Sheridan Prayer Request Friday Febraury 19, 2010

Praises to God as this week saw the return of Michael to the class. He was glad to be back I and him thank you for your prayers for his return and a big thank you to Laura of IDOC who worked on behalf of Michael. She also got Robert back on the list and he should be back this coming Friday



Michael – Please just pray for yourselves and others (I know Michael has some health issues please pray for him in this area)



James – My name is James whoever comes in contact with this prayer request, please pray for me. I just want to come close to God. Everything seems to look better and feel better on God’s side I want the true meaning of life.



Quincy – My name is Quincy and I would like for you to continue praying for me and my children and family that we all be safe in God’s hands I’ll pray for you as well



Sean – That God will be done in my life. That my mother be healed physically, spiritually and emotionally. That my children and I be reunited again



We talked about shame last week and all the men are really feeling the weight of their poor choices. I explained one of the hardest things to overcome in shame is forgiveness of self. Please lift all the men in prayer that they will receive from the God the strength to forgive themselves from their hearts and have healing peace.



This week’s topic is ‘The Gifts of Repentance and Restitution’ please pray that the Holy Spirit will give me the words that will build into them the joy and fruit of these gifts


Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord;

Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries

www.soldiers-of-Christ.org
http://www.soldiers-of-christ.org/


Connecting prison ministries and institutions to serve the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated for the Glory of Jesus Christ

U.S. Mail
Soldiers Of Christ Prison Ministries
P.O. Box 87663
Carol Stream IL, 60188-7663

FREEDOM BEHIND BARS

Freedom Behind Bars

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)


Kyle Hebert makes no excuses for what he did or where he is today. He freely admits that he and he alone is responsible for his sins. He doesn’t play the blaming game as so many often do.

Kyle has many accomplishments to his name since entering the gates of Angola State Penitentiary in May of 2000. As an inmate of the largest maximum security prison in the United States, he is also a 2007 graduate of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Angola Extension Campus with an associates and bachelors degree in Christian Ministry. He’s completed many classes including Anger Management and Substance Abuse. Kyle’s also a Class-A trusty and a staff writer for the prison magazine, The Angolite. Taking 10 years to achieve, a Class-A trusty, the highest level, he must avoid being disciplined or written up for an offense, and set an example for other inmates to follow.

Louisiana (Angola) State Penitentiary

Not so many years ago, Angola was the bloodiest prison in America. Now it’s considered to be the safest. Many have speculated why Angola turned around, but for anyone who has visited the prison, they leave knowing exactly what has brought about this miraculous change. And that change can be summed up in three letters: G.O.D.

When Burl Cain became the Warden of Angola State Penitentiary, he brought the word of God. He has promoted moral rehabilitation by allowing Christian ministries from all over the world to worship with the men of Angola.

Godly Father

Kyle is involved in a program, Malachi Dads. It’s a one-year program that teaches men to be godly fathers to their children. Prior to Malachi Dads, Kyle was able to meet his nine-year-old son, Matthew for the first time, through Returning Hearts, a program that unites fathers with their children.

Matthew wrote in a letter to his dad,

“Hi dad, I had a good time. I can’t wait til next year. I didn’t want to say goodbye. I love you with all my heart and Jesus does too. John 3:16 says, God so loved the word that he gave his one and only son for who ever believes in Him shall not parish but have eternal life. Bye dad, love you.”

Love your son,
Matthew

A Miracle Through Surrender and Faith

If you met Kyle at Angola State Penitentiary, you would find a miracle. One would have a hard time believing that Kyle was once the man he claims to have been. His story is one filled with hope and love.

“I’m not a poster boy for good behavior and recovery in Angola.” Kyle says. “I’m just a guy who knows he has a lot to be grateful for and a God who gets all the credit. He gave his son so that I may now have mine.”

The Willow Creek Prison Ministry

Willow Creek’s Prison Ministry has many volunteer opportunities from writing to the incarcerated, to making cell visits, to donating inspirational Christian fiction to the girls at IYC Warrenville. If you feel led to this ministry, check out a few of the opportunities on Willow’s website under Compassion and Justice.

http://www2.willowcreek.org/volunteer/details.asp?F=1&A=0&C=588&RegID=None

Respect For Life

January 17, 2010

Respect For Life

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READ: Psalm 139:13-16

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. —Psalm 139:14

In Psalm 139, David describes God as fashioning his tiny body together in the darkness of his mother’s womb. God loved David before he ever existed.

God designed the person David was to be, and He brought that person into being according to His predetermined plan. In this psalm, David used the intriguing metaphor of a journal in which God first wrote His plan and then brought that plan into fruition through His handiwork in the womb: “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written” (v.16).

Put another way, David was shaped by his heavenly Father’s love into a unique creation. He came from the inventive heart and hand of God. What was true of David is true of you. You are special—along with everyone else in the world.

This being true, we must be pro-life in the purest sense of the word. We are to respect and cherish all human life: the born and those still in the womb; winsome children and weary seniors; the wealthy executive and the financially destitute. All persons are unique productions of our Creator’s genius. With David, let’s exclaim: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (139:14). — David H. Roper

By God’s wise designing
We are wonderfully made,
Every part essential
And in perfect balance laid. —Anon.
All life is created by God and bears His autograph.

All life is created by God and bears His autograph.

