray for peace here, for our families' welfare, health, and knowledge of God's will, or their lives peace at work (commissary) on the deck for a good time for all the guys that just went home, for the people affected by coronavirus. For our volunteers here and their families. Thank you.
No name - Please pray for our discipleship 5 PM class for the disruptive talking! Also, please pray for my friend Dusty that he may receive many blessings through his next year of incarceration! Also, bless Dusty for the humility and strength he continues to show! Thank you.
Donald - Prayers for (newborn) grandson Milo premature. Please pray he remains strong and keeps living.
Juan - Prayer thank you God for looking over my mom, she is 93 years old was in the hospital, home now but still has the flu, please keep her in prayer, Manuela. I'm in prison now, I have five months to go after five years incarcerated, I pray daily to come home to my mom and family thank you to keep me in prayer.
Alex - Pray my transitional house is safe and helps me get back on my feet. It's in Iowa and called “Second Chance Sober Living” which is close to my fiancé's mother's house. Pray that I find a good job ASAP and a good church too. Thank you, friends, of God.
Jim - Please pray that my 90-year-old mom Rosemary stays physically healthy while on incarcerated. Thank you, in Christ alone.
No name - Make strong in Christ, help me learn how to give all my worries to Him. God bless.
Christian Living
Dixon Correctional Center
No prayer requests received.
Sheridan Correctional Center Early
Demond - I Demond need prayer for my wife, kids, and family that we grow stronger in the Lord, and that He gives me the strength that I need to lead my family as being the man.
David - Please pray for peace here, for our volunteers, for our choir, for school, for good time, for our kids and family, for my (God’s) ministry, for me; wisdom, grace, family reunification with us all, for growth of programs, for the guys going home to connect with churches and Bible studies, our events coming up. Thank you, God bless you.
Alex - Pray that the coronavirus does not affect and or touch my family. Also, that I'm able to MSR from here on March 20 - 27th as schedule and not get remanded back to cook county DOC. Pray for my mother’s (Linda)heart’s and for her upcoming eye surgery.
Cameron - Please pray for my uncle Dale. He is in critical condition in TN. He had surgery for cancer. Thank you.
James - Please pray that I may become steadfast in my walk with Jesus! And that the Holy Spirit becomes abundant in me! Thank you!
Joseph - Please pray for my close friend Aaron who has MS and I've heard it is progressing quickly. Pray for strength and grace for him and his entire family. Thank you so very much! God bless.
Juan - Prayer for Manuela (mom) that she fights this flu which is holding her down, she's 93 and holding on in the hospital. Please, pray for her that she gets healthy and strong.
Damareo - Please pray for me and my fiancé's court situation. Please I have Court, March 12th I ask for the proper justice. Please for us. Also, please pray for my grandmother that she stays healthy. Please pray for my children that they are safe and stay focused in school. Please also pray for my faith and patience grows deeper than it is. Also, pray for everyone who is sick with coronavirus. Also, pray for Scott's son that he stays clean and goes to church. Amen.
Sheridan Correctional Center Late
Bobby - God please open my heart and mind to become more Christlike. Help me to bring my family to the Lord. I pray for my daughter to have a healthy pregnancy. I pray for the health and welfare of my family.
Cody - I’m struggling to get answers about knowing if a little boy named David is my son or not. Praying for strength to break my prejudice thoughts and attitude. My grandpa (Dave) has dementia/Alzheimer's. Praise to Bravehearts to their service to vets in God’s name. Continue to send angels of protection over my family. Praise for having people like Scott in my life during this time, help him with funding on his mission in hoping incarcerated dads. I pray for guidance and influence in my life to help and lead others in God’s name. Thank you and amen! God bless.
Anthony - For my kids' safety/protection and providing for Turquoisha’s heart and strength. For release to attend my kid’s graduation, for strength while I'm in here, for a better prayer life and understanding.
Justin - Strength to stay focused, my best friend Elizabeth, my kids, inmates/officers. Sick people in the world.
SOCPM Alumni
James
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon: 06/2019 thru 07/2019
Dixon: 01/2020 thru 02/2020
Transferred Western Illinois 02/??/2020
Calvin
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 12/2017 thru 03/2018
Discharged 03/02/2020
Malcolm
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 01/2016 thru 04/2016
Discharged 03/02/2020
Chad
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon: 10/2014 thru 12/2014
Transferred Robinson 03/03/2020
Adrian
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 05/2015 thru 10/2015
Discharged 03/04/2020
Bruce
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 07/2017 thru 03/2018
Discharged 03/05/2020
James
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon: 02/2015 thru 04/2015
Dixon: 07/2015 thru 09/2015
Paroled 03/05/2020
Michael
Soldiers of Christ
Dixon: 07/2013 thru 09/2013
Paroled 03/05/2020
Damien
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 06/2019 thru 08/2019
Paroled 03/06/2020
Akil
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 07/2018 thru 12/2018
Paroled 03/06/2020
Richard
Soldiers of Christ
Sheridan: 03/2013 thru 05/2013
Admitted Stateville NRC 03/06/2020
Wesley Ministries
Illinois River Correctional Center
No prayer requests received from ministry partner.