Angels We Have Heard on High

Volunteers made their way to Cook County Jail to spend time with the men for a Christmas celebration. Please check out the article on Willow’s Compassion and Justice blog for the whole story.
http://wccc.blogs.com/compassion_and_justice/

I was in Prison and You Visited Me

On Thanksgiving I had the privilege to attend Cook County Jail to celebrate Thanksgiving with several hundred inmates. To hear more, please check out the blog entry on Willow Creeks Compassion and Justice blog at,

http://wccc.blogs.com/compassion_and_justice/

Lets Say Thanks to Our Troops

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL

If you go to this web site, http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!

It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?

Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them.

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you.

Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's.

Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

Feeding the 600

Greetings Everyone!

Who are you inviting to your Thanksgiving table this season? Would you set a plate for those the world has forgotten? Have you ever thought about the Lord’s command to visit the prisoner?

This is your unique opportunity to show love to the incarcerated men of Division 14 @ Cook County Jail. For the 2^nd year in a row, the Willow Creek team has been called on to serve these men a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and a nice cup of coffee. Without your gift of compassion, these men would receive the same jail diet.

The challenge: Feeding the 600

1. 20 men and women are needed to serve this Thanksgiving meal
• Must be 18 years old and older
• Location: 31st Street & California Ave.
• A commitment of 4 hours is required on Thanksgiving day from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
• Needs to register with Gaius Cosman no later than Monday November 16^th.
• Email name, driver’s license number, birth day and address to gcosman@foxvalley.net

2. $5,339 needs to be raised to cover the meal

· $8.89 will purchase one Thanksgiving meal

· All gifts are tax deductible

· Checks payable to Willow Creek Church – Cook County Jail meals

· Must be be collected by a CCJ team member

Last year the team was challenged to bring such a meal to the Division and the result was simply amazing. By God’s grace and providence, the Willow Creek team has grown in favor with God and the jail officials.

In 2009 we were permitted to double our team’s size and allowed to look for innovative ways to deliver the Gospel to the Glory of God. Praise the Lord!

From Thanksgiving 2008

"Giving all honor and glory to God through Christ Jesus! … we feel blessed that you wonderful people took time out of your holiday to prepare and bring us such an inspirational message and a delightful meal. Your thoughts and prayers are with those who are less fortunate to achieve and receive such blessings on that special day. We are also thankful and grateful to Willow Creek volunteers. Your selfless act of kindness will never be forgotten.”

“We the men who live here at Cook County Correctional Division 14, building 4, 2^nd floor would like to thank God in the name of Jesus. We give Him our praise because of your time, money and efforts shown in love to us. Your gift really helped us have a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving which set a joyous tone for us all day long. God’s love was expressed through you all and we thank you.”

"Gracias porla comida atentamente." - Oscar G.

"Serdeczne Bog Zaplead!!!aqnot; from Polish inmates "God bless"

Please consider taking part in this effort by participating, giving and praying and this Thanksgiving Day you will have one more reason to be grateful!

- Gaius Cosman

gcosman@foxvalley.net

312-545-8676

The House That Grace Built

The House That Grace Built
~Transitional Living for Women Coming Out of Incarceration ~

Each year the Lake County Jail releases approximately 1,080 women back into our community. A random re-entry survey of 100 women found that 76 women were identified as needing housing. Of that 76, 34 women (45%) were classified as homeless. 59% do not have a high school diploma. Without intervention many of these ladies will return to the street economy drugs and prostitution to survive.

The House That Grace Built provides intervention for these women at the critical time of being released from jail and provides them with options that include a safe place to live, job and office skills training, personal and spiritual growth and development, parenting skills, financial management and coping skills that will allow them to become self-sufficient and independent of the welfare system.

Please click on the link to their website to learn more. http://www.thehousethatgracebuilt.com/

Rebekah's House

Rebekah's House is a God-inspired ministry, offering hope, healing and humanity to women in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse. Our two-part Christian program offers women in recovery:

• Recovery home offering, affordable, alternative housing
• Outreach to obtain necessary items until they are self-sufficient.

St. Charles youth prison needs tutors

By Josh Stockinger | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 10/13/2009 12:35 PM

Organizers of a literacy program at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles are looking for volunteers to tutor young prisoners.

Currently, about 20 people are needed to spend at least an hour a week tutoring and mentoring male inmates, according to the nonprofit Literacy Volunteers of Illinois.

Dorothy Miaso, executive director of the literacy group, said the need is much greater at the St. Charles facility on Route 38 than it is at other juvenile prisons.

At the Illinois Youth Center for girls in Warrenville, which has a population less than one-fourth the size of the St. Charles facility, Miaso said there's "an excess of interested volunteers and (we) are having to turn people away.

"It is bittersweet that volunteers assist many juvenile learners, but find difficulties tutoring all who need help," she said, attributing the problem to daytime scheduling conflicts with volunteers.

The Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles is the state's largest juvenile detention center, with an all-male population of 318. The average age of an inmate at the medium-security facility is 16, according to its Web site.

Theo Stripling, a spokesman for Literacy Volunteers Illinois, said tutors are asked to pledge a minimum of one hour a week and must possess basic math and reading skills.

Volunteers undergo a general interview and background check before they are matched with a student from the school on campus. Tutoring usually takes place in the library or in a classroom.

Stripling said the program is popular among retired teachers and college students but does not require experience in any particular field. The key, he said, is consistency.

"We find tutoring to be most effective when someone has the same tutor for a length of times - it helps both ends, making it easier for the volunteer and also the student," Stripling said. "The help these students need, a lot of it is basic English, basic math. Some of these students are falling around sixth-grade level if not below."

Tutoring takes place during school hours, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, call (312) 857-1582 or visit lvillinois.org.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=328570